The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC, focused exclusively on the DC region. Established in 1948, it supports community needs in Arts and Humanities, Community Services, Education, Environment, and Health, with a stated aim of improving quality of life for residents of the Washington, DC metropolitan area and creating a more equitable region.
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz at a glance
In short: The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz gave $23.7M across 451 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in District of Columbia. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,727,750
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 451
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,611
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $636,123,269
- +2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (78 of 444, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligible organizations submit a complete proposal through its online portal; no letter of inquiry is required, and invitations are not required for general operating or project support. Capital requests require prior discussion with a program officer and an invitation to apply. Applicants should submit the organization narrative for general operating requests, or both organization and project narratives for project requests, along with the required financial attachments and other checklist materials. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities with 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) status serving the Foundation’s specified area. Organizations may apply once within a 12-month period. The Foundation does not fund individuals, endowments, private foundations, 509(a)(3) organizations, or special events; it rarely funds multi-year grants.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are due March 1, July 1, and November 1 by 5:00 p.m. ET, with weekend deadlines accepted the following Monday. The website lists November 2, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. as the upcoming deadline. The portal opens four weeks before each deadline. Review generally takes four to six months.
- Deadline
- Applications are due March 1, July 1, and November 1 by 5:00 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1825 K Street Nw Suite 1400, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 223-3100
Website: https://cafritzfoundation.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 Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Who The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Smithsonian Institution ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $4.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($135,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,360 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,689 grants of 2,360 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses on the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Eligible organizations must primarily serve residents of the District of Columbia; Prince George’s or Montgomery Counties in Maryland; Arlington or Fairfax Counties in Virginia; or the cities of Alexandria or Falls Church. In 2025, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 19% to Maryland, 11% to Virginia, and 1% to New York; the reported share for Massachusetts was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 451 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 78 of 444 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $51K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 254% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21.0M (2021) to $23.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 451 grants totaling $23.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC | Arts and Humanities | $1,200,000 |
| Weta Arlington, VA | Arts and Humanities | $681,000 |
| Dreaming Out Loud Inc Washington, DC | Envrionment | $560,000 |
| Blair House Restoration Fund Washington, DC | Community Services | $500,000 |
| John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, DC | Arts and Humanities | $475,000 |
| National Gallery of Art Landover, MD | Arts and Humanities | $332,500 |
| Rock Creek Conservancy Inc Bethesday, MD | Envrionment | $275,000 |
| Education Forward DC Washington, DC | Education | $250,000 |
| Manna Inc Washington, DC | Community Services | $250,000 |
| Washington Area Women's Foundation Washington, DC | Community Services | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $636,123,269 | $65,646,300 | $74,182,537 | $23,727,750 | 451 | $72,033,796 | $26,011,544 | $28,388,012 |
| 2024 | $623,293,264 | $98,144,895 | $71,968,076 | $22,642,166 | 432 | $27,273,834 | $56,196,273 | $30,151,628 |
| 2023 | $535,730,735 | $56,504,932 | $70,843,294 | $21,197,835 | 500 | $28,600,080 | $17,092,787 | $28,291,487 |
| 2022 | $470,075,873 | $121,070,016 | $69,298,699 | $22,018,932 | 464 | $28,169,510 | $81,191,227 | $37,829,057 |
| 2021 | $415,311,058 | $65,532,545 | $65,496,305 | $21,008,865 | 513 | — | $31,098,413 | $35,354,268 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life for residents of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, with an emphasis on creating a more equitable region. Its five funding areas are Arts and Humanities, Community Services, Education, Environment, and Health and Wellness.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. The Smithsonian Institution describes its mission as increasing and diffusing knowledge; Dreaming Out Loud works to create economic opportunities through a healthy, equitable food system; and Education Forward DC works to advance high-quality and equitable educational experiences for DC students. Other grantees include arts organizations, environmental groups, and organizations working on food access and women’s and girls’ empowerment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 451 grants totaling $23,727,750. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,200,000, with a median of $35,000. It prefers general operating support when possible and also considers project-specific requests.
The largest grants reported for 2025 included $1,200,000 to the Smithsonian Institution for Arts and Humanities, $681,000 to WETA for Arts and Humanities, $560,000 to Dreaming Out Loud for Environment, $500,000 to the Blair House Restoration Fund for Community Services, and $475,000 to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for Arts and Humanities. Other notable awards included $332,500 to the National Gallery of Art, $275,000 to Rock Creek Conservancy, and $250,000 each to Education Forward DC and the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jane Lipton Cafritz as Chairman, CEO, and President; John E. Chapoton as Vice Chairman and Treasurer; and Dorothy Kosinski, Nazir Ahmad, Patricia McGuire, Susan Blumenthal, and Eric Motley as directors. Anthony W. Cafritz, Elliot S. Cafritz, and Constance A. Morella are listed on the advisory board.
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz is led by Jane Lipton Cafritz, Chairman, CEO & President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jane Lipton Cafritz
Chairman, CEO & President
Director → Chairman, CEO & President, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$250K (2021) → $618K (2025)
Dorothy Kosinski
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia McGuire
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whayne Quin
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Motley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nazir Ahmad
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Blumenthal
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony W. Cafritz
Advisory Board
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Constance A. Morella
Advisory Board
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth M. Peltekain
Advisory Board
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elliot S. Cafritz
Advisory Board
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John E. Chapoton
Vice Chairman & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Calvin Cafritz (2021–2022) — Chairman, CEO & President
- Former: Michael Brewer (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Sloan (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $618K, to Jane Lipton Cafritz (Chairman, CEO, & President).
Frequently asked questions about The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
How much does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz give each year?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz gave $23.7M across 451 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22.6M across 432 grants.
What is The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's typical grant size?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's median grant in 2025 was $35,000, and its average grant was $52,611, across 451 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz that year got $51K on average.
Where does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz give grants?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz gives mostly in District of Columbia: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (19%) and Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (290 grants), Arlington, VA (20 grants), Silver Spring, MD (17 grants) and Alexandria, VA (13 grants).
Does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 451 grants with a stated purpose on The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Services" (215 grants), "Arts and Humanities" (88 grants) and "Education" (69 grants).
Who are The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's largest grantees?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz's largest 2025 grantees include Smithsonian Institution ($1,200,000), Weta ($681,300 across 2 grants) and Dreaming Out Loud Inc ($560,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($135,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz?
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz reported $636.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life for residents of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, with an emphasis on creating a more equitable region. Its five funding areas are Arts and Humanities, Community Services, Education, Environment, and Health and Wellness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-morris-and-gwendolyn-cafritz-morg_afce753866a147e0933ce0b70001658a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_526036989_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-morris-and-gwendolyn-cafritz-morg_afce753866a147e0933ce0b70001658a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz'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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