The Morris A. and Clarisse B. Mechanic Foundation appears to make targeted, place-based gifts to support public media and civic information in Maryland. Its single recorded grant is a sizable contribution to Maryland Public Television, suggesting an interest in sustaining regional broadcasting, educational programming, and community outreach through public media.
Concentrated, large single grants to a local flagship nonprofit—appears to favor one-off or occasional major gifts to regional public institutions rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Maryland Public Television
The Morris a and Clarisse B Mechanic Foundation Inc has a clear pattern of supporting Maryland organizations through repeated supporting grants, with Maryland Public Television receiving the largest recent gift at $100,000 in 2023. That first large grant points to a funder interested in public media and civic information, and the broader grant list shows the same local orientation across libraries, food access, arts, health, and education. The foundation’s recent awards are mostly in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, suggesting steady, medium-sized operating support rather than one-off project funding. Several organizations appear more than once, including Harford County Public Library Found Hcpl Foundation, Maryland Food Bank of Central MD, Center Stage, Radio Reading, Maryland School for the Blind, Maryland Zoo, Baltimore Child Abuse, Meals on Wheels, and Mt Washington Pediatrics. Those repeat awards indicate an ongoing relationship with recipients rather than isolated gifts. The mix of public media, literacy, food relief, and community-serving institutions suggests a place-based grantmaker focused on organizations that provide everyday services and access to information for Maryland residents.
Public media and civic information are central themes. In 2023, the foundation gave $100,000 to Maryland Public Television for a supporting grant, and later awards also included $15,000 to Radio Reading in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Educational and community access work appears in library support as well: Harford County Public Library Found Hcpl Foundation received $20,000 in 2023 and 2024, and another $20,000 in 2025. The arts also show up in the record. Center Stage received $20,000 in 2025, while Center Stage Outreach for Children received $15,000 in 2023 and 2024. Food access and basic needs are another recurring area, with Maryland Food Bank of Central MD receiving $20,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Meals on Wheels of Central MD receiving $15,000 in 2025.
Typical grant size clusters tightly around $5,000 at the 25th percentile and median, with the 75th percentile at $11,250, while the recent grants list shows many awards of $15,000 to $20,000 and one $100,000 grant. The pattern is repeat giving: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Harford County Public Library Found Hcpl Foundation, Maryland Food Bank of Central MD, Center Stage, Radio Reading, Maryland School for the Blind, Maryland Zoo, Baltimore Child Abuse, Meals on Wheels, and Mt Washington Pediatrics. The foundation gives supporting grants and appears to use that structure consistently. It funds organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$367K
$6.2M
$372K
$481K
Most grants fall between $5K and $11K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$11K
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Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Maryland, which accounts for 98% of grants. The recipient map is strongly local, with Baltimore appearing repeatedly across Maryland Food Bank of Central MD, Center Stage, Radio Reading, Maryland School for the Blind, Maryland Zoo, Baltimore Child Abuse, Meals on Wheels of Central MD, and Morgan Class68 Endowment. Belcamp also appears through Harford County Public Library Found Hcpl Foundation, while Owings Mills is the location of Maryland Public Television. One recent grant went to Mt Washington Pediatrics in Boston, but the overall distribution remains local to Maryland.
Its recent grants include public media, libraries, food access, arts, and services for children and older adults. Examples include Maryland Public Television, Harford County Public Library Found Hcpl Foundation, Maryland Food Bank of Central MD, Center Stage, and Meals on Wheels of Central MD.
