The Hackerman Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Hackerman Foundation's stated areas of focus are arts and education, health, housing and economic empowerment, particularly for underserved populations, and its geographic focus is Maryland, so fit matters most for Maryland-based work in these themes.
- A modest request is realistic: half of its 364 grants were $10,000 or less and about 8 in 10 fell between $1,500 and $100,000, with a median grant of $10,000; the one grant of about $3,950,000, to National Philanthropic Trust, an organisation that regrants to other organisations, is not typical of what a small nonprofit should expect.
- It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives by invitation only, so there is no application form to send cold; instead, focus on building the kind of connection or relationship that might lead to an invitation.
- With 41% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the two previous years' filings, its giving appears relationship-led and weighted towards sustaining existing partners rather than being a purely competitive open process.
- As it does not accept unsolicited requests, organisations should not apply directly without an invitation.
Overview
The Hackerman Foundation is a US private foundation based in Towson, MD.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Hackerman Foundation partners with Maryland-based nonprofit organisations to make contributions that honour its legacy and resonate with its mission. It identifies arts and education, health, housing and economic empowerment among its areas of focus, particularly in underserved populations. It describes no set formula for gifts and grants: when a cause connects with it, it partners to help create real outcomes and stays open to resonant opportunities. Its grant record also shows support for Jewish education and community institutions, community assistance, education, housing, health care and social services, alongside civic, cultural and environmental work. Its record is concentrated in Maryland, with awards also reaching organisations in other states.
Themes
- Arts and education
- Health
- Housing
- Economic empowerment
Geographic Focus
Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 41% 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 364 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It says there is no set formula and partners when a cause connects with it.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 41% of grant dollars went to organisations The Hackerman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 35% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 146 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $17,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Philanthropic Trust · Contribution to donor advised fund$3,955,8692024 tax year
- American Jewish Joint Distributioncommittee Inc · International support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore · 2019 annual fund - jdc$800,0002024 tax year
- TurnAround · Support services$630,0002024 tax year
- Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · Philanthropic support$500,0002024 tax year
- Yeshivas Ohr Yissochor Academy · Jewish education$300,0002024 tax year
- IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity · To support loan capital for baltimore specific lendiing$250,0002024 tax year
- Johns Hopkins University · Education$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Steven Hackerman — Vice President
- Audrey Rego — Secretary
- Nancy Hackerman — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,719,836 | $3,622,640 | $27,423,080 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,261,971 | $6,648,119 | $50,078,571 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,219,278 | $12,268,246 | $94,848,821 | 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
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Hackerman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Towson, MD
- thehackermanfoundation.org
Applying to The Hackerman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Towson, MD
- thehackermanfoundation.org