The Wiessner Foundation for
The Wiessner Foundation is a private foundation based in Bel Air, Maryland, that provides funding to qualified, needy organizations for the benefit of children. Its website says it has focused on children’s welfare since 1905; the foundation states that it considers organizations caring for children age 18 and under, as well as organizations dedicated to research or treatment of children’s emotional and physical afflictions.
The Wiessner Foundation for at a glance
In short: The Wiessner Foundation for gave $41K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Maryland. 81% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $40,671
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,542
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,696
- Total assets
- $1,105,732
- +9.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 81% first-time grantees (13 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (100% 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 Wiessner Foundation for
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and that applicants should request an application form from foundation staff. The website provides a process for mailing a completed application and required materials.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing says there are no deadlines and applications are reviewed as received. The website lists quarterly application deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing says there are no deadlines and applications are reviewed as received.
- Contact
Application contact: Foundation Staff
Mailing address: PO Box 358, Bel Air, MD 21014-0358
Phone: (410) 218-6503
Website: https://wiessnerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wiessner Foundation for funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sexual Assault Spouse Resource ($5K). Together the top 10 received $33K.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 74 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website and 2025 filing state that funding is for children in Maryland and that eligible applicants must be Maryland 501(c)(3) organizations. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Wiessner Foundation for open to new grantees?
81%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 16 grantees (81%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 6% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 123% 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 $40K (2023) to $45K (2020). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Assault Spouse Resource Bel Air, MD | Bedding, Car Seats, | $5,000 |
| Johnnycake Elementary School Baltimore, MD | Various Supplies | $4,290 |
| North Harford Rec Council Pylesville, MD | North Harford Cheerleading | $4,275 |
| Athletes Serving Athletes Lutherville, MD | 4 Baby Joggers and | $3,200 |
| Harford County Sheriff's Foundation Bel Air, MD | Explorer Post 6600 | $3,000 |
| Baltimore Jewelry Center Inc Baltimore, MD | Materials for School Workshops | $3,000 |
| Harmer's Town Art Center Havre De Grace, MD | Various Supplies | $2,915 |
| Mt Zion United Methodist Church Bel Air, MD | Various Supplies | $2,891 |
| Harford County Education Foundation Bel Air, MD | BOOKS | $2,500 |
| Junior Achievement of Central MD I Baltimore, MD | Program and Support Fees and | $2,000 |
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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 | $1,105,732 | $66,456 | $72,348 | $40,671 | 16 | $63,668 | $27,293 | $51,589 |
| 2024 | $1,007,205 | $116,696 | $72,395 | $40,855 | 16 | $63,051 | $36,070 | $48,492 |
| 2023 | $984,396 | $27,518 | $70,687 | $40,080 | 15 | $70,287 | $24,046 | $47,013 |
| 2022 | $940,279 | $44,951 | $73,527 | $40,123 | 12 | $73,094 | $31,133 | $51,289 |
| 2021 | $1,162,091 | $115,950 | $74,864 | $41,127 | 15 | $74,455 | $30,500 | $55,400 |
| 2020 | $1,107,280 | $21,672 | $71,232 | $44,786 | 17 | — | $19,999 | $52,423 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wiessner Foundation for reported a distributable amount of $52K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is “to provide funding to qualified, needy organizations for the benefit of children.” Its website says eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), use funds for children in Maryland, need funding, and not impose restrictions based on race, religion, creed, color, physical handicap, or gender.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Athletes Serving Athletes says it helps people with limited mobility train for and participate in mainstream running events. Baltimore Jewelry Center describes itself as an educational nonprofit focused on metalworking, arts education, and community outreach. Harmer’s Town Art Center says it conducts educational programs and encourages support of the arts and knowledge of Havre de Grace history. Harford County Education Foundation says it provides educational resources to support students’ success.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $40,671 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $715 to $5,000, with a median grant of $2,696.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $5,000 to Sexual Assault Spouse Resource for bedding and car seats; $4,290 to Johnnycake Elementary School for various supplies; $4,275 to North Harford Rec Council for North Harford cheerleading; $3,200 to Athletes Serving Athletes for four baby joggers; and $3,000 each to Harford County Sheriff’s Foundation and Baltimore Jewelry Center. Other recipients included Harmer’s Town Art Center ($2,915), Mt. Zion United Methodist Church ($2,891), Harford County Education Foundation ($2,500), and Junior Achievement of Central Maryland ($2,000).
The 2025 filing says the foundation awards grants to other Section 501(c)(3) organizations and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website describes an application by printed form and asks applicants to provide a list and cost of items to be funded, a business plan or description of the organization’s work, and a current-year budget. The website says grants are for immediate needs and are not intended as long-term or repeat funding; it excludes support for items including general funds and overhead, salaries, scholarships, tuition, building funds, and deficit financing.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jeff Malat as president. It lists John H Franz Jr, Bruce C List, Christine Zurenko, Loren Heaps, Daniel Hoyt, Kaitlin Zarro, Helen Gegala, Cheryl Glaeser, and Paula Harris as directors.
The Wiessner Foundation for is led by Jeff Malat, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeff Malat
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce C. List
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Zurenko
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Hoyt
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H. Franz Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kaitlin Zarro
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Loren Heaps
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Glaeser
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen Gegala
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Harris
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Velaetis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Eric W. Greives (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Nicholas Greives (2020–2022) — Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Wiessner Foundation for
How much does The Wiessner Foundation for give each year?
The Wiessner Foundation for gave $41K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $41K across 16 grants.
What is The Wiessner Foundation for's typical grant size?
The Wiessner Foundation for's median grant in 2025 was $2,696, and its average grant was $2,542, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wiessner Foundation for that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Wiessner Foundation for give grants?
The Wiessner Foundation for gives mostly in Maryland: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (5 grants) and Bel Air, MD (4 grants).
Does The Wiessner Foundation for give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Wiessner Foundation for's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Various Supplies" (3 grants).
Who are The Wiessner Foundation for's largest grantees?
The Wiessner Foundation for's largest 2025 grantees include Sexual Assault Spouse Resource ($5,000), Johnnycake Elementary School ($4,290) and North Harford Rec Council ($4,275), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Wiessner Foundation for?
The Wiessner Foundation for reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Wiessner Foundation for fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to provide funding to qualified, needy organizations for the benefit of children.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wiessner Foundation for?
The 2025 filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and that applicants should request an application form from foundation staff. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Wiessner Foundation for's EIN?
The Wiessner Foundation for's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6002679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Wiessner Foundation for 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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