The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Towson, Maryland. Formed in 1957 by Baltimore native John J. Leidy, the owner of the former Leidy Chemical Company, it has supported Maryland nonprofits for more than 50 years.
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The John J Leidy Foundation Inc gave $940K across 98 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Maryland. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $940,157
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 98
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,593
- -6.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $6,844,837
- +7.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (26 of 98, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says requests may be submitted at any time and that trustees usually meet monthly. Applicants are typically notified by mail within 90 days of submission. There is no formal application form. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a narrative describing organizational background and capacity, the request and anticipated results, details of need and amount requested, an IRS exempt-status letter, proposed organizational and project budgets, a board list with affiliations and officers, and a recent audit or year-end financial statement. Supplemental materials may also be included. Electronic submission is preferred.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert L Pierson President
Mailing address: 102 West Pennsylvania Avenue Suite, Towson, MD 21204
Phone: (410) 821-3006
Website: https://leidyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
Who The John J Leidy Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare ($50K). Together the top 10 received $279K.
Grant Size Distribution
437 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 429 grants of 437 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines give preference to organizations serving the Baltimore Metropolitan area. In 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland; the remaining reported shares went to North Carolina (3%), Pennsylvania (2%), Iowa (2%), and the District of Columbia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 98 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 98 grantees (27%) 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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $746K (2021) to $992K (2022). In 2024 it made 98 grants totaling $940K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,844,837 | $1,541,768 | $1,093,740 | $940,157 | 98 | $988,434 | $1,442,314 | $1,103,231 |
| 2023 | $6,397,158 | $471,525 | $1,085,938 | $936,275 | 91 | $984,653 | $383,911 | $957,718 |
| 2022 | $7,011,573 | $1,038,129 | $1,130,445 | $992,350 | 80 | $1,045,902 | $962,179 | $964,709 |
| 2021 | $7,103,889 | $697,752 | $889,973 | $746,479 | 80 | $799,760 | $618,233 | $1,040,032 |
| 2020 | $7,296,110 | $846,204 | $929,938 | $777,443 | 88 | — | $769,342 | $848,239 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a mission on its website. Its guidelines identify social and economic welfare, arts and culture, health and human services, education, and disabled persons as areas of interest. It provides operating support, support for new or ongoing programs, and equipment funding.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in health care, education, community services, arts and culture, emergency relief, religion, and animal welfare. For example, Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare says its mission is to address unemployment, underemployment, and health care workforce shortages in the Baltimore region. Irvine Natural Science Center says it encourages engagement with the natural world through environmental learning and green living. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as maintaining a symphony orchestra and presenting concerts for Baltimore and Maryland.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 98 grants totaling $940,157. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median of $7,500. Examples include $50,000 to Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare for health care; $48,334 to Irvine Natural Science Center for education; $35,000 to Associated Jewish Community Federation for a community fund; and $30,000 to Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for arts and culture. Other grants included $25,000 to Doctors Without Borders for emergency relief, $20,000 to Springboard Collaborative for education, and $15,000 each to Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Museum Foundation, and Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.
The foundation’s guidelines say that organizations must have 501(c)(3) exempt status. Individuals, galas, special events, and advertising space in programs are not funded. Funded organizations may reapply one year after the award date; organizations denied funding may reapply one year after the denial.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists W Michel Pierson as vice-president and Claire A Pierson as secretary/treasurer.
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Claire A Pierson
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $6K (2024)
W Michel Pierson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $6K, to Claire A Pierson (Secr./Treas.).
Frequently asked questions about The John J Leidy Foundation Inc
How much does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc give each year?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc gave $940K across 98 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $936K across 91 grants.
What is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $9,593, across 98 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc give grants?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (74 grants), Towson, MD (2 grants), Glen Arm, MD (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 98 grants with a stated purpose on The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (36 grants), "Arts/Cultural" (14 grants) and "Poverty Relief" (10 grants).
Who are The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare ($50,000), Irvine Natural Science Center Inc ($48,334) and Associated Jewish Community Federation ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
The John J Leidy Foundation Inc reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $988K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The John J Leidy Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation does not state a mission on its website. Its guidelines identify social and economic welfare, arts and culture, health and human services, education, and disabled persons as areas of interest. It provides operating support, support for new or ongoing programs, and equipment funding. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website says requests may be submitted at any time and that trustees usually meet monthly. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The John J Leidy Foundation Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John J Leidy Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-j-leidy-foundation-inc-morg_1460226bf2d140598409cf9022cae7b6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_526034785_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John J Leidy Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-j-leidy-foundation-inc-morg_1460226bf2d140598409cf9022cae7b6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The John J Leidy Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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