The Phase Foundation
The Phase Foundation is a private foundation based in Germantown, Maryland. Its 2025 filing reports 40 grants totaling $300,000, supporting organizations working in areas including medical research, disaster relief, animal rehabilitation, education, and community services.
The Phase Foundation at a glance
In short: The Phase Foundation gave $300K across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Maryland. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $300,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- +29.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,500
- -22.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $3,515,118
- -4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (10 of 38, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (65% 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 Phase Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation provides an Excel-based application form and requests current financial information and a summary of charitable purpose. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It does not provide grants to individuals, political organizations, or religious organizations.
- Review Cycle
- August 31.
- Deadline
- August 31.
- Contact
Application contact: Grants Committee
Mailing address: 2 Executive Park Ct, Germantown, MD 20874
Phone: (301) 540-0424
Email: admin@thephasefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Phase Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wilmer Eye Institute (Fund for Johns Hopkins Med) ($150K). Together the top 10 received $218K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
204 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 200 grants of 204 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Maryland organizations received 65% of grant dollars, Virginia 11%, North Carolina 4%, Colorado 3%, and the District of Columbia 3%. The listed grants also include recipients in other states, including California, Washington, and Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Phase Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 38 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 191% 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 $270K (2022) to $320K (2021). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $300K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmer Eye Institute (Fund for Johns Hopkins Med) Baltimore, MD | To fund research into treatment of retinal degeneration. | $150,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | To fund disaster relief efforts in the US. | $13,000 |
| Partner for Surgery McLean, VA | To fund cervical cancer screening & treatment for women in rural Guatemala. | $8,000 |
| Prospect Hill Cemetery Bristow, VA | To fund roadway paving repairs on cemetery grounds. | $8,000 |
| Second Chance Wildlife Center Clarksburg, MD | To pay for food, medicine, supplies & cage furnishINGS FOR REHABBING ANIMALS. | $8,000 |
| Project Animal Aid Boulder, CO | To defray cost of shipping donated veterinary supplies to animal welfare organizations. | $8,000 |
| Armenia School Foundation Glendale, CA | To fund new school furniture for Dalar Secondary School in Armenia. | $8,000 |
| Big Life Foundation USA Ridgefield, WA | To fund ranger program to continue anti-poaching & wildlife security work in east africa. | $5,000 |
| University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY | To assist disadvantaged population in Appalachia THROUGH MOUNTAIN OUTREACH PROGRAM. | $5,000 |
| Woodworkers for Children Charity Laytonsville, MD | To buy hard-cover books to be given to 1st-graders from low-income families. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Phase Foundation?
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 | $3,515,118 | $226,367 | $388,146 | $300,000 | 40 | $369,163 | $207,384 | $193,139 |
| 2024 | $3,687,471 | $429,892 | $390,137 | $300,000 | 31 | $370,621 | $410,377 | $196,497 |
| 2023 | $3,624,344 | $239,091 | $364,990 | $276,000 | 31 | $345,342 | $219,443 | $187,308 |
| 2022 | $3,747,436 | $155,578 | $348,755 | $270,000 | 43 | $329,007 | $135,830 | $198,903 |
| 2021 | $3,992,721 | $180,248 | $394,086 | $320,000 | 59 | $372,058 | $158,220 | $240,968 |
| 2020 | $4,172,777 | $187,865 | $368,955 | $280,000 | 58 | — | $167,538 | $213,067 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Phase Foundation reported a distributable amount of $193K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of purposes. For example, the filing says a grant to Wilmer Eye Institute (Fund for Johns Hopkins Med) funded research into retinal degeneration, and a grant to Samaritan’s Purse funded disaster relief efforts in the United States.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Second Chance Wildlife Center says it provides rehabilitative care to injured, ill, and orphaned wild animals and educates the public about them. Armenia School Foundation says it provides desks, chairs, and blackboards to schools in Armenia. Partner for Surgery says it helps people in Guatemala access care from volunteer surgical teams by providing community development and infrastructure.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 40 grants totaling $300,000. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $150,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest reported grant was $150,000 to Wilmer Eye Institute (Fund for Johns Hopkins Med) for research into treatment of retinal degeneration. Other grants included $13,000 to Samaritan’s Purse for U.S. disaster relief; $8,000 each to Partner for Surgery, Prospect Hill Cemetery, Second Chance Wildlife Center, Project Animal Aid, and Armenia School Foundation; and $5,000 each to Big Life Foundation USA, University of the Cumberlands, Woodworkers for Children Charity, Eastern Shore Chapel (Chapel Pantry), and Horizon Day Camp.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Catherine L. Hekimian as administrator and trustee, and Joan E. Hekimian, Christopher Hekimian, Allison H. Sitar, and A. Mark Kenchtel as trustees.
The Phase Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Catherine L. Hekimian
Administrator & Trustee
Trustee → Administrator & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $21K (2025)
A. Mark Kenchtel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Allison H. Sitar
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher Hekimian
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joan E. Hekimian
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 $21K, to Catherine L Hekimian (Administrator and Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Phase Foundation
How much does The Phase Foundation give each year?
The Phase Foundation gave $300K across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $300K across 31 grants.
What is The Phase Foundation's typical grant size?
The Phase Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $7,500, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Phase Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Phase Foundation give grants?
The Phase Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Richmond, VA (2 grants).
Does The Phase Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on The Phase Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Phase Foundation's largest grantees?
The Phase Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Wilmer Eye Institute (Fund for Johns Hopkins Med) ($150,000), Samaritan's Purse ($13,000) and Partner for Surgery ($8,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Phase Foundation?
The Phase Foundation reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $369K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $193K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Phase Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Phase Foundation?
The foundation provides an Excel-based application form and requests current financial information and a summary of charitable purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Phase Foundation's EIN?
The Phase Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1611434. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Phase Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Phase Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-phase-foundation-morg_288384fe7d67434e8c406f5c18670c4b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521611434_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Phase Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-phase-foundation-morg_288384fe7d67434e8c406f5c18670c4b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Phase Foundation'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.
The Phase Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?