The Apgar-Black Foundation concentrates its giving in the Philadelphia / Pennsylvania region with a mix of faith-based local support and strong emphasis on law, civil liberties, and legal scholarship. It funds both neighborhood religious institutions (Episcopal church and social services) and national/state civil-rights and legal organizations, while also making targeted gifts to cultural and heritage organizations. Grants tend to be mid-sized and purposeful, supporting institutional operations, legal research, and community programs.
Apgar-black Foundation stands out for pairing Episcopal support in Pennsylvania with sustained legal and civil-liberties giving. Its largest recent grant went to Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, including a 2025 gift of $38,000 for Episcopal religion and maintaining the church, alongside earlier unrestricted support for the same congregation. That religious thread runs alongside a legal portfolio that includes the American Law Institute, Lambda Legal, the Aclu Foundation of Pennsylvania, and university-based law scholarship. The pattern is not limited to advocacy organizations: the foundation also backs heritage, culture, and community institutions such as Delaware Canal 21, Opera Philadelphia, the Academy of Vocal Arts, and Episcopal Community Services. It funds individuals as well as organizations, and its recent grants show both unrestricted donations and purpose-specific support. The result is a funder with a clear regional footprint and a consistent interest in institutions tied to faith, law, and public life. In the grants list, its work reaches from local congregations and Pennsylvania civic groups to national legal organizations and academic settings, with repeated support for several recipients across multiple years.
One major theme is legal scholarship and law reform. In 2025, the foundation gave $25,000 to the American Law Institute for scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law, and $15,000 to Upenn Law School for the same purpose. A second theme is civil-liberties advocacy. It supported The Aclu Foundation of Pennsylvania with $10,000 in 2024 and another $10,000 in 2025 specifically for defending the rights of freedom of transgender people, while also giving Lambda Legal $20,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2025. The foundation also backs Episcopal institutions and services, including $15,000 to Episcopal Community Services in Philadelphia in 2024 and $38,000 to Trinity Episcopal Church in 2025. Cultural and heritage support appears as well through gifts such as $12,500 to Opera Philadelphia and $30,000 to Delaware Canal 21.
Typical grant sizes sit in a mid-range band: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $9,000, and the 75th percentile is $14,375. The recent record shows both recurring support and one-off gifts. Trinity Episcopal Church, Delaware Canal 21, Lambda Legal, The Aclu Foundation of Pennsylvania, and Academy of Vocal Arts each appear in multiple years, while several other grants are single-year awards. The foundation is a regular funder and also funds individuals. Its grantmaking includes unrestricted charitable donations as well as specific-purpose awards for scholarly work, church maintenance, scholarship support, and civil-rights advocacy.
$105K
$744K
$91K
$90K
Most grants fall between $5K and $14K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$14K
About 73% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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A concentrated portfolio of about 10 mid-sized grants with several repeat recipients; mixes local place-based religious and cultural support with larger gifts to national/state legal and civil-rights organizations.
Notable grantees: Trinity Episcopal Church, Lambda Legal, The ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania, American Law Institute, Opera Philadelphia
Grant activity is concentrated in Pennsylvania, which accounts for 73% of grants and is also the top giving state by count. Philadelphia is the most frequent city in the recent grants list, with awards to the American Law Institute, Upenn Law School, Episcopal Community Services, Opera Philadelphia, The Aclu Foundation of Pennsylvania, Academy of Vocal Arts, and the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. Other Pennsylvania recipients include Solebury, Point Pleasant, and Doylestown. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation gave to organizations in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington, DC; all recent grants went to US recipients.
Its recent grants show support for Episcopal churches and social services, legal and civil-liberties organizations, law schools and legal scholarship, and cultural or heritage institutions. Examples in the record include church support, law-related scholarly work, and unrestricted gifts to civic and arts groups.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Trinity Episcopal Church, Delaware Canal 21, Lambda Legal, The Aclu Foundation of Pennsylvania, and Academy of Vocal Arts. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time awards.
Its typical grant range is mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $9,000, and the 75th percentile is $14,375. The recent grants list includes both smaller awards around $2,500 to $5,000 and larger awards such as $25,000 and $38,000.
