The Walter & Sarah Diener Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life in the Washington, D.C./Maryland area, with major support for eldercare and Jewish educational/engagement programs. Grants are directed toward established local institutions — particularly a long-standing Jewish nursing/eldercare provider — and also fund campus Jewish life and residential services for people with disabilities. The foundation gives relatively few, mid-to-large sized contributions and often makes repeat grants to the same organizations.
Concentrated, mid-size giving with repeat support to a handful of local institutional grantees; few grants overall and a focus on sustaining established organizations rather than broad exploratory funding.
A recurring pattern defines Walter & Sarah Diener Foundation Inc: its largest recent grants repeatedly support Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, including $55,360 in 2024, $52,500 in 2023, and $43,750 in 2025. That consistency points to a funder built around long-term relationships with established Jewish communal institutions rather than one-off awards. The foundation’s recent giving also extends beyond eldercare into Jewish learning, campus Jewish life, and services for people with disabilities. Makom received $35,000 in both 2024 and 2025, while University of Maryland Hillel was supported in 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing a multi-year commitment to organizations with ongoing program needs. Charles Smith Life Communities also appears in the recent grants list, alongside grants to Jewish Foundation for Group Homes and The Diener School. Across the list, grants are typically directed to organizations in Maryland, especially in the Rockville, College Park, and Bethesda areas, and the awards tend to be meaningful in size rather than token contributions.
A clear theme in the foundation’s giving is Jewish eldercare and long-term care. Hebrew Home of Greater Washington received multiple contributions across 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Charles Smith Life Communities also appears among the larger recent grants. Another recurring area is Jewish education and spiritual engagement: Makom was funded with $20,000 in 2023 and $35,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Campus Jewish life is another visible line of support, with University of Maryland Hillel receiving grants in three consecutive years. The foundation also backs services for people with disabilities within the Jewish community, including a grant to Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. These grants show a preference for institutions serving defined community needs through ongoing programming and care.
Typical grant size sits at $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating a mix of smaller contributions and larger institutional gifts. The recent grant list shows repeat support to the same recipients across multiple years, especially for eldercare, education, and campus Jewish life. Grants are made as contributions, and the foundation does not fund individuals. Its giving is local in scope, with a strong concentration in Maryland.
$191K
$1.2M
$97K
$196K
Most grants fall between $2K and $20K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Notable grantees: Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Makom, University of Maryland Hillel, Charles Smith Life Communities, Jewish Foundation for Group Homes
The foundation’s grants land almost entirely in the United States, and 84% of grants go to recipients in Maryland. Rockville is the most frequent city in the recent list, followed by College Park and Bethesda, with additional grants in Olney, Silver Spring, Columbia, Hagerstown, and Menlo Park. The pattern is tightly centered on the Washington, D.C./Maryland area rather than broad geographic dispersion.
Its recent grants center on Jewish eldercare and long-term care, Jewish adult education and spiritual engagement, campus Jewish life through University of Maryland Hillel, and residential group homes and services for people with disabilities within the Jewish community.
Yes. Hebrew Home of Greater Washington appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Makom appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and University of Maryland Hillel appears in all three years as well.
The grant-size distribution is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from small support grants to larger institutional contributions.
It gives most often in Maryland: 84% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the recent list is concentrated in Rockville, College Park, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Columbia, and Hagerstown.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates it does not fund individuals, and the recent grants list shows contributions to organizations such as Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Makom, and University of Maryland Hillel.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $43,750 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MAKOM | ROCKVILLE, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHARLES SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES | ROCKVILLE, MD | $27,500 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HILLELL | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| THE DIENER SCHOOL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $15,708 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MEDSTAR HEALTH | COLUMBIA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDRENS INN | BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| BNAI ISRAEL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $3,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER | BETHESDA, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SUNFLOWER BAKERY | ROCKVILLE, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| LACROSSE THE GLOBE | FORT MILL, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| NER ISRAEL RABBINICAL COLLEGE | PIKESVILLE, MD | $750 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $55,360 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MAKOM | ROCKVILLE, MD | $35,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HILLELL | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $20,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MD | $20,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| THE DIENER SCHOOL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $15,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MEDSTAR HEALTH | COLUMBIA, MD | $10,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDRENS INN | BETHESDA, MD | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SHEPHERD'S TABLE | SILVEER SPRING, MD | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| GUARDIAN TRAINING | MENLO PARK, CA | $2,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| BNAI ISRAEL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $2,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER | BETHESDA, MD | $2,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON | ROCKVILLE, MD | $52,500 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| JEWISH FOUNDATION FOR GROUP HOMES | ROCKVILLE, MD | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HILLELL | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MAKOM | ROCKVILLE, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MD | $15,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SHAARE TEFILIA | OLNEY, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SHEPHERD'S TABLE | SILVEER SPRING, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MAIN STREET CONNECT | ROCKVILLE, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| BNAI SHALOM | OLNEY, MD | $2,500 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTOIN |
| HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER | BETHESDA, MD | $2,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HERON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | PARKLAND, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| JDRF ONE WALK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
CHARLES SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES
$27,500CONTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HILLELL
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
THE DIENER SCHOOL
CONTRIBUTION
BREAKTHROUGH T1D
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
BNAI ISRAEL
$3,000CONTRIBUTION
HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
SUNFLOWER BAKERY
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
LACROSSE THE GLOBE
$1,000CONTRIBUTION
NER ISRAEL RABBINICAL COLLEGE
$750CONTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HILLELL
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
THE DIENER SCHOOL
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
CHILDRENS INN
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
GUARDIAN TRAINING
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
BNAI ISRAEL
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HILLELL
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
SHAARE TEFILIA
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
MAIN STREET CONNECT
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
BNAI SHALOM
$2,500CONTRIBUTOIN
HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
HERON HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
$1,000CONTRIBUTION
JDRF ONE WALK
$1,000CONTRIBUTION