The Blanket Fort Foundation concentrates sizable, general‑purpose gifts to a small set of Baltimore‑area institutions, emphasizing local Jewish community infrastructure, higher education, and college‑access youth programs. Their grants are predominantly unrestricted/general need support, indicating a preference for core operating funding rather than project‑specific philanthropy. The foundation appears community‑focused and institutionally oriented, favoring established organizations with regional impact.
Concentrated, large grants to a very small number of repeat and flagship grantees; few but high‑value gifts, including multiple payments to the same organization rather than broad, small grantmaking.
Blanket Fort Foundation’s largest recent gift was $344,604 to Johns Hopkins Endowment for general need, a signal that the foundation is willing to make substantial unrestricted commitments to established institutions. Across its recent grants, the foundation backs Baltimore-area organizations tied to education, Jewish community infrastructure, and youth support, with several awards landing at recurring recipients over multiple years. Thread Inc received a $300,000 general-need grant in 2025, while The Associated appears repeatedly in the recent grants list with awards of $225,500 in 2024, $201,125 in 2023, and $180,000 in 2025. The pattern points to a funder that favors core support for groups already embedded in local civic life rather than narrow, project-only grants. It also extends beyond a single institution type: the portfolio includes a university endowment, a Jewish federation, college-access work, and community-serving nonprofits. That mix, paired with general-need language on the grants, suggests a flexible approach centered on organizational strength and local continuity.
In higher education, Blanket Fort Foundation gave $344,604 to Johns Hopkins Endowment and later provided $50,000 to Johns Hopkins University, showing continued support for the university ecosystem. In college-access and youth development, Thread Inc received $300,000 in 2025, and Heartsmiles received $60,000 in 2025 after a $50,000 grant in 2024. For Jewish community infrastructure, The Associated received multiple general-need grants, including $225,500 in 2024 and $180,000 in 2025, while Beth El Congregation received $60,396 in 2023. The foundation also supports education intermediaries: Fund for Educational Excellence Inc received $110,000 in 2025, $106,500 in 2024, and $96,944 in 2023.
Typical grant size centers on a $10,000 median, with a lower quartile of $1,650 and an upper quartile of $25,000. The recent grants list shows a meaningful number of larger awards above that range, including several six-figure gifts, alongside many smaller general-need grants. Recipients appear across multiple years, especially in Baltimore, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-time awards. The foundation is a private family foundation-style grantmaker with an annual payout of $4,859,679 and assets of $23,112,220. Its active programs accept unsolicited requests, and the general grant program reviews requests three times a year.
$2.1M
$23.1M
$7.1M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $2K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Notable grantees: The Associated (Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore), Johns Hopkins University Endowment, THREAD Inc
Grantmaking is concentrated in Maryland, with 58% of grants to recipients in the headquarters state and Maryland listed as the top state by grant count. Baltimore is the dominant city in the recent grants list, including awards to Johns Hopkins Endowment, Thread Inc, The Associated, Fund for Educational Excellence Inc, and Kipp Baltimore Inc. Outside Maryland, the foundation has also funded organizations in New York City, Rockland, Maine, Washington, DC, Richmond, California, and Adelphi, Maryland. All recorded recipient grants in the available data are in the United States.
The foundation prioritizes education, basic needs, and the Jewish community. Recent grants show repeat support for Baltimore-area institutions, including general education nonprofits, Jewish community organizations, and college-access or youth-development groups. Several awards are unrestricted or general-need support.
Yes. The active grant programs say the foundation accepts unsolicited applications, and the general grant program reviews requests three times a year. New applicants begin by contacting the foundation for an initial meeting.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the median, with a p25 of $1,650 and a p75 of $25,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, including six-figure grants to established institutions.
The foundation gives regionally and concentrates heavily in Maryland. Maryland is the top state by grant count, and 58% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state. Baltimore appears frequently in the recent grants list.
Its recent grants are predominantly listed as general need. That pattern appears across education, Jewish community, and local institutional support, including recurring awards to the same organizations in multiple years.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Blanket Fort Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) or work with a fiscal sponsor; alignment with emergency response needs and Foundation priorities.
Deadline: Emergency requests are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
Who can apply: Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) or work with a fiscal sponsor. Applicants should align with the Foundation's mission and priority funding areas.
Deadline: Trimester cycles with LOI and grant application deadlines. Emergency requests accepted on a rolling basis. Typical 2026 cycle examples: T1 LOI 1/22 (apps 2/12), T2 LOI 4/1 (apps 4/15), T3 LOI 10/1 (apps 10/14). Exact dates provided during initial meeting and may vary by applicant.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THREAD INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| THE ASSOCIATED | BALTIMORE, MD | $180,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| IMPROVING EDUCATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| THE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| HOMEWORTHY | ROCKLAND, ME | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| HEARTSMILES | BALTIMORE, MD | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| KIPP BALTIMORE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $51,800 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FOUNDATION INC | ADELPHI, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| REBUILD METRO INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| THE VENETOULIS INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL JOURNALISM | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| SOCIAL GOOD FUND INC (JEWTINA Y CO) | RICHMOND, CA | $43,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| UEMPOWER OF MD | SEVERNA PARK, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| ISRAAID GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE INC | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| WE WILL ALL RISE | BALTIMORE, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| UMBC FOUNDATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| FRANCISCAN CENTER INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| AZIZA PEACE | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| CHANGE SUMMER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION | AGAWAM, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| BEYOND TYPE1 | SAN MATEO, CA | $26,200 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| COLLEGEBOUND FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| CHERRY HILL STRONG INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| PROJECT KESHER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| DREAM BIG FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM | ROCKLAND, ME | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| WEEKEND BACKPACKS FOR HOMELESS KIDS | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| LEWY BODY DEMENTIA ASSOCIATION | LILBURN, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| LIFEBRIDGE HEALTH INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| CITY NEIGHBORS FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART | BALTIMORE, MD | $23,500 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| TOUCHED BY TYPE 1 | ALAMONTE SPRINGS, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| FOOTSTEPS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| PEN BAY WALDO HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | BELFAST, ME | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MD - DELORES G KELLY HEALTH EQUITY FUND | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| LIBERTY GRACE CHURCH OF GOD GRACE FOUNDATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| BACKYARD BASECAMP INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| HARLEM LACROSSE AND LEADERSHIP CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| SLINGSHOT FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| SHAREBABY INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| BETH EL CONGREGATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $12,480 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| HIGHLAND PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| MT WASHINGTON PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| WILLIAM J WATKINS SR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
| ADAS YOSHURON SYNAGOGUE | ROCKLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL NEED |
THE ASSOCIATED
$180,000GENERAL NEED
THE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALTIMORE
$60,000GENERAL NEED
HOMEWORTHY
GENERAL NEED
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$50,000GENERAL NEED
ISRAAID GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE INC
$40,000GENERAL NEED
UMBC FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL NEED
BEYOND TYPE1
$26,200GENERAL NEED
CHERRY HILL STRONG INC
$25,000GENERAL NEED
DREAM BIG FOUNDATION INC
$25,000GENERAL NEED
FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM
$25,000GENERAL NEED
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
$23,500GENERAL NEED
TOUCHED BY TYPE 1
$20,000GENERAL NEED
PEN BAY WALDO HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL NEED
LIBERTY GRACE CHURCH OF GOD GRACE FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL NEED
SLINGSHOT FUND INC
$15,000GENERAL NEED
BETH EL CONGREGATION
$12,480GENERAL NEED
WILLIAM J WATKINS SR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL NEED
ADAS YOSHURON SYNAGOGUE
$10,000GENERAL NEED