Pennsylvania is the clear center of its giving. The data shows 73% of grants going to recipients in Pennsylvania, with Philadelphia appearing repeatedly across legal, cultural, and community organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $225,000 | 2026 | FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT TO DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA; IN MEMORY OF ALLEN D. BLACK. |
| LAMBDA LEGAL | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW. |
| POINT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH | POINT PLEASANT, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR THE CARE OF THE CEMETERY AT POINT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH. |
| TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SOLEBURY, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | FOR PURPOSES OF THE EPISCOPAL RELIGION AND MAINTAINING THE THE CHURCH |
| THE OHIO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ATHENS, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR THE R. RANDOLPH APGAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR ETHICS IN JOURNALISM. |
| THE ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT OF VOCAL-ARTS TRAINING. |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | FOR SUPPORT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH. |
| SALZBURG GLOBAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR SUPPORT OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY PROGRAMS. |
| THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR SUPPORT OF HIV/AIDS RESEARCH. |
| WHYY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC MEDIA PROGRAMMING AND JOURNALISM. |
| TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SOLEBURY, PA | $38,000 | 2025 | FOR PURPOSES OF THE EPISCOPAL RELIGION AND MAINTAINING THE THE CHURCH |
| AMERICAN LAW INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW. |
| UPENN LAW SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW. |
| LAMBDA LEGAL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW. |
| THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $7,000 | 2025 | FOR THE LAW DEPARTMENT EDUCATION PURPOSES, FOR SCHOLARLY WORK |
| EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SOLEBURY, PA | $9,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $8,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| POINT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH | POINT PLEASANT, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DELAWARE CANAL 21 | POINT PLEASANT, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| BRADY UNITED AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE | WASHINGOTN, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| LAMBDA LEGAL | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| OHIO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | R. RANDOLPH APGAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR ETHICS IN JOURNALISM |
| PHILADELPHIA BAR FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,832 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| DELAWARE CANAL 21 | POINT PLEASANT, PA | $30,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| LAMBDA LEGAL | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| OPERA PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $12,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH | SOLEBURY, PA | $9,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS (AVA) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $8,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
| BUCKS COUNTY HERALD FOUNDATION | DOYLESTOWN, PA | $2,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION |
THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF PENNSYLVANIA
$225,000FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
$200,000FOR UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT TO DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA; IN MEMORY OF ALLEN D. BLACK.
LAMBDA LEGAL
$30,000FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW.
POINT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH
$20,000FOR THE CARE OF THE CEMETERY AT POINT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$20,000FOR PURPOSES OF THE EPISCOPAL RELIGION AND MAINTAINING THE THE CHURCH
THE OHIO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR THE R. RANDOLPH APGAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR ETHICS IN JOURNALISM.
THE ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS
$10,000FOR UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT OF VOCAL-ARTS TRAINING.
THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSONS RESEARCH
$7,500FOR SUPPORT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH.
SALZBURG GLOBAL
$5,000FOR SUPPORT OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY PROGRAMS.
THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH
$2,500FOR SUPPORT OF HIV/AIDS RESEARCH.
WHYY
$2,500SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC MEDIA PROGRAMMING AND JOURNALISM.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$38,000FOR PURPOSES OF THE EPISCOPAL RELIGION AND MAINTAINING THE THE CHURCH
AMERICAN LAW INSTITUTE
$25,000FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW.
UPENN LAW SCHOOL
$15,000FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW.
LAMBDA LEGAL
$10,000FOR SCHOLARLY WORK TO CLARIFY, MODERNIZE, AND OTHERWISE IMPROVE THE LAW.
THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
$10,000FOR DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
$7,000FOR THE LAW DEPARTMENT EDUCATION PURPOSES, FOR SCHOLARLY WORK
EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
$15,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
THE ACLU FOUNDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$9,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS
$8,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
POINT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
DELAWARE CANAL 21
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
BRADY UNITED AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
LAMBDA LEGAL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
OHIO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$5,000R. RANDOLPH APGAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR ETHICS IN JOURNALISM
PHILADELPHIA BAR FOUNDATION
$3,832UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
DELAWARE CANAL 21
$30,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
LAMBDA LEGAL
$20,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
OPERA PHILADELPHIA
$12,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$9,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS (AVA)
$8,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION
BUCKS COUNTY HERALD FOUNDATION
$2,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE DONATION