The Joseph Meyerhoff Fund focuses heavily on Jewish communal philanthropy and endowment-building, particularly supporting Israel-related endowments and local Jewish federation initiatives, while also making targeted gifts to cultural institutions in Baltimore. Grants are large and strategic, aimed at sustaining long-term operating capacity and legacy funds rather than broad small-dollar support.
Concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants, including repeated multi-grant support to the same endowment organizations and single large gifts to local cultural institutions.
The Joseph Meyerhoff Fund Inc has used large, unrestricted grants to build Jewish communal endowments and sustain Baltimore institutions. One of its clearest recent patterns is support for PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc, including a $1,201,000 grant in 2024 and an $871,000 grant in 2025, showing sustained backing for Israel-related endowment vehicles. The fund also made a $596,900 unrestricted grant in 2025 to the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, reinforcing its long-running role in local Jewish community infrastructure. Alongside that core giving, the foundation has backed major Baltimore cultural and civic organizations, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and Johns Hopkins University. Its grants are generally substantial and flexible, with amounts often positioned to support operating capacity, endowment building, or other broad institutional needs rather than narrow projects. The recent record shows a donor that concentrates on established organizations, especially those tied to Jewish communal life, Israel-focused philanthropy, and Baltimore’s civic and cultural landscape.
A central thread in the foundation’s giving is Israel-focused endowment support. In 2025, it gave $871,000 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc for unrestricted purposes, after a $1,201,000 grant in 2024 to the same organization. Another priority is Jewish campus and advocacy infrastructure. The fund awarded $225,000 to Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (hillel) in 2025 and $160,000 to Israel on Campus Coalition in 2024, both unrestricted. It also supports Jewish community institutions in Baltimore, including a $200,000 gift in 2025 to Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore. Beyond Jewish communal organizations, the fund has supported cultural and civic work in Baltimore, such as a $120,000 unrestricted grant in 2025 to Baltimore Museum of Art.
Typical grant size centers on larger institutional support: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $33,750. Recent grants show repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc, the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, New Israel Fund, Anti-defamation League, and Israel on Campus Coalition. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grants in the recent list are marked unrestricted, consistent with flexible support.
$4.2M
$45.2M
$2.5M
$5.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $34K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$34K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Joseph Meyerhoff Fund.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 272 | $11.2M | 98.9% |
| 2 | Israel | 3 |
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Notable grantees: PEF Israel Endowment Funds, Inc., Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Maryland, which receives 74% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Baltimore appears repeatedly across the recent grants list, with gifts to the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, Baltimore Museum of Art, Johns Hopkins University, United Way of Central Maryland, and several others. Washington, DC also appears as a frequent recipient location through organizations such as Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (hillel), Israel on Campus Coalition, and New Israel Fund. Outside the United States, the recent-country distribution includes Israel, though the recipient list here is overwhelmingly domestic.
The recent grants point to three recurring areas: Jewish communal philanthropy and endowments, Baltimore Jewish community infrastructure, and selected Baltimore cultural institutions. Examples include support for PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc, the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
The recent grants shown are all marked unrestricted. That includes gifts such as $871,000 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc in 2025 and $596,900 to the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore in 2025.
The grant-size distribution is relatively large for a private foundation: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $33,750. Recent awards also include much larger institutional grants, which suggests they are comfortable funding at scale.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, New Israel Fund, Anti-defamation League, Israel on Campus Coalition, and the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
Maryland is the main destination for its grantmaking, with 74% of grants going to recipients in the state. Baltimore is especially prominent among recent recipients, but Washington, DC and a smaller number of Israel-based grants also appear in the record.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $20K |
1.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NE | $871,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ASSOCIATED JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $596,900 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE (HILLEL) | WASHINGTON, DC | $225,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | BALTIMORE, MD | $200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART | BALTIMORE, MD | $120,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEW ISRAEL FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $103,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $80,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $71,678 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WATERFRONT PARTNERSHIP | BALTIMORE, MD | $70,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INNOVATION WORKS | BALTIMORE, MD | $67,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE | BALTIMORE, MD | $60,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARYLAND FOOD BANK | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAMPS AIRY AND LOUISE | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BELAIR-EDISON NEIGHBORHOODS INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH GRANDPARENTS NETWORK | STEVENSON, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF IMPJ | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MT WASHINGTON PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| B'NAI B'RITH YOUTH ORGANIZATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF PATTERSON PARK | BALTIMORE, MD | $29,986 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NAMI METROPOLITAN BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL | PORTLAND, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OFAKIM LA'ATID EMERGENCY OPERATING SUPPORT | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LIVE BALTIMORE HOME CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $24,200 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INSTITUTE FOR ISLAMIC CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH STUDIES | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ONE TABLE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BALTIMORE CENTER STAGE | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NATIONAL AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWBELONG INC | UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WALTERS ART MUSEUM | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE INGENUITY PROJECT | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL | TRIANGLE, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BANNER NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YMCA | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FELLS POINT CREATIVE ALLIANCE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $18,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BALTIMORE MONTESSORI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE NETWORK INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HAMILTON-LAURAVILLE MAIN STREET INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HOUSE OF RUTH MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC
$871,000UNRESTRICTED
ASSOCIATED JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF BALTIMORE
$596,900UNRESTRICTED
FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE (HILLEL)
$225,000UNRESTRICTED
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BALTIMORE
$200,000UNRESTRICTED
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$200,000UNRESTRICTED
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
$120,000UNRESTRICTED
NEW ISRAEL FUND
$103,000UNRESTRICTED
ISRAEL ON CAMPUS COALITION
$100,000UNRESTRICTED
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
$85,000UNRESTRICTED
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$80,000UNRESTRICTED
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION
$75,000UNRESTRICTED
SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$71,678UNRESTRICTED
WATERFRONT PARTNERSHIP
$70,000UNRESTRICTED
INNOVATION WORKS
$67,000UNRESTRICTED
FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
$60,000UNRESTRICTED
MARYLAND FOOD BANK
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
CAMPS AIRY AND LOUISE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
BELAIR-EDISON NEIGHBORHOODS INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
JEWISH GRANDPARENTS NETWORK
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS OF IMPJ
$45,000UNRESTRICTED
MT WASHINGTON PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
B'NAI B'RITH YOUTH ORGANIZATION
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS OF PATTERSON PARK
$29,986UNRESTRICTED
NAMI METROPOLITAN BALTIMORE
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
OFAKIM LA'ATID EMERGENCY OPERATING SUPPORT
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
LIVE BALTIMORE HOME CENTER
$24,200UNRESTRICTED
ARTS FOR LEARNING MARYLAND
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
INSTITUTE FOR ISLAMIC CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH STUDIES
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
ONE TABLE
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
BALTIMORE CENTER STAGE
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
NATIONAL AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
JEWBELONG INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
WALTERS ART MUSEUM
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
THE INGENUITY PROJECT
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
THE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALTIMORE
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
BANNER NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY CORPORATION
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
YMCA
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE FOUNDATION INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
FELLS POINT CREATIVE ALLIANCE INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND
$18,000UNRESTRICTED
BALTIMORE MONTESSORI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE NETWORK INC
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
HAMILTON-LAURAVILLE MAIN STREET INC
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
HOUSE OF RUTH MARYLAND
$15,000UNRESTRICTED