The Ralph and Shirley Klein
Ralph and Shirley Klein were the founders of Klein's ShopRite of Maryland, one of the Baltimore region's largest independent supermarket chains. Operating primarily in the 1960s and 1970s, Klein's became a cornerstone retail institution for four generations of Harford County residents. Ralph and Shirley were known for their philanthropic commitment to their community and their deep engagement with Jewish life and values.
Key facts about The Ralph and Shirley Klein
- EIN
- 52-1763518
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $376,115
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- Average grant
- $16,353
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (8 of 23, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,461,093
- Primary geography
- Maryland (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Ralph and Shirley Klein funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Ralph and Shirley Klein's 23 itemized 2024 grants were Maryland (94%) and New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (5 grants), Bel Air, MD (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). None of its 23 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Organization's Exempt Purpose." (23 grants).
Is The Ralph and Shirley Klein open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 23 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Ralph and Shirley Klein
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$376K
+6.3% YoY
Grant Count
23
+27.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-16.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ralph and Shirley Klein reported a distributable amount of $297K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Ralph and Shirley Klein were recognized for their numerous acts of kindness and dedication to helping those in need, particularly local families and employees facing personal or financial hardships. Despite their business success, they lived modestly and remained deeply connected to their roots.
Their philanthropic interests centered on Jewish community life and organizations. They were founding members of Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace and lifelong congregants of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. They also supported the Jewish National Fund, B'nai B'rith International, and Israel Bonds. Both were highly active in Harford County's Jewish community as well as various Baltimore Jewish organizations.
Beyond their Jewish community involvement, Ralph and Shirley were recognized as trailblazers in bringing Jewish values to non-Jewish residents of Harford County, profoundly changing perceptions of Jewish people in the rural area north of Baltimore.
Ready to take the next step with The Ralph and Shirley Klein?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Their philanthropic work was concentrated in Harford County, Maryland, and the greater Baltimore region, with particular emphasis on the northern Harford County area where their business operated.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 23 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,461,093 | $4,095,100 | $3,698,784 |
| Revenue | $798,727 | $787,202 | $516,290 |
| Expenses | $432,734 | $390,886 | $342,557 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $376,115 | $353,915 | $306,250 |
| Net Investment Income | $363,730 | $358,240 | $89,082 |
| Distributable Amount | $296,606 | $258,253 | $251,562 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
97 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation ($112,500), McDonogh School ($90,865), Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UPPER CHESAPEAKE HEALTH FOUNDATION Bel Air, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $112,500 |
| MCDONOGH SCHOOL Owing Mills, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $90,865 |
| ASSOCIATED JEWISH FEDERATION OF BALTIMORE Baltimore, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $50,000 |
| JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL Bel Air, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $20,000 |
| HARFORD DAY SCHOOL Bel Air, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $17,500 |
| THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF MARYLAND Baltimore, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $15,500 |
| HARLEM LACROSSE New York, NY | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $10,000 |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND Pikesville, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $8,500 |
| LADEW GARDENS Monkton, MD | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $7,500 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES New York, NY | TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael J Klein | President | 0.5 | — |
| Marshall J Klein | Vice President | 0.5 | — |
| Jacob I Klein | Secretary/Treasurer | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ralph and Shirley Klein fund?
Ralph and Shirley Klein were recognized for their numerous acts of kindness and dedication to helping those in need, particularly local families and employees facing personal or financial hardships. Despite their business success, they lived modestly and remained deeply connected to their roots. Their philanthropic interests centered on Jewish community life and organizations. They were founding members of Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace and lifelong congregants of Baltimore Hebrew Congreg…
Where does The Ralph and Shirley Klein make grants?
Their philanthropic work was concentrated in Harford County, Maryland, and the greater Baltimore region, with particular emphasis on the northern Harford County area where their business operated.
What size grants does The Ralph and Shirley Klein award?
In 2024, The Ralph and Shirley Klein awarded 23 grants totaling $376K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ralph and Shirley Klein required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ralph and Shirley Klein reported a distributable amount of $297K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ralph and Shirley Klein's EIN?
The Ralph and Shirley Klein's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1763518. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.