The Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,454,920 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (does not accept unsolicited applications)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $100 - $300,000
• Total Assets: $36,764,835 (2024)
• Number of Grants: 36-44 awards per year
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Maryland (Baltimore region); occasional grants to DC, Delaware, and other states
• Application Type: Invitation / preselected organisations only

Contact Details

• Address: 2330 West Joppa Road, Apartment 107-A, Lutherville, Maryland 21093
• Phone: 410-878-7002
• Application Enquiries: Applicants must contact the Foundation directly to inquire about application procedures

Overview

The Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust is a private non-operating foundation established in 1991 and headquartered in Lutherville, Maryland. It holds total assets of approximately $36.7 million and distributes over $2.4 million annually across approximately 36-44 grants each year. The Trust's mission is to improve the quality of life in the Baltimore region by supporting charitable organisations aligned with its giving priorities.

The Trust draws its revenue primarily from investment income (dividends and proceeds from asset sales) and directs the majority of its grantmaking toward Social and Human Services (approximately 56% of giving), followed by Education (approximately 18%) and Health (approximately 9%). It also makes occasional grants to religious organisations and philanthropy/grantmaking bodies.

The Trust is closely associated with the Susan A. and Kenneth S. Battye Fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation, reflecting the broader philanthropic legacy of Kenneth S. Battye in the Baltimore region. The Trust has also contributed to community emergency efforts, including as a donor to the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust does not operate named grant programs or streams. Grants are made at trustee discretion to preselected organisations, with no public application process. Typical award sizes range from $100 to $300,000.

Recent grant examples include:

• $233,853 to Loyola School (Education)
• $152,000 to Meals on Wheels (Social & Human Services)
• $125,000 to Ronald McDonald House (Health/Human Services)
• $125,000 to Thread (Human Services - youth mentorship)
• $100,000 to Health Care for the Homeless (Health)
• $100,000 to Focusing Philanthropy / Vision to Learn (Education)
• Grants to Paul's Place (community human services, Baltimore)

Priority Areas

• Social and Human Services (56% of giving): Food security, homelessness, community support, youth services
• Education (18% of giving): Schools, educational access programmes
• Health (9% of giving): Healthcare access, support for families in medical need
• Religion: Occasional grants to faith-based organisations
• Philanthropy and Grantmaking: Supporting other community foundations and philanthropic vehicles

What They Don't Fund

• The Trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds
• Organisations that are not already known to the trustees are unlikely to receive consideration through a direct approach
• No deadlines are listed as the Trust does not operate open grant rounds

Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by three trustees:

Name	Role	Compensation (approx.)
Audrey B. Drossner	Trustee	$126,000 salary + $20,778 other
Charlotte Floyd	Trustee	$82,000 salary + $570 other
Raymond A. Mason	Trustee	$0 (volunteer)

Trustees are compensated for their service, indicating an active, professionally managed grantmaking operation. Raymond A. Mason serves without compensation, suggesting a philanthropic or community leadership role.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations. It does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or operate open grant rounds. Grants are awarded entirely at trustee discretion based on the trustees' existing knowledge of and relationships with organisations.

The only publicly noted contact route is to telephone the Foundation at 410-878-7002 to enquire about application procedures, though this is unlikely to result in an open application opportunity.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on available research, the following specific intelligence may be relevant:

• Raymond A. Mason serves as a trustee without compensation, suggesting he may have existing professional or community ties in the Baltimore region. Research into his professional background and community involvement could identify shared networks or sector touchpoints.
• The Trust has a documented connection to the Baltimore Community Foundation through the Susan A. and Kenneth S. Battye Fund. Organisations already engaged with BCF may have increased visibility to the Battye trustees.
• The Trust donated to the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, indicating responsiveness to Baltimore-specific community crises and civic causes. Organisations working at the intersection of Baltimore's civic infrastructure and human services may align well.
• Given the Trust funds organisations such as Thread (youth mentorship) and Paul's Place (community services), these organisations may have informal networks or sector convenings where the Trust's trustees are active.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As the Trust does not operate open grant rounds, there are no formal decision cycles or notification timelines available.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Trust makes between 36 and 44 grants per year, which suggests a relatively focused and consistent portfolio of grantee relationships rather than a competitive open process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable in the traditional sense. As grants are made to preselected organisations, existing grantees appear to receive multi-year or repeat funding based on the consistent annual grant count in IRS 990 filings.

