Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation: Health & Mental Health and Strengthening Public Education Grant

Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation: Health & Mental Health and Strengthening Public Education Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Jacob And Hilda Blaustein Foundation Inc
Last Updated: March 31, 2026

Summary

The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation focuses on promoting health and mental health, as well as strengthening public education in Baltimore. Through its health initiatives, the foundation seeks to enhance access to mental health services and advocate for systemic changes. In education, it supports efforts to improve leadership and teaching quality in public schools, aiming to create equitable opportunities for Baltimore youth. This foundation prioritizes innovative programs that engage communities in meaningful ways.

Overview

The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation promotes social justice and human rights through its five program areas: Jewish life, strengthening Israeli democracy, health and mental health, educational opportunity, and human rights. Support is provided to organizations in the United States and abroad. The Foundation supports organizations that promote systemic change, involve constituents in planning and decision-making, encourage volunteer and professional development and engage in ongoing program evaluation. Health & Mental Health Program Area Mental Health The Foundation invests in programs that address mental health issues affecting low-income communities in the Baltimore region, with a focus on prevention and innovative service models utilizing evidence-based practices offered in community-based settings. The Foundation is particularly interested in bringing mental health services into community settings to complement other services already in place. Special consideration is given to programs focusing on children or older adults as well as efforts that combine direct service and policy advocacy. Generally, the Foundation does not provide support for clinical services for people with serious mental illness. The Foundation will consider program and capital grants in the mental health portfolio. Funding is restricted to the Baltimore metropolitan area. Access to Health Care The Foundation is committed to supporting local and national advocacy and public policy initiatives to ensure access to quality care among low-income families with the goal of ensuring that everyone can use the health services they need without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment to maintain a high quality of life. The Foundation invests in legislative, legal and policy efforts focused on expanding health care coverage to additional citizens, improving the quality and accessibility of health care services and defending access to existing health care entitlements. The Foundation does not support state or local advocacy efforts outside of Maryland but will consider national campaigns that engage a cluster of states. The Foundation will consider program and general operating grants in this portfolio. Environmental Health The Foundation invests in organizations seeking to minimize the impact of toxins on people’s health. The Foundation prioritizes organizations that use science-informed research as the basis of local and national legislative, policy and market-based campaigns as well as organizations that include involvement of the communities most impacted by the toxins. The Foundation does not support state or local advocacy efforts outside of Maryland but will consider national campaigns that engage a cluster of states. The Foundation will consider program and general operating grants in this portfolio. Strengthening Public Education Seeking to improve the lifetime outcomes and opportunities for Baltimore youth and the region, the Foundation invests in strategies to strengthen Baltimore’s public school system. The primary focus of this program is to support efforts that improve the quality of leadership and teaching within the school system. The Foundation funds alternative pathway programs for principals and teachers and supports professional development programming to deepen teacher content knowledge and practice, particularly in the areas of arts, literacy, progressive education practices and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The Foundation also supports efforts to improve school climate, with a focus on restorative practices and social emotional learning. The Foundation will, from time to time, consider support for district-identified priorities. The Foundation also supports public policy, legislative and litigation efforts related to securing equitable public funding for Baltimore City public schools. The Foundation does not support programming or capital needs of individual schools, although it will consider programs working across a cluster of schools. Funding is restricted to Baltimore City.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. For both program areas, there is a geographic focus on Baltimore.Grantees must be nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and organized and operated for charitable purposes.Organizations with fiscal sponsors are also eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

Under the Educational Opportunity Program Area, the Foundation generally does not provide support for individual public, parochial or independent schools.The foundations do not provide support for:Grants or scholarships to individualsUnsolicited proposals for academic, scientific or medical researchDirect mail, annual giving, membership campaigns, special events, fundraising events