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.
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
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.
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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
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 |
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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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 | — |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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