The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Washington, DC. It is the largest private, independent, local foundation focused exclusively on the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 1948 as the legacy of Morris Cafritz, a leading commercial and residential real estate builder in Washington from the early 1920s to the mid-1960s.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$636.1M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.7M
+4.8% YoY
Grant Count
451
+4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz reported a distributable amount of $28.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is deeply committed to improving the quality of life for all Washington, DC metropolitan area residents. It responds to community needs and opportunities across five primary funding areas:
- Arts and Humanities
- Community Services
- Education
- Environment
- Health
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards range from $50 to $1,200,000. The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific funding. The foundation prefers to provide general operating support to allow organizations flexibility in their work.
Grant Range
s and Types**
Review Cycle
of March 2, 2026, with award amounts ranging from $7,500 to $600,000.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds exclusively in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, with a focus on the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue
- Total Assets: $623,293,264 (2024)
- Total Revenues: $98,144,895 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $71,968,076 (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $145,000,000 (2024)
- Total Annual Giving: $23,052,750
Staff
The foundation employs 6 staff members.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $636,123,269 | $623,293,264 | $535,730,735 |
| Revenue | $65,646,300 | $98,144,895 | $56,504,932 |
| Expenses | $74,182,537 | $71,968,076 | $70,843,294 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $72,033,796 | $27,273,834 | $28,600,080 |
| Net Investment Income | $26,011,544 | $56,196,273 | $17,092,787 |
| Distributable Amount | $28,388,012 | $30,151,628 | $28,291,487 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Blair House Restoration Fund ($500,000), Capital Area Food Bank ($237,500), Building Bridges Across the River ($225,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 21ST CENTURY CONSORT STERLING, VA | ARTS AND HUMANITIES | $5,000 |
| 826DC INC WASHINGTON, DC | ARTS AND HUMANITIES | $40,000 |
| A WIDER CIRCLE INC KENSINGTON, MD | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $20,000 |
| ABRAHAM AND LAURA LISNER HOME FOR AGED WOMEN WASHINGTON, DC | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| ACADEMY OF HOPE ADULT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION | $112,500 |
| ACCESS YOUTH INC WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION | $40,000 |
| ACCOKEEK FOUNDATION INC ACCOKEEK, MD | ENVRIONMENT | $40,000 |
| ADOPTIONS TOGETHER INC GREENBELT, MD | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $45,000 |
| ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC GLEN ECHO, MD | ARTS AND HUMANITIES | $40,000 |
| ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE AND EDUCATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jane Lipton Cafritz – Board Chair and President and CEO (elected 2022)
- Calvin Cafritz – Served as Board Chairman beginning in 1989 and as President and CEO from 1993 to 2022
The foundation was established by Morris Cafritz in 1948. His wife, Gwendolyn, known for her commitment to women's rights and civil liberties, served as President of the Foundation from 1964 to 1988.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANE LIPTON CAFRITZ | CHAIRMAN, CEO, & PRESIDENT | 40 | $618,269 |
| JOHN E CHAPOTON | VICE CHAIRMAN & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DOROTHY KOSINSKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NAZIR AHMAD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA MCGUIRE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSAN BLUMENTHAL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ERIC MOTLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY W CAFRITZ | ADVISORY BOARD | 1 | — |
| ELLIOT S CAFRITZ | ADVISORY BOARD | 1 | — |
| CONSTANCE A MORELLA | ADVISORY BOARD | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH M PELTEKAIN | ADVISORY BOARD | 1 | — |
| WHAYNE QUIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Since Calvin Cafritz's leadership began, the foundation has awarded more than $454 million to 10,433 projects. The foundation continues to actively accept grant applications and maintains an active grantmaking program focused on its five priority areas.
Recent Grants - The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz fund?
The foundation is deeply committed to improving the quality of life for all Washington, DC metropolitan area residents. It responds to community needs and opportunities across five primary funding areas: • Arts and Humanities • Community Services • Education • Environment • Health
How do I apply for a grant from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz?
**Grant Sizes and Types** Typical grant awards range from $50 to $1,200,000. The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific funding. The foundation prefers to provide general operating support to allow organizations flexibility in their work. **Recent Grant Activity** Recent grants include: • The Shakespeare Theatre Company: $825,000 (Arts and Humanities) • Smithsonian Institution: $800,000 (Arts and Humanities) • Rock Creek Conservancy: $525,000 (Environment) Since…
Where does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz make grants?
The foundation funds exclusively in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, with a focus on the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
What size grants does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz award?
In 2025, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz awarded 451 grants totaling $23.7M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz reported a distributable amount of $28.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's EIN?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6036989. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz'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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