Goldsmith Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,086,600 (53 grants awarded)
• Average Grant Size: $20,502
• Assets: $11.3 million
• Decision Time: Review at scheduled board meetings (specific timeline not published)
• Grant Range: Varies by program (notable example: $100,000/year to CTY)
• Geographic Focus: Baltimore City, Maryland (primarily Baltimore City Public School System)

Contact Details

Address: 1829 Reisterstown Road, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21208
Phone: 410-484-9292
Fax: 410-486-0022
Website: www.goldsmithfamilyfoundation.org

Overview

The Goldsmith Family Foundation was established in 1991 with a bequest from the estate of Harold Norman Goldsmith, a Baltimore entrepreneur and philanthropist who died tragically in a small airplane crash at age 48. A graduate of Baltimore City College, Harold Goldsmith was inspired to support education after watching a 60 Minutes story about someone who adopted an entire seventh grade class and promised to pay their college tuitions. Since inception, the foundation has focused on enhancing educational and cultural opportunities for Baltimore City Public School students. Now led by Harold's widow Beth Goldsmith (President) and their three children who serve as trustees, the foundation brings both deep commitment to the founder's vision and a proactive approach to grantmaking. With assets of $11.3 million, the foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $1,086,600 in their most recent fiscal year, supporting innovative programming within individual schools and providing access to Baltimore's cultural and scientific institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation organizes its grantmaking into several categories:

• Summer Learning Programs: Supporting educational opportunities during summer months, including the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) - $100,000 annually since 2000, providing scholarships to up to 30 academically advanced students from low to moderate-income families
• After School Programs: Funding organizations like Creative Alliance at Patterson, National Aquarium in Baltimore, St. Francis Neighborhood Center, and Higher Achievement Baltimore
• Principal/Teacher Training: Supporting professional development programs for educators
• High School Programs: Including CollegeBound Foundation and Maryland Historical Society initiatives
• Middle School Grant Initiative: Recent awards for middle school-focused programs
• Scholarships: Including the Goucher College Goldsmith Scholars Program
• Arts and Culture Access: Specifically for Baltimore City Public School students

Application Method: Rolling basis throughout the year. Applicants notified of the board meeting date when their proposal will be reviewed.

Priority Areas

The foundation considers proposals for:

• Curriculum enhancement programs
• Teacher and principal training programs
• Cultural institutions providing programming for Baltimore City students
• Tutoring and mentoring programs
• After-school programs
• Summer learning opportunities
• Field trips and access to cultural institutions (symphony, art museums, libraries, theatres)
• Character education and conflict resolution programs
• Reading and literacy initiatives
• Career exploration programs
• Alternative schooling programs

Key Focus: Teacher Development & Training, Museums & Cultural Institutions, Tutoring & Mentoring, and After School/Summer Educational Programs

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Baltimore City Public School System (primary focus)
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, physical handicap, or sex
• Programs in Israel and special projects in other areas are by invitation of the Board of Trustees only
• Multiple grants to the same organization within a calendar year (grants made only once per organization per calendar year)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• Beth H. Goldsmith - President (former teacher; widow of founder Harold Goldsmith)
• Alan Berkowitz - Treasurer
• Adam Goldsmith - Trustee (son of founder)
• Julie Goldsmith Rosenberg - Trustee (daughter of founder)
• H. Josh Goldsmith - Trustee (son of founder)
• Raymond Altman - Trustee

Staff

• Ellen Himmelstein - Associate

Leadership Perspective

Beth Goldsmith on her role: "It was sort of a gift he gave me, not only creating this wonderful foundation but choosing its mission to be something that I was well versed in, that I was comfortable in, and that I was also passionate about." As a former teacher, education is a cause close to her heart, and she brings both professional expertise and personal passion to the foundation's work.

The foundation notes that all three of Harold Goldsmith's children have joined the board, "bringing with them a renewed commitment to their father's vision and a more proactive role in grantmaking."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The foundation is NOT currently accepting grant proposals from any programs or institutions that they have not previously funded.