Application Success Factors

As this trust does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the following observations from the trust's documented grantmaking behaviour are relevant:

1. Baltimore-region focus is paramount: The overwhelming majority of grants go to organisations operating in or serving the Baltimore metropolitan area. Organisations based elsewhere are unlikely to receive funding.

2. Social and Human Services is the dominant priority: More than half of all grantmaking goes to human services organisations. Programmes addressing food insecurity, homelessness, healthcare access, and youth development are most closely aligned.

3. Education is a significant secondary focus: Grants to organisations such as Loyola School and Vision to Learn indicate support for educational access and quality, particularly for under-resourced populations.

4. Established, credible organisations are favoured: Grantees such as Meals on Wheels, Ronald McDonald House, Health Care for the Homeless, and Thread are well-known, professionally managed organisations. The Trust appears to fund established players rather than emerging or grassroots groups.

5. Civic and community emergency responsiveness: The Trust's contribution to the Key Bridge Fund suggests responsiveness to Baltimore's broader civic needs and crisis moments.

6. Grant sizes suggest meaningful, substantive relationships: With awards ranging from $100 to $300,000, the Trust makes both small symbolic grants and large, impactful investments, suggesting a tiered relationship with its grantee portfolio.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• There is no public application process: The Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust exclusively funds preselected organisations. Grant writers cannot submit a cold application.
• Relationship building is the only viable route: Access to this funder is entirely through trustee networks and existing relationships in the Baltimore philanthropic community.
• Engage with Baltimore Community Foundation: The Trust's documented connection to BCF through the Battye Fund makes BCF a potential pathway to trustee visibility.
• Focus on Baltimore-region human services and education: Organisations working in Social and Human Services or Education in the Baltimore area are the most likely fit, based on the Trust's historical giving pattern.
• Target established, professionally managed organisations: The Trust's grantee portfolio favours recognised, well-established nonprofits rather than start-ups or community-led initiatives.
• The Trust is financially stable and consistently active: With $36.7 million in assets and consistent annual giving of over $2 million across 36-44 grants, this is a reliable, ongoing funder for organisations already within its network.
• Phone contact is the only documented outreach route: The Trust's listing notes that applicants should contact the Foundation directly by phone (410-878-7002) to enquire about procedures, though success through this route is not guaranteed for unknown organisations.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust (EIN: 52-1748587). IRS 990 filings 2010-2025. Accessed February 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521748587

2. Instrumentl 990 Report - Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust. Financial data, focus areas, trustee information, grant range. Accessed February 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/kenneth-s-battye-charitable-trust

3. Here-4-You Consulting / NPFunds Directory - Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust. Contact details, trustees, giving breakdown, grant examples. Accessed February 2026. https://npfunds.com/directory/kenneth-s-battye-charitable-trust/

4. CauseIQ - Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust, Lutherville, MD. Financial data, organisational details. Accessed February 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/kenneth-s-battye-charitable-trust,521748587/

5. Candid / Foundation Directory Online - Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust (BETT020). Accessed February 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=BETT020

6. Charity Navigator - The Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust (EIN: 521748587). Address and registration details. Accessed February 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/521748587

7. Maryland Philanthropy Network - Kenneth S. Battye Charitable Trust (Independent Foundation). Accessed February 2026. https://www.marylandphilanthropy.org/redhen/org/4415

8. Grantmakers.io - KENNETH S BATTYE CHARITABLE TRUST Profile. Geographic giving data. Accessed February 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/521748587-kenneth-s-battye-charitable-trust/

9. Baltimore Community Foundation - Susan A. and Kenneth S. Battye Fund. Related philanthropic vehicle. Accessed February 2026. https://www.bcf.org/fund/btye/