The Orokawa Foundation Inc
The Orokawa Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Towson, Maryland. Its 2025 filing reports 57 grants totaling $5,777,739, including awards to organizations working in areas such as education, health care, environmental conservation, and human services.
The Orokawa Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Orokawa Foundation Inc gave $5.8M across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $101K), mostly in Maryland. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,777,739
- +7.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $101,364
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $100,343,188
- +2.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (10 of 57, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (67% 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 Orokawa Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 W Pennsylvania Ave 800, Towson, MD 21204
Phone: (410) 337-7575
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Orokawa Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of MD Baltimore Foundation Inc ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $3.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
270 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 270 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Maryland organizations received 67% of the foundation’s grant dollars. Recipients in New York received 11%, Illinois 9%, Maine 5%, and Pennsylvania 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Orokawa Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 57 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $129K; repeat grants $96K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.6M (2021) to $5.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $5.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of MD Baltimore Foundation Inc Baltimore, MD | Endowment Fund | $1,176,000 |
| YMCA of Central MD Chicago, IL | Endowment Fund | $500,000 |
| Living Classrooms Foundation Baltimore, MD | Endowment Fund | $425,000 |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation Annapolis, MD | Endowment Fund | $350,000 |
| The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society New York, NY | Endowment Fund | $335,000 |
| Camp Sunshine Casco, ME | Endowment Fund | $300,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Baltimore, MD | Endowment Fund | $250,000 |
| St Joseph Medical Center Foundation Inc Reading, PA | Endowment Fund | $200,000 |
| Paul's Place Outreach Center Inc Baltimore, MD | Endowment Fund | $150,000 |
| Roca Baltimore LLC Baltimore, MD | Endowment Fund | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Orokawa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,343,188 | $10,842,697 | $6,243,867 | $5,777,739 | 57 | $5,815,795 | $10,629,750 | $4,869,999 |
| 2024 | $98,201,406 | $5,206,026 | $5,825,513 | $5,367,615 | 58 | $5,370,971 | $5,040,735 | $4,680,444 |
| 2023 | $94,689,252 | $9,772,442 | $5,649,188 | $5,172,065 | 56 | $5,175,744 | $9,568,324 | $4,506,899 |
| 2022 | $93,013,788 | $12,858,912 | $6,051,782 | $5,354,700 | 50 | $5,359,142 | $12,381,745 | $4,876,387 |
| 2021 | $102,500,901 | $6,855,001 | $4,977,378 | $4,565,000 | 49 | — | $6,634,064 | $4,326,221 |
| 2020 | $76,600,825 | $8,297,203 | $4,999,787 | $4,742,700 | 51 | — | $8,124,329 | $3,639,788 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Orokawa Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Living Classrooms Foundation describes its work as providing hands-on education and job training, with an emphasis on at-risk youth. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation states that its mission is to “Save the Bay.” The Family Tree says it works to prevent child abuse, connect caring communities, and build strong families; Next One Up Foundation describes its work as advancing young men’s academic, athletic, and social development.
Other 2025 recipients describe work in health care, child welfare, youth services, and support for children. For example, St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation says it supports the provision of health care, while Worldwide Orphans Foundation says it creates safe and nurturing environments where children can play, learn, and thrive. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $5,777,739. Grant amounts ranged from $1,030 to $1,176,000, with a median of $50,000.
The largest reported 2025 grants included $1,176,000 to University of MD Baltimore Foundation Inc for an endowment fund; $500,000 to YMCA of Central MD for an endowment fund; $425,000 to Living Classrooms Foundation for an endowment fund; and $350,000 to Chesapeake Bay Foundation for an endowment fund. Other notable awards included $335,000 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, $300,000 to Camp Sunshine, and $250,000 to Habitat for Humanity, each for an endowment fund. The filing also lists grants of $200,000 to St Joseph Medical Center Foundation Inc, $150,000 each to Paul’s Place Outreach Center Inc and Roca Baltimore LLC, $147,180 to The Family Tree, and $125,000 to Next One Up Foundation Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Samantha Cleland as vice president, Isobel Cleland as president and secretary, and Jeffrey L Hill as treasurer.
The Orokawa Foundation Inc is led by Isobel Cleland, President & Secretary since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Isobel Cleland
President & Secretary
Vice President & Secretary → President & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Cleland
Vice President
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$96K (2022) → $145K (2025)
Jeffrey L. Hill
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bruce Cleland (2020–2021) — President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $145K, to Samantha Cleland (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about The Orokawa Foundation Inc
How much does The Orokawa Foundation Inc give each year?
The Orokawa Foundation Inc gave $5.8M across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.4M across 58 grants.
What is The Orokawa Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Orokawa Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $101,364, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Orokawa Foundation Inc that year got $129K on average.
Where does The Orokawa Foundation Inc give grants?
The Orokawa Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (11%) and Illinois (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (27 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Annapolis, MD (2 grants) and Timonium, MD (2 grants).
Does The Orokawa Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on The Orokawa Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Endowment Fund" (57 grants).
Who are The Orokawa Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Orokawa Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of MD Baltimore Foundation Inc ($1,176,000), YMCA of Central MD ($500,000) and Living Classrooms Foundation ($425,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Orokawa Foundation Inc?
The Orokawa Foundation Inc reported $100.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Orokawa Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Living Classrooms Foundation describes its work as providing hands-on education and job training, with an emphasis on at-risk youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Orokawa Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Orokawa Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Orokawa Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1850543. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Orokawa Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Orokawa Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Orokawa Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-orokawa-foundation-inc-morg_d60525c308b34948845c671d9ef03bdf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201850543_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Orokawa Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-orokawa-foundation-inc-morg_d60525c308b34948845c671d9ef03bdf},
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 Orokawa 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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