About Venable Foundation
To promote the health and well-being of the communities where Venable's clients and professionals work and live by supporting civic, cultural, and charitable endeavors and public interest law and legal education.
Focus Areas
out-of-school time activitiesarts educationacademic enrichmenthomeless servicestransitional and supportive housingfood accessLGBTQ+ servicescollege accessveteran servicesworkforce developmentenvironmental preservationhealth initiativeslegal servicesimmigration support
About Venable Foundation
A $250,000 impact grant to Kids in Need of Defense stands out in Venable Foundation Inc.’s recent record, signaling a strong emphasis on direct social services for people facing legal and housing instability. Across the latest grants list, the foundation supports homelessness response, food access, legal aid, youth education, health-related work, and services for families and veterans. The largest awards sit alongside a steady layer of mid-sized general operating support, suggesting a funder that mixes targeted program funding with flexible support for community organizations. Recent grants also show repeated support for Maryland Food Bank Inc., Maryland Legal Aid, Miriam’s Kitchen, DC Central Kitchen, and Higher Achievement, each appearing more than once across multiple years. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation’s stated community purpose is to promote the health and well-being of the communities where Venable’s clients and professionals work and live, with support for civic, cultural, charitable, public interest law, and legal education work. Its grantmaking also reaches issues linked to homeless veterans, children and families, and low-income urban communities.
What Venable Foundation Funds
Homelessness and housing-related work appear across several grants. In 2023, Venable Foundation Inc. gave $75,000 to Miriam’s Kitchen for general operating support, and in the same year it gave $65,000 to The Baltimore Station for expanding mental health care for homeless veterans. It also backed Brooklyn Community Housing and Services Inc. with $35,000 for the Brooklyn Housing Assistance Center. Food access is another visible theme. Maryland Food Bank Inc. received $100,000 in 2023, $100,000 in 2024, and $90,000 in 2025 for general operating support. In addition, World Central Kitchen Incorporated received $50,000 for general operating support. The foundation also funds legal services and access to justice. Maryland Legal Aid received $50,000 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $50,000 in 2025 for general operating support, while Kids in Need of Defense received a $250,000 impact grant for social services for clients.
How Venable Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster tightly around $10,000 to $15,000, with a median award of $10,000 and a 75th percentile of $15,000. The recent list also includes a smaller set of larger grants, including $250,000 and $100,000 awards, which indicates a mix of baseline support and selective larger commitments. Recurring support is common: Maryland Food Bank Inc, Maryland Legal Aid, Miriam’s Kitchen, Higher Achievement, Bread for the City, and DC Central Kitchen all appear in multiple years. The foundation is a regular funder and does not fund individuals or program-related investments. Available program descriptions indicate direct grants through an annual grant season, and the listed programs do not accept unsolicited requests.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.7M
Total Assets
$466K
Total Revenue
$4M
Total Expenses
$4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
National9 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ROBERT WALDMAN
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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