The Pedersen Foundation concentrates its giving on major medical research and patient-care institutions, with very large gifts to nationally prominent hospitals and university medical centers. While the bulk of funds support biomedical research and treatment (notably pediatric care), the foundation also makes sizable, unrestricted grants to community-focused nonprofits. Its portfolio mixes high-profile national beneficiaries with targeted local social-service support.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large-dollar grants (multi-million gifts), including repeat support to flagship medical institutions; combination of national, institution-level philanthropy and selective local/community grants.
The Pedersen Foundation C/o Gino Zaccardelli - Mcguirewoods LLP is marked by a pattern of very large support for medical research and patient-care institutions, led by a $5,000,000 grant to St Judes Children Research Hospital in 2024 and a $3,000,000 grant to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine in 2023. Those two gifts show a preference for major hospital and university medical center recipients, especially when the funding can be used broadly as general support. The foundation also extends substantial unrestricted help beyond medicine, including $750,000 to St Francis Neighborhood Center in Baltimore for general support. Smaller awards in the portfolio point to a broader set of community and public-interest beneficiaries, but the dominant signal is clear: large, flexible grants to institutions with established service or research infrastructure. The giving pattern combines national-scale health philanthropy with local social-service support, while still allowing room for general-use grants to organizations in Virginia, Maryland, Florida, and other U.S. locations. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s work reads as institutional, discretionary, and not limited to one narrow charitable niche.
In pediatric cancer and hospital-based research, the foundation gave $5,000,000 to St Judes Children Research Hospital for general support and $1,000,000 to the same institution in 2024, reinforcing its emphasis on major medical beneficiaries. Academic medical center work also appears prominently: Johns Hopkins University & Medicine received $3,000,000 for general support, linking the foundation to research and clinical medicine at a large university medical system. Outside health care, the foundation supports community services through $750,000 to St Francis Neighborhood Center for general support, along with additional awards to organizations such as Miriam's Kitchen and Washington Jesuit Academy. The recent grants also include public-interest and civic-oriented recipients, showing that the portfolio is not confined to hospitals alone.
Typical grants cluster at a relatively modest core even though a few awards are much larger: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $47,500. That distribution sits alongside several multimillion-dollar grants, which indicates a mix of small institutional awards and occasional high-conviction gifts. The recent list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including St Judes Children Research Hospital, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, and St Francis Neighborhood Center. The foundation appears to operate as a grantmaking entity that favors general support and general use, with a notable share of flexible funding rather than tightly designated project grants.
$1.6M
$238.9M
$12.1M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $48K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$48K
About 16% of grants go to recipients in MD.
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Notable grantees: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, Badger Six, St. Francis Neighborhood Center
Grantmaking is U.S.-only in the recent sample, with 44 grants going to U.S. recipients. Florida is the top state by grant count, and Virginia recipients account for 15% of grants. Baltimore appears multiple times, including St Francis Neighborhood Center and Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, while Key West also recurs through several recipients. Other named recipient locations include Memphis, Washington, and Tysons Corner, showing a regional footprint that reaches beyond the foundation’s Virginia headquarters.
The recent grants show a strong tilt toward medical research and patient-care institutions, especially St Judes Children Research Hospital and Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. It also funds community nonprofits such as St Francis Neighborhood Center, plus some public-interest and civic organizations. Many awards are labeled general support or general use, suggesting flexible institutional funding.
Yes. The recent grants list includes repeated support across multiple years for St Judes Children Research Hospital, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, and St Francis Neighborhood Center. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time-only awards in at least part of the portfolio.
Among the recent grants, the p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $47,500. The distribution is topped by a few much larger gifts, including multimillion-dollar grants, so the portfolio mixes routine smaller awards with occasional large commitments.
Florida is the top state by grant count, and Virginia recipients account for 15% of grants. The recent list also shows multiple awards in Maryland, Washington, and several Florida locations such as Key West and Miami.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BADGER SIX | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $1,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| THIRD OPTION | RESTON, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| GIRL SECURITY | MCLEAN, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| WARRIOR RISING | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | TYSONS CORNER, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| FORMAN SCHOOL | LITCHFIELD, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| BULLIS HIGH SCHOOL | POTOMAC, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| FREEDOM ALLIANCE | WINCHESTER, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| MIRIAM'S KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| SUMARITANS PURSE | BOONE, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| ASPCA FLORIDA KEYS | KEY WEST, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| SAINT FRANCIS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANIMAL FARM | KEY WEST, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| BONEFISH AND TARPON TRUST | MIAMI, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| DENNIS LEARY FIREFIGHTER FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| HIDDEN HARBOUR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT | MARATHON, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| MARYLAND COALITION OF FAMILIES | COLUMBIA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| DONOR SIBLING REGISTRY | NEDERLAND, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| CENTER FOR ADOPTION SUPPORT AND EDUCATION | BURTONSVILLE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| EDUCATIONAL COALITION OF MONROE COUNTY | MARATHON, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| DR HOLLANDAISE OPUS FOUNDATION | BURBANK, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL USE |
| ST JUDES CHILDREN RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JUDES CHILDREN RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST FRANCIS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $750,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACADEMY OF NEUROSCIENCE FOR ARCHITECTURE | LA JOLLA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE CHILDREN FOUNDATION | FAIRFAX, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY & MEDICINE | BALTIMORE, MD | $3,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FREEDOM ALLIANCE | DULLES, VA | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA KEYS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | KEY WEST, FL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SILVER SPRING, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DONOR SIBLING REGISTRY | NEDERLAND, CO | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR ADOPTION SUPPORT AND EDUCATION INC | BURTONSVILLE, MD | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST FRANCIS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMFORT CASES INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF COLLIER AND THE KEYS INC | KEY WEST, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN VIRGINIA CONSERVATION TRUST | ANNADALE, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BELIEVE IN TOMORROW CHILDRENS FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OCEANA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR OF WASHINGTON DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
BADGER SIX
$1,100,000GENERAL USE
GIRL SECURITY
$100,000GENERAL USE
DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL USE
FORMAN SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL USE
BULLIS HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL USE
ASPCA FLORIDA KEYS
$15,000GENERAL USE
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANIMAL FARM
$10,000GENERAL USE
DENNIS LEARY FIREFIGHTER FUND
$10,000GENERAL USE
HIDDEN HARBOUR MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT
$10,000GENERAL USE
MARYLAND COALITION OF FAMILIES
$5,000GENERAL USE
DONOR SIBLING REGISTRY
$5,000GENERAL USE
EDUCATIONAL COALITION OF MONROE COUNTY
$5,000GENERAL USE
DR HOLLANDAISE OPUS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL USE
ACADEMY OF NEUROSCIENCE FOR ARCHITECTURE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY & MEDICINE
$3,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FREEDOM ALLIANCE
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FLORIDA KEYS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DONOR SIBLING REGISTRY
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMFORT CASES INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTHERN VIRGINIA CONSERVATION TRUST
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT