The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation is a Catholic family foundation dedicated to preserving the generous spirit of its founders and strengthening communities in central and western Maryland.
Focus Areas
Arts and HumanitiesCatholic Activities / Catholic SchoolsEducationHealth CareHuman ServicesYouth EmpowermentWorkforce Development
Who They Fund
Baltimore-area residents and communitiesCatholic school students and parishesK-12 students (low-income and urban)youth and young people (after-school, mentoring participants)job-seekers and workforce program participants
About Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation
The Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation Inc gives through a Catholic family foundation model that concentrates on central and western Maryland, with 97% of its grants landing in its headquarters state. Its recent grants show a clear preference for operating support and institution-level funding, especially for Catholic organizations and schools. The largest recent grant in the data, $228,222, went to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for operations, followed by $160,000 to Associated Catholic Charities Inc for operations. Other sizeable awards include $151,000 to Mount De Sales Academy and $120,000 to Mercy Hs, both for operations. The grant list also includes community-serving organizations such as Marion Housing, Cornerstone Community Housing, Paul’s Place, and the Franciscan Center, showing that the foundation supports both faith-based institutions and broader social-service work. Across the recent grants file, awards are almost entirely within Maryland, with one recent grant to St Maria Goretti High School in Philadelphia, but the overall pattern remains strongly place-based in Baltimore and nearby communities.
What Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation Funds
Catholic education is a major thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. Recent awards include $151,000 to Mount De Sales Academy for operations, $114,461 to Archbishop Curley High School for operations, and $110,000 to The Catholic High School of Baltimore for operations. The foundation also supports K-12 schools outside Baltimore city, such as $95,000 to St John's Catholic Prep and $90,000 to Bishop Walsh School. Human services is another visible area: Associated Catholic Charities Inc received $160,000 for operations, while $75,125 went to Paul’s Place and $75,000 to Franciscan Center, both for operations. Workforce and youth-related priorities also appear in its strategic programs, which focus on youth empowerment and workforce development in central and western Maryland.
How Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation Gives
The foundation’s typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $48,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants file shows repeated support for the same types of organizations over multiple years, especially Catholic schools, parishes, and human-service providers. Awards are commonly structured as operating support, and the foundation also uses cash flow loans and discretionary grants. Its active programs are targeted rather than open-ended, and the listed programs do not accept unsolicited requests.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.8M
Total Assets
$85.3M
Total Revenue
$20M
Total Expenses
$4.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $2K and $49K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$49K
Geographic Reach
Local9 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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Catholic education / Catholic school supportK-12 education (school improvement & access)youth empowerment and afterschool/mentoring programsworkforce development and job-readinesshousing and community developmenthuman services / social safety-net programsarts and humanities
Where Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation Makes Grants
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 97% of grants go to recipients in Maryland, and the top giving state is MD. Baltimore appears frequently, including grants to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Associated Catholic Charities Inc, Mercy Hs, Loyola Early Learning Center, and Franciscan Center. Other Maryland recipients include Catonsville, Towson, Bel Air, Cumberland, Frederick, and Halethorpe. Outside Maryland, the recent-grants file includes St Timothy Catholic Church in Lady Lake, Florida, and St Maria Goretti High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation
What kinds of organizations does the foundation support?
Its recent grants center on Catholic activities, Catholic schools, education, health care, human services, arts and humanities, youth empowerment, and workforce development. The recent grants list includes institutions such as the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Mount De Sales Academy, Associated Catholic Charities Inc, and Paul’s Place.
How large are its typical grants?
The typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $48,500 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from small discretionary amounts to larger operating grants such as $228,222 to the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?
The active programs listed for the foundation do not accept unsolicited requests. That applies to its strategic initiatives, general fund grants, discretionary grants, cash flow loans, and the Catholic Schools and Workforce Development programs.
Where does most of the giving go?
Giving is highly concentrated in Maryland. The foundation’s top giving state is MD, and 97% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state. Baltimore is a recurring recipient location, along with Catonsville, Towson, Bel Air, Cumberland, Frederick, and Halethorpe.
What are the foundation’s main program priorities?
Its active programs emphasize youth empowerment, Catholic schools, and workforce development, with additional general and discretionary support for arts and humanities, Catholic activities, education, health care, and human services. The strategic initiatives are focused on central Maryland and western Maryland.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Marion I & Henry J Knott Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $500 – $3K
Discretionary Grants
Community needsArts and humanitiesCatholic activities+3 more
Who can apply: Requests must fit the Foundation's eligibility guidelines and be submitted by eligible nonprofit organizations or for eligible projects. Awards depend on the proposed project, available funds, and other funding requests.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Board members may use discretionary funds through November 15 each year.
Arts and humanitiesCatholic activitiesEducation+2 more
Who can apply: Nonprofits and programs serving the Archdiocese of Baltimore, including Baltimore City and the specified Maryland counties, may apply if they meet the Foundation's eligibility guidelines. Organizations must generally have been operating for at least one year. Exclusions include unrestricted grants, sub-granting requests, endowments, individuals, medical research, one-time events, seminars or workshops, political activities, public school education and public agencies, charter schools, prior expenses, and scholarships. Funded organizations may reapply after three years; organizations not advanced or denied after a full proposal or LOI may generally reapply after one year.
Deadline: LOI deadlines listed: October 5, 2026; February 1, 2027; June 7, 2027. Full proposal deadlines: November 23, 2026; March 22, 2027; July 26, 2027. Grant cycles occur in February, June, and October.
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Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
