The John J Leidy Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation based in Towson, Maryland. Incorporated in 1957 and tax-exempt since May 1959, the foundation has been supporting Maryland's nonprofits for more than 50 years. It is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax-deductible.
Key facts about The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 52-6034785
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $940,157
- Grants made (2024)
- 98
- Average grant
- $9,593
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (27 of 98, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,844,837
- Primary geography
- Maryland (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- No set deadlines. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John J Leidy Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's 98 itemized 2024 grants were Maryland (91%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (74 grants), Towson, MD (2 grants), Glen Arm, MD (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). None of its 98 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (36 grants), "Arts/Cultural" (14 grants) and "Poverty Relief" (10 grants).
Is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 27 of 98 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The John J Leidy Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.8M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$940K
+0.4% YoY
Grant Count
98
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-6.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John J Leidy Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Social and economic welfare
- Arts and culture
- Health and human services
- Education
- Support for disabled persons
Recent grant distribution shows that 26% of giving goes to social and human services, 23% to arts and culture, and 14% to education.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000 to $185,000
Average Grant
$9,000–$11,000
Review Cycle
- Applicants must visit the foundation website to review guidelines
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
98% of grants stay in Maryland. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Maryland and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 98 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $6,397,158
- Total revenues: $471,525
- Total expenses: $1,085,938
- Total liabilities: $0
- Investment income and dividends: $400,002
- Annual grants made: $728,154–$936,275
Historical Growth:
- Total assets grew from $5.3 million in 2011 to $6.8 million in 2024
- Annual giving grew from $777,000 in 2020 to $2 million in 2022
Staffing:
- 1 employee (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,844,837 | $6,397,158 | $7,011,573 |
| Revenue | $1,541,768 | $471,525 | $1,038,129 |
| Expenses | $1,093,740 | $1,085,938 | $1,130,445 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $988,434 | $984,653 | $1,045,902 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,442,314 | $383,911 | $962,179 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,103,231 | $957,718 | $964,709 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
437 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare ($50,000), Irvine Natural Science Center Inc ($48,334), Associated Jewish Community Federation ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare Baltimore, MD | Health Care | $50,000 |
| Irvine Natural Science Center Inc Owings Mills, MD | Educational | $48,334 |
| Associated Jewish Community Federation Baltimore, MD | Community Fund | $35,000 |
| Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Baltimore, MD | Arts/Cultural | $30,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Emergency Relief | $25,000 |
| Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Baltimore, MD | Religious | $21,000 |
| United Way of Central Maryland Baltimore, MD | Community Fund | $20,000 |
| Springboard Collaborative Philadelphia, PA | Educational | $20,000 |
| Health Care for the Homeless Baltimore, MD | Health Care | $15,000 |
| Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore, MD | Arts/Cultural | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: John J. Leidy
- Secretary/Treasurer: Claire A Pierson
- Vice President: W Michel Pierson
- Trustees: W. Michel Pierson and Robert L. Pierson
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W Michel Pierson | Vice-President | 0.5 | — |
| Claire A Pierson | Secr./Treas. | 1 | $6,000 |
Contact Information
Address: The John J Leidy Foundation Inc. c/o Pierson and Pierson 102 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 304 Towson, Maryland 21204 USA
Phone: 410-821-3006 Fax: 410-821-3007 Email: info@leidyfoundation.org Website: www.leidyfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • Social and economic welfare • Arts and culture • Health and human services • Education • Support for disabled persons Recent grant distribution shows that 26% of giving goes to social and human services, 23% to arts and culture, and 14% to education.
How do I apply for a grant from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
No set deadlines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc make grants?
98% of grants stay in Maryland. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Maryland and Connecticut.
What size grants does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The John J Leidy Foundation Inc awarded 98 grants totaling $940K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John J Leidy Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's EIN?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6034785. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.