The Riepe Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving as large, flexible general operating grants to established civic institutions in the Mid-Atlantic — especially Baltimore-area community nonprofits, major research universities, and national conservation organizations. Its support favors intermediary and community-wide players (United Way, community foundation) and anchor institutions (Johns Hopkins, UPenn), with additional backing for place-based food/agriculture initiatives. Grants are typically unrestricted, indicating trust in grantee leadership and a preference for capacity-building over project-specific funding.
The James S and Gail P Riepe Charitable Foundation gives at a scale that can move established institutions: in the recent grant list, its largest awards include $517,120 to The Nature Conservancy and $507,744 to Johns Hopkins University. Those grants fit a pattern of unrestricted support for anchor organizations rather than short-term project funding. Baltimore-based civic and education institutions recur throughout the record, alongside regional nonprofits in Maryland and selected national organizations. The foundation’s support also reaches food access and land-based initiatives, with First Fruits Farm, Maryland Food Bank, and other community-serving groups appearing in the recent grants. Higher-education recipients are part of the portfolio as well, including the University of Pennsylvania and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Across the recent sample, the foundation’s giving reads as relationship-oriented and institution-focused, with grant sizes that range from modest five-figure awards to several large six-figure commitments.
Community-wide social services are a clear thread in the recent grants. The United Way of Central Maryland received $263,904 in 2024 and $252,563 in 2025, both listed as general and unrestricted support. The Baltimore Community Foundation also received $232,150 in 2025. In education, Johns Hopkins University was awarded $507,744 in 2024, and the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania received $180,728 in 2023. Food and agriculture appear through $257,669 to First Fruits Farm Inc in 2024 and $35,000 to Maryland Food Bank Inc in 2023. Conservation is another distinct line of support, with The Nature Conservancy receiving $517,120 in 2023 and $39,925 in 2023.
Typical grants cluster around a middle market size: p25 is $5,000, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $25,000. The recent record includes both those smaller awards and much larger commitments above $100,000, showing a mix of standard support and major institutional gifts. The same recipients often appear across multiple years, including The United Way of Central Maryland, The Nature Conservancy, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, which points to recurring support rather than one-off giving. The foundation makes no program-related investments and funds individuals.
$1.4M
$47.2M
$4.6M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MD.
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Concentrated portfolio of a small number of large grants, several repeat grants to the same intermediaries, and a strong preference for unrestricted/general operating support to established regional and national organizations.
Notable grantees: The United Way of Central Maryland, The Nature Conservancy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Community Foundation, First Fruits Farm
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the provided sample, with 148 grants and 100% in the United States. Maryland is the top state by grant count, and Baltimore appears repeatedly among recipient cities, including Johns Hopkins University, The United Way of Central Maryland, Baltimore Community Foundation, and KIPP Baltimore. Other recipient cities in the recent list include Arlington, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hobe Sound, Florida; and Sandy, Utah. The foundation’s giving is regional, with a strong Mid-Atlantic concentration and some awards outside Maryland.
The recent grants center on civic institutions, universities, conservation organizations, and food-access groups. Examples include general operating support to The United Way of Central Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, The Nature Conservancy, First Fruits Farm Inc, and Maryland Food Bank Inc.
Many of the recent awards are labeled general and unrestricted. That includes large grants such as $507,744 to Johns Hopkins University, $263,904 and $252,563 to The United Way of Central Maryland, and $517,120 to The Nature Conservancy.
The grant-size distribution is centered at $5,000 for p25, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at p75. The recent list also includes six-figure grants, so the foundation makes both smaller support grants and larger institutional awards.
Maryland is the top state by grant count. Baltimore is the most visible city in the recent grants list, with recipients such as Baltimore Community Foundation, Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.
It funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. The record identifies individuals as eligible for support, while program-related investments are marked false.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $252,563 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| BALTIMORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $232,150 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| SAINT IGNATIUS LOYOLA ACADEMY | BALTIMORE, MD | $108,270 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| T ROWE PRICE PROGRAM FOR CHARITABLE GIVING INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $102,004 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MARTIN COUNTY INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $56,506 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| KIPP BALTIMORE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $55,096 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED (see attached general explanation) |
| THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION INC | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $55,096 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE CHESAPEAKE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $52,920 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | BALTIMORE, MD | $49,586 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation) |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | Annual Unrestricted for MD/DC Chapter |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MARYLAND FOOD BANK INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BALTIMORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | BCF Civic Leadership Fund |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | Family fund |
| HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SAINT IGNATIUS LOYOLA ACADEMY | BALTIMORE, MD | $18,000 | 2025 | Full Student fund |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE CHESAPEAKE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| BALTIMORE PUBLIC MEDIA CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL OF BALTIMORE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | Camp St. Vincent |
| VALLEYS PLANNING COUNCIL INC | TOWSON, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC | JUPITER, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| KIPP BALTIMORE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNITED WAY OF ASHEVILLE & BUNCOMBE COUNTY INC | ASHEVILLE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | Hurricane Helene Relief fund |
| MPT FOUNDATION INC | OWINGS MILLS, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THREAD INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| IRVINE NATURAL SCIENCE CENTER INC | OWINGS MILLS, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BALTIMORE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS FDN INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOBE SOUND CHILD CARE CENTER INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| 1000 FRIENDS OF FLORIDA INC | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LIVING CLASSROOMS FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CAVES VALLEY GOLF CLUB FOUNDATION INC | OWINGS MILLS, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| JUBILEE BALTIMORE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOUSE OF RUTH MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PARKS AND PEOPLE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PAULS PLACE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BALTIMORE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP TRUST INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF MARYLAND INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE LADEW TOPIARY GARDENS INC | MONKTON, MD | $3,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER | BALTIMORE, MD | $3,000 | 2025 | Boots For Baltimore fund |
| BANNER LAKE CLUB INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FUEL FUND OF CENTRAL MD INC | TIMONIUM, MD | $2,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MARYLAND SPCA INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FOREVER MARYLAND FOUNDATION INC | SALISBURY, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST | CROWNSVILLE, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LOAVES AND FISHES OF HOBE SOUND INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
SAINT IGNATIUS LOYOLA ACADEMY
$108,270General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
$49,586General & Unrestricted (see attached general explanation)
SAINT IGNATIUS LOYOLA ACADEMY
$18,000Full Student fund
VALLEYS PLANNING COUNCIL INC
$15,000General & Unrestricted
HOBE SOUND CHILD CARE CENTER INC
$7,500General & Unrestricted
LIVING CLASSROOMS FOUNDATION INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
JUBILEE BALTIMORE INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
THE TRUSTEES OF THE LADEW TOPIARY GARDENS INC
$3,000General & Unrestricted
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER
$3,000Boots For Baltimore fund
FUEL FUND OF CENTRAL MD INC
$2,500General & Unrestricted
FOREVER MARYLAND FOUNDATION INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
$1,000General & Unrestricted
LOAVES AND FISHES OF HOBE SOUND INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted