Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $583,540
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed within 45 days
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (prefers larger grants for longer periods)
• Geographic Focus: Annapolis, MD; Anne Arundel County, MD; Greater New Orleans, LA; Treasure Coast, FL

Contact Details

Website: www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org

President: Henry N. Libby
Email: hnlibby3@gmail.com
Phone: 443-994-1341
Mailing Address: 6900 SE Harbor Circle, Stuart, FL 34996

Vice President: Mark H. Libby
Email: markhlibby@gmail.com
Phone: 443-995-8543
Mailing Address: 3407 Hidden View Road, Annapolis, MD 21401

Pre-Application Support: Applicants are encouraged to call the Foundation to informally discuss their programs and financial needs prior to submitting written applications.

Overview

Founded in 1960 and based in Stuart, Florida, the Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation with approximately $583,540 in annual giving. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for the general community, primarily aiding economically or educationally disadvantaged women and children. The Foundation provides financial support to qualified charitable organizations involved in medical and social outreach programs, education, women's issues, and the visual arts, with efforts to combine one or more of these areas for the benefit of its target population. The Foundation has been recognized with numerous awards including the 2020 Carol Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy and 2011 Foundation of the Year by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. President Henry N. Libby has demonstrated sustained leadership, with Anne Arundel Community College renaming its Foundation office building the "Henry (Hank) Libby Building" in 2022.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation offers multiple grant structures including:

• Unrestricted Grants: For any organizational purpose
• Restricted Grants: For specific projects or programs
• Capital Grants: For infrastructure and facilities
• Endowment Grants: For long-term sustainability
• Research Grants: For medical and social research initiatives
• Bridge Funding: For transitional needs
• Program Related Investments (PRIs): Low-interest loans to qualifying organizations
• Matching Grants: Requiring additional fundraising
• Conditional Grants: Requiring specific thresholds or achievements

The Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis with no specific deadlines.

Priority Areas

Medical and Social Outreach: Medical research, community health clinics, substance abuse treatment, doula programs, mental health services

Education: Scholarships for men and women, early intervention reading programs, after-school enrichment, STEM education, college access programs

Women's Issues: Programs specifically benefiting disadvantaged women, including housing assistance for female heads of household

Arts: Photography and writing programs for underprivileged children, creative arts education, artist residency programs

Youth Development: Gang prevention, vocational skills training, programs for at-risk teens ages 14-19

The Foundation particularly values programs that combine multiple focus areas (e.g., arts education that serves disadvantaged youth).

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Deficit financing
• Publications
• Religious programs
• Political action groups
• Government-funded projects
• Discriminatory initiatives

Governance and Leadership

Henry N. Libby, President: Libby has extensive board involvement throughout the Anne Arundel County nonprofit sector, serving on boards including Anne Arundel County Community College Foundation, Boys and Girls Club (Executive and Finance Committees), Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, Vision Workshops, Project Lift, Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, Annapolis Maritime Museum, South River Federation, and Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. He received the Board Member of the Year award from the Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis in 2010 and was named Distinguished Philanthropist by Anne Arundel Community College in 2008.

Mark H. Libby, Vice President: Based in Annapolis, Maryland, Mark H. Libby serves as the Foundation's Vice President and shares in the foundation's strategic decision-making.

The Foundation operates as a family foundation with deep roots in both the Stuart, Florida and Annapolis, Maryland communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Pre-Application Discussion (Encouraged): Contact Henry N. Libby or Mark H. Libby to informally discuss your program and financial needs before submitting a written application.

2. Online Application: Complete the application form available at www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/application

3. Required Information:

   • Proof of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
   • Organizational details and background
   • Funding purpose and project description
   • Proposal summary
   • Evaluation criteria and expected outcomes
   • Demonstration of sustainability
   • Evidence of administrative capacity

4. Geographic Eligibility: Organizations must primarily serve Annapolis, MD; Anne Arundel County, MD; greater New Orleans, LA; or the Treasure Coast area of Florida. The Foundation has made grants to qualified organizations in other areas of the country (including Chicago) but prioritizes its core geographic regions.

