Venable Foundation Inc
Venable Foundation Inc is a Baltimore, Maryland-based public charity established in 1983. It promotes the health and well-being of communities where Venable’s clients and professionals work and live, supporting civic, cultural, charitable, public interest law, and legal education efforts.
Venable Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Venable Foundation Inc gave $2.7M across 198 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), top state Maryland. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,707,500
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 198
- +1.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,674
- -7.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $465,768
- +2.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (21 of 194, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Venable Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 750 E Pratt Street Suite 900, Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 244-7400
Website: https://venable.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Venable Foundation Inc
Who Venable Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Johns Hopkins Universitydevelopment ($100K). Together the top 10 received $510K.
Grant Size Distribution
979 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 943 grants of 979 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its funding as place-based, supporting nonprofit organizations serving communities where Venable has major offices. In 2024, 35% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 27% to DC, 15% to New York, 11% to California, and 6% to Virginia. Its 2026 first-round announcement listed grants in Washington, DC, Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Denver.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 198 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Venable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 21 of 194 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2024) to $3.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 198 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins Universitydevelopment Baltimore, MD | Venable Fund for Neurosurgery Research | $100,000 |
| Maryland Food Bank Inc Baltimore, MD | General Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Maryland Legal Aid Baltimore, MD | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Bread for the City Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
| DC Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
| Miriam's Kitchen Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
| Higher Achievement Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $35,000 |
| Health Care for the Homeless Baltimore, MD | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing Arlington, VA | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Baltimore Community Foundation Baltimore, MD | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $465,768 | $3,981,964 | $3,984,900 | $2,707,500 | 198 | $16,799 |
| 2023 | $455,704 | $4,140,999 | $3,806,000 | $2,877,500 | 195 | $4,999 |
| 2022 | $120,705 | $3,959,947 | $4,293,000 | $3,331,000 | 220 | $4,947 |
| 2021 | $411,758 | $3,720,067 | $3,605,000 | $2,791,500 | 170 | $67 |
| 2020 | $281,691 | $3,326,172 | $4,149,666 | $3,515,666 | 196 | $1,892 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote the health and well-being of the communities where Venable’s clients and attorneys work and live. Its 2024 filing says it supports tax-exempt organizations providing charitable, cultural, or educational services to the general public, with a central focus on legal assistance and legal education.
The foundation’s website identifies eight focus areas: arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, legal services, workforce development, and youth impact. It also describes interest in the impact of grants on low-income and underrepresented communities and lists areas including food access, housing, homelessness services, college access, veteran services, and domestic violence services.
Examples of grantees’ work include the Maryland Food Bank’s hunger-relief efforts and Maryland Legal Aid’s free civil legal services for Marylanders experiencing poverty. Bread for the City describes providing food, clothing, medical care, legal and social services, and community advocacy for low-income DC residents. DC Central Kitchen uses food programs and culinary career preparation to strengthen communities and create employment opportunities. Miriam’s Kitchen works to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC, while Higher Achievement provides after-school learning and mentoring for middle-school students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 198 grants totaling $2,707,500. Individual grants ranged from $7,500 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest listed grant was $100,000 to Johns Hopkins University Development for the Venable Fund for Neurosurgery Research. Other large grants included $90,000 to Maryland Food Bank for general operating support, $50,000 to Maryland Legal Aid for general operating support, and $40,000 each to Bread for the City, DC Central Kitchen, and Miriam’s Kitchen for general operating support.
The foundation’s website reported that its first round of 2026 giving awarded $770,000 to 101 nonprofits. A 2024 announcement described an average grant of $10,000, with amounts varying. The website says that beginning in 2027, eligibility to submit a Letter of Interest or full application will vary by location. It identifies Miami, Chicago, and Denver as locations where new applicants may submit a Letter of Interest. No application deadline is stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert Waldman as president and director; Colleen Mallon Casse as treasurer and director; Craig Thompson as secretary and director; Julia Tama as vice president and director as of April 5; and Suzanne St Pierre as trustee and director as of April 5. The foundation’s 2026 announcement identifies Michael Bigley as a director of the foundation.
Venable Foundation Inc is led by Robert Waldman, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Waldman
President & Director
Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colleen Mallon Casse
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Thompson
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia Tama
Vice President & Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne St Pierre
Trustee & Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Lindsay Meyer (2020–2023) — President & Director
- Former: William Coston (2020) — Liaison & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Venable Foundation Inc
How much does Venable Foundation Inc give each year?
Venable Foundation Inc gave $2.7M across 198 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 195 grants.
What is Venable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Venable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $13,674, across 198 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Venable Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Venable Foundation Inc give grants?
Venable Foundation Inc's top state is Maryland, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (27%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (53 grants), Baltimore, MD (43 grants), New York, NY (29 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (16 grants).
Does Venable Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 69% of Venable Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (136 of 198) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Venable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Venable Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Johns Hopkins Universitydevelopment ($100,000), Maryland Food Bank Inc ($90,000) and Baltimore Community Foundation ($50,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Venable Foundation Inc?
Venable Foundation Inc reported $466K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.0M.
What does Venable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote the health and well-being of the communities where Venable’s clients and attorneys work and live. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Venable Foundation Inc?
Venable Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check venable.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Venable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Venable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1283255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Venable Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Venable Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/venable-foundation-inc-morg_36fea035fc6c4c36b0a6ce4b03f05da2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521283255_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Venable Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/venable-foundation-inc-morg_36fea035fc6c4c36b0a6ce4b03f05da2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Venable 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.
Venable Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?