William E Cross Foundation Inc
The William E Cross Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2004 and based in Frederick, Maryland. The foundation is driven by a commitment to supporting the people of Frederick County and surrounding areas through strategic philanthropic giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.6M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$417K
-68.4% YoY
Grant Count
48
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-65.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William E Cross Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $390K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving philosophy centers on the belief that many small contributions can lead to transformative change. The foundation aims to help improve the lives of people struggling during difficult periods so they can eventually handle life experiences independently. This philosophy is rooted in dignity, sustainability, and hope.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $1,000 to $6,055,168.
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Maryland (with particular emphasis on Frederick County)
- Tennessee
- Pennsylvania
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2024: $7,615,487
- 2023: $7,576,964
Annual Giving:
- 2024: $416,500
- 2023: $798,000
Revenue (2023):
- Total revenues: $339,265
- Investment income and dividends: $154,732
Expenses (2023):
- Total expenses: $1,503,894
Organization Details:
- EIN: 20-1220528
- Type: 501(c)(3) Private Foundation
- Employees: 1
- Address: 2631 Mill Race Rd, Frederick, MD 21701-6805
- Phone: 301-696-0467
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,615,487 | $7,576,964 | $8,741,593 |
| Revenue | $656,758 | $339,265 | $796,148 |
| Expenses | $618,235 | $1,503,894 | $7,290,486 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $416,500 | $1,319,056 | $6,895,168 |
| Net Investment Income | $455,023 | $154,427 | $400,830 |
| Distributable Amount | $390,252 | $382,564 | $713,451 |
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
248 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include United Way of Frederick County ($76,000), The Community Foundation of Frederick County Maryland Inc ($40,500), Frederick Health Hospital Inc ($27,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES INC FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| ADVOCATES FOR THE AGING FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $2,000 |
| BEYOND SHELTER FREDERICK FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| BRETHREN DISASTER MINISTRIES NEW WINDSOR, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $25,000 |
| CALVARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NASHVILLE, TN | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $2,000 |
| CASA OF FREDERICK COUNTY FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $2,000 |
| CELEBRATE FREDERICK FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY LIVING INC FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| DAYBREAK ADULT DAY SERVICES INC FREDERICK, MD | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is associated with Mr. Bill Cross of Germantown, Maryland, the founder. Don Linton is listed as a contact person for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD C LINTON | PRESIDENT/DIRE | 5 | $78,501 |
| REBECCA LINTON | TREASURER/DIREC | 2 | $43,000 |
| DAVID LINTON | VICE-PRESIDENT/DIREC | 2 | $3,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The William E Cross Foundation received the 2025 Unity Award from the United Way of Frederick County in recognition of its support of the Unity Campaign. The foundation values the United Way's research-driven approach, which decreases the burden of research time for the foundation's grantmaking decisions.
William E. Cross Foundation: 2025 Unity Award | United Way of FrederickThe foundation also maintains the William E. Cross Family Educational Fund through the Community Foundation of Frederick County, which provides scholarships for students with a preference for those attending Frederick Community College.
William E. Cross Foundation: 2025 Unity Award | United Way of FrederickSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William E Cross Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's giving philosophy centers on the belief that many small contributions can lead to transformative change. The foundation aims to help improve the lives of people struggling during difficult periods so they can eventually handle life experiences independently. This philosophy is rooted in dignity, sustainability, and hope. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from William E Cross Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $416,500 • Total giving (2023): $798,000 • Total assets (2024): $7,615,487 • Total assets (2023): $7,576,964 **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $6,055,168. **Recent Grantees (2023):** • We Cross Charitable Foundation: $935,056 • United Way of Frederick County: $67,000 • Frederick Health Hospital: $33,000 The foundation supports local nonprofits by covering critical expenses such as staffing, rent, and programming. The foundation respe…
Where does William E Cross Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Maryland (with particular emphasis on Frederick County) • Tennessee • Pennsylvania
What size grants does William E Cross Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, William E Cross Foundation Inc awarded 48 grants totaling $417K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William E Cross Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William E Cross Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $390K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is William E Cross Foundation Inc's EIN?
William E Cross Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1220528. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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