William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation
The William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. Its 2025 grants went primarily to organizations in Maryland, including schools, cultural organizations, and other charitable organizations.
Key facts about William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation
In short: William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation gave $442K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Maryland. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 52-1369556
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $442,100
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- Average grant
- $20,095
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (8 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $2,888,173
- Primary geography
- Maryland (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.9M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$442K
+41.4% YoY
Grant Count
22
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+34.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation reported a distributable amount of $191K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 22 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 41% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 266% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in education, health, arts and culture, environmental conservation, and community services.
Among its education grantees, KIPP Baltimore says its mission is to operate Baltimore City public schools that help students from low socioeconomic backgrounds succeed in four-year colleges. The Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust says it recruits and supports academically ambitious African American students with financial need through partnerships with independent schools. In arts and culture, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra says its mission includes maintaining a symphony orchestra and presenting concerts. The Chesapeake Conservancy describes its mission as conserving and restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s natural and cultural resources. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $442,100. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $48,000, with a median grant of $17,500. Its largest reported grants included $48,000 to an individual recipient Jesuit High School, $45,500 to Saint Frances Academy, $45,000 to John Hopkins School of Nursing, $36,000 to KIPP Baltimore, and $35,000 to Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust. Other notable grants included $34,000 to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, $27,000 to Friends School of Baltimore, and $25,000 each to Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women and Chesapeake Conservancy.
How to Apply
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. It has no formal application; charitable organizations may send a request letter for consideration. There are no stated restrictions on awards. The foundation is no longer accepting applications for the Adams Future Business Leadership Scholarship Program but is honoring previous awards.
Ready to take the next step with William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 2% to recipients in Washington, D.C., 2% to recipients in Massachusetts, and 1% to recipients in Washington state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $282K (2021) to $457K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $442K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Saint Frances Academy ($46K). Together the top 10 received $309K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($48,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 119 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $48,000 |
| Saint Frances Academy Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $45,500 |
| John Hopkins School of Nursing Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $45,000 |
| Kipp Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $36,000 |
| Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $35,000 |
| Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $34,000 |
| Friends School of Baltimore Inc Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $27,000 |
| Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women Baltimore, MD | Contribution | $25,000 |
| Chesapeake Conservancy Annapolis, MD | Contribution | $25,000 |
| Gilchrist Hospice Care Inc Hunt Valley, MD | Contribution | $18,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants awarded | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $442,100 | 22 |
| 2024 | $312,750 | 21 |
| 2023 | $457,250 | 26 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,888,173 | $2,828,141 | $2,444,900 |
| Revenue | $704,809 | $841,466 | $985,086 |
| Expenses | $644,777 | $458,225 | $667,942 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $506,580 | $376,487 | $524,125 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,664 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $190,692 | $138,766 | $109,035 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Theo C Rodgers as president, treasurer, and trustee; Marjorie J Rodgers Cheshire as vice president, secretary, and trustee; and Callie Johnson as assistant secretary and trustee.
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation is led by Theo C. Rodgers, President, Tr & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Theo C. Rodgers
President, Tr & Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$70K (2020) → $100K (2025)
Callie Johnson
Assistant Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marjorie J. Rodgers Cheshire
Vice President, Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $100K, to Theo C Rodgers (Pres/Tr/Ttee).
Contact
Application contact: Marjorie Rodgers Cheshire Adams Fou
Mailing address: 1040 Park Avenue Suite 300, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 783-3200
Frequently asked questions about William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation
How much does William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation give each year?
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation gave $442K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $313K across 21 grants.
What is William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's typical grant size?
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $20,095, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation give grants?
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (11 grants) and Columbia, MD (2 grants).
Does William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (21 grants).
Who are William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's largest grantees?
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Saint Frances Academy ($45,500), John Hopkins School of Nursing ($45,000) and Kipp Baltimore Inc ($36,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($48,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation?
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $507K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $191K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in education, health, arts and culture, environmental conservation, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's EIN?
William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1369556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching William L & Victorine Q Adams Foundation by hand.
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