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The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$140.0M
Grant Range
$20K - $2.0M

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $140 million
  • Total Assets: $3.1 billion
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $2,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, Israel, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, San Francisco, and rural communities throughout the U.S.

Contact Details

Maryland Headquarters
7 Park Center Court
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Phone: (410) 654-8500
Email: grantsintake@hjweinberg.org

Hawaiʻi Office
3660 Waialae Avenue, Suite 400
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: (808) 924-1000

Website: hjweinbergfoundation.org

Overview

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation was established in 1959 by Harry and Jeanette Weinberg, with the foundation as it exists today beginning in 1990 when Harry bequeathed almost all of his $900 million wealth after his death. Since then, the foundation has grown into one of the 20 largest foundations in the United States with $3.1 billion in assets. The foundation's mission centers on "meeting the basic needs of vulnerable people and families experiencing poverty" across five focus areas: Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Aging. As President and CEO Rachel Garbow Monroe states: "The entire frame of our grantmaking is to give grants to nonprofits supporting individuals and families experiencing poverty, period." The foundation distributes approximately $140 million annually, with nearly 25% supporting direct service providers in Greater Baltimore. Geographic priorities reflect the lives and legacies of the founders, with significant commitments to Baltimore ($35 million annually), Israel ($18 million annually), and Hawaiʻi ($12 million annually).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking (Invitation Only)

  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $2,000,000
  • Application Method: Invitation only after initial email contact
  • Process: Send introductory email to grantsintake@hjweinberg.org, followed by pre-submission discussion with program team
  • Grant Types: Capital projects, program support, general operations
  • Commitment Style: Many larger grants represent multi-year commitments

Maryland Small Grants Program (MSGP)

  • Grant Amount: Up to $50,000 per year for two years ($100,000 total)
  • Eligibility: Smaller Maryland and Northeastern Pennsylvania nonprofits
  • Application Method: Rolling basis, no deadline
  • Grant Types: Operating, program, or capital grants across all foundation focus areas

Baltimore City Community Grants Program (via Baltimore Community Foundation)

  • Application Period: September 1 - October 15 annually
  • Grant Type: One-time, unrestricted or project-based
  • Eligibility: Organizations serving Baltimore City residents; organizations with open Weinberg Foundation grants are not eligible
  • Focus: Creating pathways to stability, opportunity, and equity
  • Note: Recipients may submit brief impact reports at end of grant term

Priority Areas

Housing ($154.8M awarded across 283 grants since 2018)

  • Safe and affordable housing development
  • Housing for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities
  • Support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence
  • Home modifications for low-income older adults (HUBS/BCAUSE programs)

Health ($215.2M across 501 grants since 2018)

  • Medical, behavioral health, and social services
  • Support for individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Veteran and military family mental health services
  • PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) centers

Jobs ($151.4M across 439 grants since 2018)

  • Employment and job advancement programs
  • Workforce development initiatives
  • Technology career training (including programs promoting Arab-Jewish cooperation in Israel)

Education ($104.1M across 320 grants since 2018)

  • Academic, social, and emotional preparation from middle school through college
  • Library development projects in underserved communities
  • Out-of-school programming
  • College and career preparation

Aging ($157.9M across 266 grants since 2018)

  • Independent living support
  • Aging with dignity initiatives
  • Community-based supports and services
  • Home modifications and repairs for older adult homeowners

Signature Initiatives ($61.8M across 152 grants since 2018)

  • Jewish community support across all focus areas
  • Special focus on women at risk and their children in Israel
  • Aging in community programs

Populations of Interest

  • Vulnerable women and children
  • Older adults
  • People with disabilities
  • Jewish communities
  • Chronically homeless individuals
  • Veterans and military families
  • Low-income individuals and families experiencing poverty

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals or personal assistance
  • Unregistered or newly forming organizations without 501(c)(3) status
  • Organizations outside priority geographic regions
  • Sectarian religious purposes

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Paula B. Pretlow - Chair and Trustee
  • Gordon Berlin - Trustee
  • Nimrod Goor - Trustee
  • Margery Bronster - Trustee (representing Hawaiʻi)
  • Robert T. Kelly, Jr. - Trustee

Senior Leadership Team

  • Rachel Garbow Monroe - President and CEO (joined 2005 as COO, promoted to President and CEO in 2010). Monroe was named to Maryland Daily Record's Power 100 in 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
  • Giorgio Caldarone - Vice President, Real Estate
  • Arin Gencer - Vice President, Strategy and Communications
  • Marisa Castuera Hayase - Vice President (appointed 2025)

Key Quote from Leadership:
President Rachel Garbow Monroe on recent leadership appointments: "Marisa's and Arin's exceptional leadership and commitment have been instrumental in our work, and their respective contributions in grantmaking and communications have helped strengthen and amplify our efforts in the communities we serve and beyond."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: This foundation operates primarily by invitation only.