Decision Timeline

Applications are typically reviewed within 45 days of submission.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Foundation notes its preference to make "larger grants for longer periods of time to a fewer number of qualified organizations in order to have greater impact on the causes it supports," suggesting a selective but sustained approach to grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis. Organizations that have received grants demonstrate multi-year relationships (grant recipients list shows support ranging from 4 to 21 years), suggesting the Foundation values long-term partnerships. Information about reapplication restrictions for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Effectiveness and Clarity

The Foundation emphasizes funding organizations with "clear and effective programs." Applications should clearly articulate the problem being addressed and the specific strategies for solving it.

Simplicity

The Foundation values straightforward approaches. Avoid overly complex program designs; demonstrate how your intervention creates direct, measurable impact.

Leverage

The Foundation looks for programs that can "generate additional funding." Demonstrate how the Foundation's grant will help attract other funders or create sustainable revenue streams. This is evidenced by their use of matching grants and conditional grants.

Accountability

Strong evaluation criteria and expected outcomes are required in applications. Show how you will measure success and report results.

Necessity

Make a compelling case for why this funding is needed. The Foundation wants to fill gaps, not duplicate existing funding sources.

Multi-Year Vision

Given the Foundation's preference for "larger grants for longer periods," applications should articulate not just immediate needs but how sustained support will create lasting change.

Demonstrated Success Examples

The Foundation has funded:

• STAIR: Operating funds for staff expansion to reach more students needing reading help
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis: 21 years of continuous support including capital campaigns, academic endowments, and event sponsorships
• Anne Arundel Community Development Services: Created a mortgage down payment program specifically for female heads of household, resulting in "ten mothers and twenty children acquired their own homes"
• Project Lift: 12 years of support for at-risk teens providing mental health therapy, counseling, and vocational skills training
• Vision Workshops: 18 years of support for photography and writing programs for underprivileged children
• Anne Arundel Community College: 19 years including endowed scholarships, challenge grants, and equipment funding

These examples show the Foundation values: operational support (not just programs), capacity-building grants, multi-year commitments, and programs serving disadvantaged women and children.

Foundation's Own Words

From the Foundation website: "Wherever possible, the Foundation endeavors to combine one or more of these areas for the benefit of its target population." Applications that integrate multiple priority areas (e.g., arts education for disadvantaged youth, or medical outreach combined with women's issues) may be particularly compelling.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application contact is encouraged: Don't skip the informal discussion with foundation leadership before applying—this is explicitly recommended on their website
• Think multi-year, not one-time: The Foundation prefers sustained partnerships with "larger grants for longer periods" rather than one-time project support
• Geographic fit is essential: Must primarily serve Annapolis/Anne Arundel County MD, Greater New Orleans, or Treasure Coast FL (though exceptions exist)
• Focus on disadvantaged women and children: This population should be central to your program design and outcomes
• Demonstrate all six criteria: Effectiveness, Clarity, Simplicity, Leverage, Accountability, and Necessity are the Foundation's stated funding criteria—address each explicitly
• Combine focus areas when possible: Programs integrating medical/social outreach + education, or arts + youth development, align with the Foundation's stated preference
• Various grant structures available: Don't assume you can only request unrestricted operating support—the Foundation offers capital grants, endowments, PRIs, matching grants, and other flexible funding mechanisms

References

• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Official Website: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Application Page: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/application (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Principles: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/principles (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Mission Statement: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/mission-statement (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Grant Recipients: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/grant-recipients (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Recognition: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/recognition (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Contact Information: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/contact (Accessed January 2026)
• Carol M. Jacobsohn Foundation Philanthropic Funding: https://www.carolmjacobsohnfoundation.org/philanthropic-funding (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/366101091 (Accessed January 2026)
• Open990 Foundation Profile: https://www.open990.org/org/366101091/carol-m-jacobsohn-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)