The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Foundation funds work in Arts & Humanities, Community Services, Education, Environment and Health & Wellness for organisations primarily serving residents of the District of Columbia, Prince George's, Montgomery, Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria and Falls Church.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $12,500 and $80,000, with a median of $35,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant made was $1,200,000.
- Applications go through the online application portal, with deadlines of March 1, July 1 and November 1, and for general operating requests the Foundation typically does not award more than 10% of an organisation's total budget.
- A high share, 79%, of grant dollars went to organisations also funded in the two prior filings, which points to an emphasis on continuing relationships, though this is a share of dollars rather than of the number of grants made.
- Organisations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS or a formal fiscal sponsor, private foundations, public charities with 509(a)(3) status, independent or private schools, and organisations whose programs or activities are primarily religious in nature should not apply, nor should those seeking funding for individuals, endowments, stand-alone scholarships or fellowship programs, one-time artistic projects, special events, or participation in or travel to conferences or special events.
Overview
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is a US private foundation based in Washington, DC.
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 Foundation works to improve the lives of DC-area residents, with an emphasis on creating a more equitable region. It makes grants in Arts & Humanities, Community Services, Education, Environment and Health & Wellness. Arts & Humanities funding supports artistic disciplines and organisations promoting the humanities, especially work that meaningfully engages communities historically underrepresented in those fields. Community Services spans children, youth and families, community development, justice, workforce development and nonprofit capacity building; its grants support young people’s advocacy, safe housing, economic development and access to justice. Education grants aim for a high-quality, equitable system that responds to learners’ needs. Environment grants protect and restore regional natural resources and support environmental education and stewardship. Health & Wellness grants include healthcare and supportive services, food and nutrition, coalition building and advocacy.
Themes
- Arts & Humanities
- Community Services
- Education
- Environment
- Health & Wellness
Geographic Focus
District of Columbia; Prince George’s; Montgomery; Arlington; Fairfax; Alexandria; Falls Church.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS or a formal fiscal sponsor
- Private foundations
- Public charities with a non-private foundation status of 509(a)(3)
- Organizations that do not primarily serve residents within the specified geographic area, including the District of Columbia, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland, Arlington or Fairfax counties, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia
- Individuals
- Independent or private schools
- Organizations whose programs or activities are primarily religious in nature or intended to advance a particular faith tradition
- Endowments
- Stand-alone scholarships or fellowship programs
- One-time artistic projects
- Special events
- Participation in or travel to conferences or special events
How to apply
Eligible organisations submit a complete proposal through the online application portal.
Deadlines: March 1, July 1 and November 1.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 79% 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 1,383 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For work in Arts & Humanities, the Foundation values initiatives that meaningfully engage communities historically underrepresented in those fields.
- In Community Services, it prioritises programmes that empower young people to advocate for change within their schools and communities.
- For general operating requests, it typically does not award more than 10% of an organisation’s total budget.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 451 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $35,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Smithsonian Institution · Arts and humanities$1,200,0002024 tax year
- WETA · Arts and humanities$681,0002024 tax year
- Dreaming Out Loud · Envrionment$560,0002024 tax year
- Blair House Restoration Fund · Community services$500,0002024 tax year
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts · Arts and humanities$475,0002024 tax year
- National Gallery of Art · Arts and humanities$332,5002024 tax year
- Rock Creek Conservancy · Envrionment$275,0002024 tax year
- Manna · Community services$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
- Whayne Quin — Director
- Elizabeth M Peltekain — Advisory Board
- Constance A Morella — Advisory Board
- Elliot S Cafritz — Advisory Board
- Anthony W Cafritz — Advisory Board
- Eric Motley — Director
- Susan Blumenthal — Director
- Patricia McGuire — Director
- Nazir Ahmad — Director
- Dorothy Kosinski — Director
- John E Chapoton — Vice Chairman & Treasurer
- Jane Lipton Cafritz — Chairman, CEO, & President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $70,843,294 | $21,197,835 | $742,003,450 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $71,968,076 | $22,642,166 | $830,908,403 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $74,182,537 | $23,052,750 | $781,380,241 | 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 Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (202) 223-3100
- apply@cafritzfoundation.org
- info@cafritzfoundation.org
- Washington, DC
- cafritzfoundation.org
Applying to The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (202) 223-3100
- apply@cafritzfoundation.org
- info@cafritzfoundation.org
- Washington, DC
- cafritzfoundation.org