The John J Pohanka Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1996 in Maryland. Based in Capitol Heights, MD, the foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on the arts, education, health organizations, and social services, with particular emphasis on opera and performing arts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.9M
+4.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+45.2% YoY
Grant Count
91
+49.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-2.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John J Pohanka Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- The Arts — particularly opera and performing arts
- Education
- Health Organizations
- Social Services
The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting opera as an art form and has been instrumental in supporting the Washington National Opera.
Grantmaking
Grants have been awarded to organizations in multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
Grant Range
$500–$215,000
Average Grant
amount varies by funding cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in:
- Maryland
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
- National organizations
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $22,887,990
- Total Giving: $1,867,734 (2024)
- Total Revenue: $1,419,184 (2023)
- Total Expenses: $1,555,884 (2023)
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since May 1997
- EIN: 56-6784266
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,887,990 | $21,866,438 | $22,003,138 |
| Revenue | $3,169,664 | $1,419,184 | $1,327,226 |
| Expenses | $2,148,112 | $1,555,884 | $1,872,841 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,869,234 | $1,287,424 | $1,383,430 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,930,017 | $1,194,652 | $993,759 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,804,905 | $1,586,720 | $1,686,765 |
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
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kennedy Center ($215,000), Gettysburg College ($150,000), Miami Music Festival ($130,878).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| ANIMAL SERVICES FACILITY AND ADOPTION CENTER UPPER MARLBORO, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| ARMENIAN YOUTH CENTER OF GREATER WASHINGON ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,000 |
| ARTS FAIRFAX FAIRFAX, VA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BISHOP MCNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL FORESTVILLE, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| BOCA HELPING HANDS BOCA RATON, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION BOSTON, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BRIDGING THE GAP BUILT ON BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD INC UPPER MARLBORO, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100 |
| CARSON SCHOLARS FUND TOWSON, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Geoffrey Pohanka — Trustee (0.5 hrs/week)
- Steven Parker — Trustee (0.5 hrs/week)
The foundation was established by John J. Pohanka, who served as Chairman of Pohanka Automotive Group and was a longtime trustee and board chair of the Washington National Opera.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOFFREY POHANKA | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| STEVEN PARKER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1772 Ritchie Station Court Capitol Heights, MD 20743-5065
Telephone: 301-899-7800
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John J Pohanka Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • **The Arts** — particularly opera and performing arts • **Education** • **Health Organizations** • **Social Services** The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting opera as an art form and has been instrumental in supporting the Washington National Opera.
How do I apply for a grant from The John J Pohanka Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $500–$215,000 • Median grant amount: $21,519 • Average grant amount varies by funding cycle • General purpose grants available **Recent Activity:** • 94 grants awarded in the most recent reporting period • Total giving of $1,867,734 (based on 2024 IRS Form 990) • Giving rate of 5.9% of assets **Geographic Distribution:** Grants have been awarded to organizations in multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New…
Where does The John J Pohanka Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in: • Maryland • Virginia • District of Columbia • National organizations
What size grants does The John J Pohanka Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The John J Pohanka Family Foundation awarded 91 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John J Pohanka Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John J Pohanka Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John J Pohanka Family Foundation's EIN?
The John J Pohanka Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6784266. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John J Pohanka Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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