The Foundation's grant application process is by invitation only. However, they do accept initial contact from potential applicants:

  1. Initial Contact: Send an introductory email to grantsintake@hjweinberg.org describing your organization and proposed project
  2. Pre-submission Discussion: If interested, foundation staff will arrange a discussion with the appropriate program team member
  3. Letter of Inquiry (LOI): If invited, submit a three-page Letter of Inquiry including:
    • Organization information
    • Grant purpose
    • Description of programs and population served
    • Budget details
    • Name of the program team member you've discussed the project with
  4. Full Application: Invitation to submit full proposal only after LOI review

Exception - Maryland Small Grants Program: This program accepts applications on a rolling basis with no deadline from smaller Maryland and Northeastern Pennsylvania nonprofits.

Exception - Baltimore City Community Grants: This program has a public application process through Baltimore Community Foundation, with annual application periods from September 1 - October 15.

Eligibility Requirements

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (or Israeli equivalent) or fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status
  • Direct service provision to low-income and vulnerable populations
  • Audited financial statements or external financial reviews
  • At least three years in operation
  • Alignment with one or more focus areas (Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, Aging)
  • Location within or service to priority geographic regions

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific decision timelines. The review process involves:

  • Initial email review and response
  • Pre-submission discussions with program staff
  • LOI review
  • Full application review (if invited)
  • Board approval

Grant applications are accepted year-round, suggesting a rolling review process rather than fixed decision dates.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or application statistics. However, since 2018, they have awarded 1,961 total grants totaling over $1 billion across all focus areas, suggesting significant grantmaking capacity. In 2025 alone (year-to-date), they awarded $70.8 million across 187 grants.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should contact foundation staff directly to inquire about reapplication opportunities. For the Baltimore City Community Grants program specifically, nonprofits that have already received two years of grants may reapply for additional support.

Application Success Factors

The foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate:

Mission Alignment
As President Monroe states: "The entire frame of our grantmaking is to give grants to nonprofits supporting individuals and families experiencing poverty, period." Applications must clearly demonstrate direct service to low-income and vulnerable populations.

Geographic Fit
Strongest consideration goes to applicants serving the foundation's six priority communities (Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, Israel, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, San Francisco) and rural communities within or near these regions. The foundation focuses on "communities with ties to the lives and legacies of Harry and Jeanette Weinberg" and where trustees reside.

Operational Track Record
The foundation supports well-established organizations with demonstrated track records of success. They require at least three years of operation and audited financial statements or external financial reviews, indicating preference for organizations with proven capacity.

Strategic Partnerships
The foundation emphasizes its commitment to "build partnerships across regions and sectors to address complex challenges" and to "ensure nonprofit and local leaders have the tools, skills, and resources to serve their community."

Evidence-Based Approaches
The foundation seeks to "promote promising practices and approaches for expansion on a broader scale," suggesting they value programs with demonstrated effectiveness that can be replicated or scaled.

Examples of Recent Funded Projects:

  • Golda Meir House expansion providing affordable housing for older adults, including chronically homeless individuals with disabilities
  • Medical centers providing comprehensive services for individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Innovate2gether program training Arab and Jewish youth for technology careers in Israel
  • Library Project serving nearly 9,000 students through 19 new libraries, leveraging $30 million in additional funding
  • HUBS/BCAUSE programs providing home modifications for low-income older adult homeowners

Insider Tips from Inside Philanthropy:

  • This is described as "an accessible, transparent funder" with a searchable grants database
  • Email outreach before applying increases likelihood of consideration
  • They maintain consistent grantee relationships over multiple years
  • Consult their online grants database (searchable back to 2018) to understand funding patterns in your area and program type
  • The foundation supports organizations of all sizes, not just large, established nonprofits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with an email: The foundation strongly encourages initial contact via email to grantsintake@hjweinberg.org before submitting any formal application materials. This increases your chances of being invited to apply.

  • Geographic alignment is critical: Nearly all grants go to organizations in the six priority communities or rural areas nearby. If you're not in Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, Israel, NYC, Northeastern PA, or San Francisco, your chances are significantly lower.

  • Focus on poverty alleviation: Every application must clearly demonstrate direct service to low-income and vulnerable populations. General programs without this clear focus are unlikely to succeed.

  • Multi-year funding is possible: Many larger grants represent multi-year commitments. If your project requires sustained support, this foundation may be a good fit.

  • Use their grants database strategically: The searchable database at hjweinbergfoundation.org shows all grants of $50,000+ since 2018. Study grants to organizations similar to yours to understand funding patterns, typical amounts, and language the foundation uses.

  • Consider the Small Grants Program: If you're a smaller Maryland or Northeastern PA nonprofit, the Maryland Small Grants Program offers up to $100,000 over two years with a simpler application process and no deadline.

  • Build the relationship: The foundation values pre-submission discussions and ongoing relationships. Don't treat this as a one-time transaction; consider how you might engage with program officers even if your first inquiry isn't successful.

References

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