The Ortner Family Foundation concentrates its giving on faith-based education and religious institutions, providing large unrestricted/general purpose grants to a small number of organizations. Grants are strongly oriented toward faith formation, religiously-affiliated schools and institutes, and organizations that promote religious liberty or the public role of religion. The foundation shows a preference for repeat, substantial gifts to mission-aligned organizations rather than many small awards.
The Ortner Family Foundation’s recent giving is centered on faith-based education and religious institutions, with large general-purpose grants flowing to a relatively small set of aligned organizations. The pattern is visible in repeated support for Cana Academy, which received $500,000 in 2023 and $385,000 in 2025, and for the Religious Freedom Institute, which received $360,000 in 2023 and $349,000 in 2025. Those awards sit alongside support for Catholic formation and religiously affiliated schools, including St Jerome Institute and Catholic Institute of Technology, both funded at six-figure levels. The foundation also backs organizations that work on the public role of religion and religious liberty, while continuing to fund Catholic education and vocational formation. Its portfolio leans toward unrestricted awards rather than project-specific grants, and the same organizations appear more than once across the recent grants list. The result is a grantmaking profile built around mission alignment, repeat support, and substantial checks to a concentrated group of recipients rather than broad dispersal across many small grants.
Catholic education and formation form a major part of the foundation’s recent grantmaking. The Catholic Institute of Technology received $250,000 in 2025, while The Catholic University of America received $100,000 in 2023. Related support also went to Thomas Aquinas College for $150,000 in 2025 and to The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education for $125,000 in 2025. Religious liberty and public policy advocacy is another clear thread: the Religious Freedom Institute received $349,000 in 2025, and the Ethics and Public Policy Center received $100,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports schools and academy models, including CANA Academy with $385,000 in 2025 and Divine Mercy Academy with $25,000 in 2025. Vocational and formation-oriented institutions such as the Dominican House of Studies College of the Immaculate Conception also appear in the recent grant list.
Typical grant sizes are substantial: the 25th percentile is $50,000, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $206,562. The foundation gives repeat awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Cana Academy, the Religious Freedom Institute, St Jerome Institute, The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Catholic Education Partners, The Evangelical Catholic Inc, and the Catholic Information Center. Grants in the recent list are generally designated as general purpose, indicating broad operating support rather than narrow project funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2.2M
$19.5M
$1.3M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $50K and $207K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$207K
About 18% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving: few large grants (many multi-hundred-thousand dollar awards), repeated support to the same grantees, primarily unrestricted/general purpose funding to faith-aligned organizations.
Notable grantees: CANA Academy, Religious Freedom Institute, St. Jerome Institute, Catholic Institute of Technology
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, with Maryland as the top state by grant count. Recent awards land most often in Washington, DC, with additional concentrations in Falls Church, Virginia; Hyattsville, Maryland; and other nearby cities such as Vienna and Leesburg, Virginia. Outside the region, recipients also include Cambridge, Massachusetts; Ventura, California; Madison, Wisconsin; Stillwater, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; and Pasadena, Maryland. The foundation gives 10% of grants to recipients in Virginia.
Its recent grants focus on Catholic education and formation, faith-based K–12 and academy support, religious liberty and public policy advocacy, and religious vocational or technical training. The recent grants list includes multiple general-purpose awards to schools, institutes, and advocacy organizations in those areas.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Cana Academy, the Religious Freedom Institute, St Jerome Institute, The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Catholic Education Partners, The Evangelical Catholic Inc, and the Catholic Information Center.
Typical grants are six figures or close to it. The distribution provided shows a 25th percentile of $50,000, a median of $100,000, and a 75th percentile of $206,562.
Maryland is the top state by grant count, and Washington, DC appears frequently among recipient cities. Other recipient locations in the recent list include Falls Church and Vienna in Virginia, plus Hyattsville, Pasadena, Cambridge, Madison, Stillwater, Dallas, and Ventura.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CANA ACADEMY | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $385,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RELIGIOUS FREEDOM INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $349,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST JEROME INSTITUTE | HYATTSVILLE, MD | $270,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DOMINICAN HOUSE OF STUDIES COLLEGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SENT INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP | VIENNA, VA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE | NORTHFIELD, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION | VENTURA, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| A SIMPLE HOUSE | WASHINGTON, DC | $87,182 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC EDUCATION PARTNERS | STILLWATER, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC INC | MADISON, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY | LEESBURG, VA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DIVINE MERCY ACADEMY | PASADENA, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE LEONINE FORUM INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF ST DOMINIC'S MONESTARY | LINDEN, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG CATHOLIC PROFESSIONALS | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CANA ACADEMY | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST JEROME INSTITUTE | HYATTSVILLE, MD | $292,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THOMISTIC INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SENT INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP | VIENNA, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION | VENTURA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RELIGIOUS FREEDOM INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $80,750 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE | NORTHFIELD, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| A SIMPLE HOUSE | WASHINGTON, DC | $45,073 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC INC | MADISON, WI | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY | LEESBURG, VA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG CATHOLIC PROFESSIONALS | DALLAS, TX | $12,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CANA ACADEMY | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RELIGIOUS FREEDOM INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $360,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST JEROME INSTITUTE | HYATTSVILLE, MD | $233,750 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THOMISTIC INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION | VENTURA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC EDUCATION PARTNERS | STILLWATER, MN | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC INC | MADISON, WI | $15,300 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
CANA ACADEMY
$385,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST JEROME INSTITUTE
$270,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
DOMINICAN HOUSE OF STUDIES COLLEGE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE
THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION
$125,000GENERAL PURPOSE
A SIMPLE HOUSE
$87,182GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC EDUCATION PARTNERS
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY
$40,000GENERAL PURPOSE
DIVINE MERCY ACADEMY
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRIENDS OF ST DOMINIC'S MONESTARY
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YOUNG CATHOLIC PROFESSIONALS
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE
CANA ACADEMY
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST JEROME INSTITUTE
$292,500GENERAL PURPOSE
THOMISTIC INSTITUTE
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
A SIMPLE HOUSE
$45,073GENERAL PURPOSE
TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YOUNG CATHOLIC PROFESSIONALS
$12,500GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CANA ACADEMY
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST JEROME INSTITUTE
$233,750GENERAL PURPOSE
THOMISTIC INSTITUTE
$125,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC EDUCATION PARTNERS
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC INFORMATION CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE