Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a charity that has not been invited to apply should not send a cold application.
- Its stated themes are Jewish affairs, which it describes as its primary focus, and reproductive rights, so a charity should weigh whether its work sits within them, while no geographic focus is stated.
- Half of its grants to organisations are $40,000 or less and the median grant is $40,000, so a modest request is the realistic size to plan around.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $5,000 and $260,000, which is a typical band rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was $5,000,000.
- Repeat funding is strong, with 88% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded earlier, which suggests that access is relationship-led and competitive for a new applicant.
Overview
Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bethesda, MD.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (sfchronicle.com, jta.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Morningstar Foundation supports causes including Jewish affairs and reproductive rights, with Jewish causes described as its primary focus. Its recorded grants go to a broad range of charitable organisations: Jewish federations, community and religious bodies; food banks and community kitchens; reproductive-health and rights organisations; environmental groups; civic and democracy organisations; and educational, cultural, health and social-service organisations. The filings record grants under general charitable purposes, without identifying project-level purposes, and show funding across several states and internationally. Its grantmaking therefore combines a broad range of charitable recipients with particular support for Jewish affairs and reproductive rights.
Themes
- Jewish affairs
- Reproductive rights
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in District of Columbia, New York, Maryland and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 587 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 31% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 209 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Civic Nation When We All Vote · General charitable purposes$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federation of Greater Washington · General charitable purposes$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federation of Greater Washington · General charitable purposes$750,0002024 tax year
- Sarah and Daniel Rueven Foundation · General charitable purposes$703,0002024 tax year
- Capital Area Food Bank · General charitable purposes$700,0002024 tax year
- March Forth Foundation · General charitable purposes$590,0002024 tax year
- Sarah and Daniel Rueven Foundation · General charitable purposes$557,5002024 tax year
- Natural Resources Defense Council · General charitable purposes$500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michael C Gelman — Director/V.P. / Treas. / Sec.
- Susan R Gelman — Director / President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $26,647,958 | $20,038,243 | $422,763,428 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $30,844,229 | $24,239,414 | $482,179,775 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $32,562,624 | $24,544,887 | $546,085,405 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Bethesda, MD
Applying to Morningstar Philanthropic Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Bethesda, MD