Yes. Maryland is the top state by grant count, and 98% of grants go to recipients in Maryland. Recent recipient cities include Baltimore, Belcamp, Owings Mills, and Pikesville.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at both the 25th percentile and the median, with the 75th percentile at $11,250. Recent awards are often larger, commonly $15,000 or $20,000, with one $100,000 grant to Maryland Public Television.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including Harford County Public Library Found Hcpl Foundation, Maryland Food Bank of Central MD, Center Stage, Radio Reading, Maryland School for the Blind, Maryland Zoo, Baltimore Child Abuse, Meals on Wheels, and Mt Washington Pediatrics.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL MD | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| SUTTON SCHOLARS | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUND | BELCAMP, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| AFRO AMERICAN ARCHIVES | BALTIMORE, MD | $17,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MARYLAND ZOO | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| BALTIMORE CHILD ABUSE | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING MD | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL MD | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MT WASHINGTON PEDIATRICS | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| RADIO READING | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS YAP | BALTIMORE, MD | $12,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| PIERIANS FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| INNOVATION WORKS | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| ST MARY'S OUTREACH CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SUSQUEHANNA | BEL AIR, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| PROJECT PLASE | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| NEW LIFE | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MARYLAND BOYS CHOIR | BALTIMORFE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| REGINALD F LEWIS MUSEUM | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HARMER'S TOWN ART CENTER | HAVRE DE GRACE, MD | $7,500 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HOSPICE OF CHESAPEAKE | PASADENA, MD | $7,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| BALLET AFTER DARK | BALTIMORE, MD | $7,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| NOTRE DAME U MD DISTINGUISHED WOME | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | FALLSTON, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| CHESAPEAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING | ABINGDON, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| SARC OF HARFORD COUNTY | BEL AIR, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| COASTAL HOSPICE | SALISBURY, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| DRINK FROM THE WELL | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MARION HOUSE | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| MOUNT VERNON VIRTOUSI | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| SETON CENTER | EMMITSBURG, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| NORTHBAY EDUCATION | NORTH EAST, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| PORT DISCOVERY | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| KENNEDY KRIEGER | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| ARENA PLAYHOUSE | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HOPEWELL CENTER CANCER SUPPORT | BROOKLANDVILLE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| NOTRE DAME U ARTS & SCHOLARS | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| ED LALLY FOUNDATION | BEL AIR, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEAR COMPANY | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| WOMEN'S CIVIC LEAGUE-BALTIMORE CITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| FOREST PARK SENIOR CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| BARRIER FREE | SYKESVILLE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HOPE FOR ALL | GLEN BURNIE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| BELIEVE IN TOMORROW CHILDRENS FDN | OCEAN CITY, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF ANNAPOLIS | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $4,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| BALTIMORE JEWELERY CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CENTRAL MD | BALTIMORE, MD | $3,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTING GRANT |
MD FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL MD
$20,000SUPPORTING GRANT
SUTTON SCHOLARS
$20,000SUPPORTING GRANT
HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUND
$20,000SUPPORTING GRANT
AFRO AMERICAN ARCHIVES
$17,000SUPPORTING GRANT
MARYLAND ZOO
$15,000SUPPORTING GRANT
BALTIMORE CHILD ABUSE
$15,000SUPPORTING GRANT
ARTS FOR LEARNING MD
$15,000SUPPORTING GRANT
MT WASHINGTON PEDIATRICS
$15,000SUPPORTING GRANT
RADIO READING
$15,000SUPPORTING GRANT
SPECIAL OLYMPICS YAP
$12,000SUPPORTING GRANT
PIERIANS FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
INNOVATION WORKS
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
ST MARY'S OUTREACH CENTER
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SUSQUEHANNA
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
PROJECT PLASE
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
NEW LIFE
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
MARYLAND BOYS CHOIR
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
REGINALD F LEWIS MUSEUM
$10,000SUPPORTING GRANT
HARMER'S TOWN ART CENTER
$7,500SUPPORTING GRANT
BALLET AFTER DARK
$7,000SUPPORTING GRANT
NOTRE DAME U MD DISTINGUISHED WOME
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
CHESAPEAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
SARC OF HARFORD COUNTY
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
COASTAL HOSPICE
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
DRINK FROM THE WELL
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
MOUNT VERNON VIRTOUSI
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
SETON CENTER
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
NORTHBAY EDUCATION
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
PORT DISCOVERY
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
KENNEDY KRIEGER
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
ARENA PLAYHOUSE
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
HOPEWELL CENTER CANCER SUPPORT
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
NOTRE DAME U ARTS & SCHOLARS
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
ED LALLY FOUNDATION
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEAR COMPANY
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
WOMEN'S CIVIC LEAGUE-BALTIMORE CITY
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
FOREST PARK SENIOR CENTER
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
BARRIER FREE
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
BELIEVE IN TOMORROW CHILDRENS FDN
$5,000SUPPORTING GRANT
BALTIMORE JEWELERY CENTER
$3,000SUPPORTING GRANT
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CENTRAL MD
$3,000SUPPORTING GRANT