Jesse & Hertha Adams Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,099,973
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $50,000 - $200,000+ (median $110,000)
• Geographic Focus: Maryland, Florida, New Jersey

Contact Details

• Phone: 410-537-5562
• Address: 901 S Bond St, Suite 400, Baltimore, MD 21231-3340
• Trustee: Brown Advisory

Overview

The Jesse & Hertha Adams Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 2003 to continue the philanthropic legacy of Jesse Adams, a successful Anne Arundel County real estate developer, and his wife Hertha. With assets of approximately $15-16 million, the trust distributes over $1 million annually through carefully selected grants to established partner organizations. The couple, who had no heirs, created this trust to support causes close to their hearts, particularly organizations serving people with disabilities and vision impairments. The trust maintains long-term relationships with select beneficiaries, with some partnerships extending over 20 years. Managed professionally by Brown Advisory, the foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Major Partnership Grants: $100,000 - $200,000+ (long-term support for established partners)
• Program-Specific Support: $50,000 - $150,000 (targeted programs within partner organizations)
• Approximately 8 grants distributed annually

Priority Areas

• People with developmental disabilities
• Vision impairments and blindness support
• Children with disabilities and special needs
• Family support services for special needs families
• Protestant faith-based programs
• In-patient and specialty hospital care

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Maryland, Florida, or New Jersey
• Non-disability related programs
• Non-Christian religious organizations
• General operating support for new organizations
• Individual assistance or scholarships (except through partner organizations)

Governance and Leadership

The trust is managed by Brown Advisory, a Baltimore-based investment advisory firm. Carol S. Brudin serves as a compensated officer. The trustees maintain the founders' vision of supporting disability services and children's welfare, particularly in communities where the Adams family had personal connections. The professional management structure ensures consistent grant-making aligned with the founders' original intent.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The trust explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded at trustee discretion to organizations with established relationships with the trust.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the trust's closed application policy, organizations have become beneficiaries through:

• Long-standing relationships dating back to the founders' lifetime
• Connections through Brown Advisory's network in Baltimore
• Partnerships with existing beneficiaries like Bello Machre or the National Federation of the Blind
• Demonstrated excellence in serving people with disabilities in Maryland, particularly Anne Arundel County where Jesse Adams built his business

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's established partnerships, successful beneficiaries demonstrate:

• Long-term commitment to disability services with measurable impact
• Geographic presence in Maryland (particularly Baltimore/Anne Arundel County), Tampa, Florida, or Morristown, New Jersey
• Ability to maintain multi-year relationships and demonstrate sustained impact
• Programs that directly serve families affected by developmental disabilities or vision impairment
• Professional operations that align with the trust's preference for established, stable organizations
• Named programs or initiatives that honor the Adams legacy (such as Bello Machre's "Hertha and Jesse Adams Ray of Hope Program")

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - traditional grant seeking approaches will not work
• The trust maintains long-term funding relationships, with some partnerships exceeding 20 years and $1 million in total support
• Focus is extremely narrow: disabilities (especially developmental and vision), children, and Protestant faith in specific geographic areas
• Substantial grants (median $110,000) go to only 8 organizations annually, indicating deep rather than broad support
• Organizations already in their portfolio include Bello Machre and the National Federation of the Blind
• Best pathway for new organizations is through connections with Brown Advisory, existing beneficiaries, or Anne Arundel County business community
• The trust honors Jesse Adams' legacy as a successful Maryland real estate developer by supporting local disability services

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings for Jesse & Hertha Adams Charitable Trust (EIN: 25-6821173)
• Candid Foundation Directory - Foundation profile and grant data
• Bello Machre website - Information on the Hertha and Jesse Adams Ray of Hope Program (accessed February 2024)
• National Federation of the Blind - Scholarship program documentation and recipient announcements
• Cause IQ - Foundation financial data and analysis
• GuideStar - Tax filing information and organizational details
• Multiple grant databases including GrantExec and Grantmakers.io for grant pattern analysis