For organizations with existing relationships to the foundation:

• Use the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers Common Grant Application Format
• Proposals accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
• Submit by mail or email directly to the foundation
• Upon receipt, applicants will be notified of the meeting date at which their submission will be reviewed

Eligibility Requirements

• Must submit evidence of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• May not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, physical handicap, or sex
• Must demonstrate adequate administrative capacity and financial stability
• Must describe evaluation criteria and methods in requests
• Must serve Baltimore City Public School students (primary focus)

Decision Timeline

• Proposals reviewed at scheduled board meetings
• Applicants notified of the specific meeting date for review upon receipt of proposal
• Specific timeframe from submission to decision not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

• Grants to an organization are made only once in a calendar year
• No information available about unsuccessful applicants reapplying
• The foundation's current policy of not accepting proposals from new organizations suggests a focus on sustaining relationships with existing grantees

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Administrative Capacity and Financial Stability: The foundation explicitly expects applicants to "demonstrate adequate administrative capacity and financial stability," indicating they want to fund well-managed organizations.

Measurable Outcomes: Applicants must "describe evaluation criteria and methods in their requests," showing the foundation values data-driven programming and accountability.

Innovation and Effectiveness: The foundation seeks "innovative and effective programming within individual schools," suggesting they prioritize creative approaches with demonstrated impact.

Alignment with Baltimore City Public Schools: The foundation's vision is "to ensure that students in the Baltimore City Public School System are offered the finest educational and cultural opportunities." Programs must directly serve this population.

Examples of Funded Programs

• Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY): Long-term partnership since 1992, with $100,000 annually since 2000 supporting scholarships for academically advanced students from low to moderate-income families. The foundation has awarded $2.96 million to date to help more than 800 students gain access to CTY programs.
• Higher Achievement Baltimore: After-school programming
• Creative Alliance at Patterson: After-school arts programs
• National Aquarium in Baltimore: Educational programming for students
• CollegeBound Foundation: High school college access support
• Baltimore Urban Debate League: Summer learning
• Maryland Historical Society: High school programming

Foundation Language and Priorities

The foundation emphasizes:

• "Enhancing the lives of Baltimore area youth"
• "Enriched educational and cultural opportunities"
• "Access to the cultural and scientific institutions of Baltimore"
• "Innovative and effective programming"
• "Improving the quality of public education in Baltimore City"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Closed to new applicants: The foundation is not currently accepting proposals from organizations they haven't previously funded, making it invitation-only for new relationships
• Single city focus: Must serve Baltimore City Public School students; geographic restriction is strict
• Long-term partnerships valued: Examples like CTY (30+ years, $2.96 million total) show they invest in sustained relationships rather than one-time grants
• Demonstrate capacity: Must show strong administrative infrastructure, financial stability, and evaluation methods - not just a good idea but proven ability to execute
• Family legacy drives mission: The foundation continues the vision of founder Harold Goldsmith with family members actively involved, suggesting personal connection to Baltimore City education resonates
• One grant per year maximum: Organizations can only receive funding once per calendar year, so timing and comprehensiveness of requests matter
• Innovation within schools: Programs should be creative and delivered within school settings or provide school-based access to cultural institutions
• Use ABAG format: Required to use the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers Common Grant Application Format for consistency

References

• Goldsmith Family Foundation official website (www.goldsmithfamilyfoundation.org) - Accessed January 2026
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Goldsmith Family Foundation Inc (EIN 52-1714353) - Accessed January 2026
• Candid Foundation Directory - The Goldsmith Family Foundation Inc profile - Accessed January 2026
• Cause IQ - The Goldsmith Family Foundation organizational data - Accessed January 2026
• Johns Hopkins Giving website - "Goldsmith Family Foundation Supports CTY Students for more than 30 Years" - Accessed January 2026
• Johns Hopkins CTY - "CTY Receives Gift from The Goldsmith Family Foundation" - Accessed January 2026
• Quote from Beth Goldsmith: Johns Hopkins Giving website feature story