Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Higher education
  • Not eligible: Individuals (either cash or scholarships)
  • Not eligible: Publications
  • Not eligible: Research (academic, scientific, or medical)
  • Not eligible: Direct mail (and membership campaigns)
  • Not eligible: Fundraising or special events.
  • Not eligible: Unsolicited grant applications regarding climate change

Overview

The Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, established in 1990, provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in Baltimore, focusing on education, environment, and community development. New applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to outline their goals. The Foundation emphasizes childhood literacy, environmental improvements, and vibrant neighborhoods while prioritizing programs that foster high expectations and prevent summer learning loss. Eligible organizations should align with these strategic goals to secure funding.

NOTE:
New Applicant: If your organization has never received a grant from the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, you will need to complete a Letter of Intent that includes which goal and strategy you seek to advance. You will be notified as to whether a grant proposal should be submitted.Non-profits who wish to apply for summer learning grants should submit their applications ahead of the February 20 deadline.Additionally, here is the page for Prior Grantees.
The Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, Inc. was established in 1990. It directs its grants to Sec. 501 (C)(3) organizations in Baltimore, Maryland.
What We Fund
Through strategic grant making, the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation seeks to do its part in achieving three ambitious goals for Baltimore, Maryland.
Education:Goal: Baltimore children will have access to a quality public education in pre-K through 12th grade.The Foundation has selected certain strategies to help achieve that goal:Strategies:Support childhood literacy in the very earliest years.
Support efforts that promote school readiness for children 0-3.
Strengthen reading readiness instruction in pre-K and Kindergarten programs.
Support programs that challenge motivated students in public schools.
Promote school choice for students and parents.
Support the recruitment, training, and mentoring of able instructional leaders for public schools.
Support cost-effective, school-based after-school programs.For after-school and summer learning programs, the trustees favor programs that have intense and sustained contact with the same group of students with a consistent message of high expectations.Support summer learning opportunities.The trustees favor programs that offer robust, high dosage learning experiences that are academically rigorous and intended to help prevent “summer slide”. Environment: Goal: Baltimore residents will enjoy a greener environment and a cleaner Chesapeake Bay with healthy watersheds. The Foundation has selected certain strategies to help achieve that goal.Strategies:Support greening efforts in Baltimore that are visible to the wider community.
Support efforts in Baltimore to improve the Chesapeake Bay and its watersheds.
The Foundation also allocates approximately 15% of the grants budget for preselected organizations that are addressing climate change. Community Development:Goal: Baltimore will be a city with vibrant neighborhoods. The Foundation has selected certain strategies to help achieve that goal.Strategies:Support community organizations that have a record of attracting financial investments for their neighborhood revitalization efforts.
Support organizations that provide technical assistance and enhance the capabilities of groups that are working for community development in Baltimore.

Eligibility

501 (C)(3) organizations in Baltimore, Maryland are eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

Direct mail (and membership campaigns)
Fundraising or special eventsThe trustees do not accept unsolicited grant applications regarding climate change.

What Lockhart Vaughan Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025

Grants in 2025
78
Total given
$2.71M
Median grant
$28K
Range
$4,000–$177K
  • By dollars: Maryland 75%, District of Columbia 8%, Massachusetts 5%. Top recipient cities: Baltimore, MD; Washington, DC; Annapolis, MD.
  • 4% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 22% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Park School of Baltimore Inc · Baltimore, MD

    Environment: solar array

    $177K

  • Earthjustice · San Francisco, CA

    Environment

    $75K

  • Environmental Defense Fund · Washington, DC

    Environment: orphaned oil wells

    $75K

  • Thread Inc · Baltimore, MD

    Education: support cost-effective, school-based after-school programs

    $75K

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution · Woods Hole, MA

    Environment : glider trips to gather data about acidity of gulf stream

    $75K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Nonprofits
  • Education
  • Literacy
  • Environment
  • Community development

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