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Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$9.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.3M
Decision Time
6mo

Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,032,286 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 192 awards (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Up to 6 months
  • Grant Range: $100 - $1,300,000
  • Geographic Focus: Baltimore/Maryland (primary), with national and international programs
  • Assets: $122,173,583

Contact Details

Address: One South Street, Suite 2900, Baltimore, MD 21202

Main Phone: 410-347-7201

Website: https://blaufund.org/jacob-and-hilda-blaustein-foundation/

Program Officers:

  • Lara A. Hall, Senior Program Officer: Educational Opportunity, Health and Mental Health - Tel: 410-347-7204
  • Brenda Bodenheimer Zlatin, Senior Program Officer: Jewish Life, Israel, Human Rights - Tel: 410-347-7207
  • Tanya C. Herbick, Senior Program Officer - Tel: 410-347-7206

Executive Director: Regan E. Ralph - Tel: 410-347-7103

Pre-Application Contact: Applicants are encouraged to contact a Program Officer using the Contact form at blaufund.org to discuss potential fit before submitting a full proposal.

Overview

Established in 1957 by Jacob Blaustein and his wife Hilda, the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. Jacob Blaustein, who co-founded American Oil Company (Amoco) with his father Louis in 1910, was President of the American Jewish Committee from 1949 to 1954 and a lifelong advocate for human rights. The foundation is animated by the Jewish value of tzedakah (obligation to be charitable) and promotes social justice and human rights through six core program areas. Part of the Blaustein Philanthropic Group—a constellation of multi-generational family foundations—it operates with assets of over $122 million and distributed approximately $9 million in grants in 2023. As President Michael J. Hirschhorn states, "Human rights and Jewish values drive everything here." The foundation supports both general operating and project grants, with multi-year funding also available.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates six distinct program areas:

Strengthening Public Education ($100 - $1,300,000)

  • Focuses on improving outcomes in Baltimore City schools
  • Supports leadership development, teacher quality initiatives, and professional development
  • Emphasizes secondary education and system-wide public school reform
  • Funds initiatives in arts, literacy, STEM, and social-emotional learning
  • Supports local advocacy and policy initiatives advancing quality education
  • Application method: Rolling basis via program officer contact

Arts and Culture ($100 - $1,300,000)

  • Three-pronged strategy: arts education, audience diversity, and key institutions
  • Geographic focus: Baltimore metropolitan region
  • Supports high-quality community arts programs engaging diverse audiences
  • Application method: Rolling basis via program officer contact

Health and Mental Health ($100 - $1,300,000) Three sub-areas:

  • Mental health prevention and community-based services (not clinical services for serious mental illness)
  • Healthcare access advocacy and policy efforts (state/local advocacy limited to Maryland, except national campaigns)
  • Environmental health protection initiatives
  • Example: $35,000 to Habitable (2024) for environmental health work
  • Application method: Rolling basis via program officer contact

Strengthening Israeli Democracy ($10,000 - $100,000 per project/year) Four focus areas:

  • Shared Jewish-Arab society programs (primarily in the Negev)
  • Higher education pipelines for ethnic minorities
  • Environmental protection
  • Civil and human rights work
  • Recent grantees include: Adam Teva V'Din Israel Union for Environmental Defense, Association of Academic Arabs in the Negev, Ben Gurion University, Bizchut (Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities)
  • Application method: Does NOT accept unsolicited proposals in this area

Jewish Life (Amount varies)

  • National and local (Baltimore) programs
  • Promotes tikkun olam ("repairing the world"), progressive Judaism, and nuanced Israel discourse among American Jews
  • Focus on college students and young adults (not teen programs)
  • Sustaining support provided to The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
  • Application method: Does NOT accept unsolicited proposals from Baltimore-based Jewish groups

International Human Rights (Amount varies)

  • Advances women's rights and reproductive rights
  • Refugee protection
  • Leadership development and capacity-building
  • Funds U.S.-based organizations addressing international issues rather than organizations based abroad
  • Application method: Does NOT accept unsolicited proposals for capacity-building programs

Priority Areas

Organizations demonstrating the following characteristics are prioritized:

  • Systemic change focus
  • Constituent participation
  • Innovation
  • Clear goals and objectives
  • Evaluation processes
  • Long-range strategic planning

The foundation makes grants for general operating support, program support, and capital projects in many areas, with multi-year funding available.

What They Don't Fund

Education Program:

  • Individual school programming or capital needs
  • State/local advocacy outside Maryland (except national campaigns)

Jewish Life Program:

  • Teen programs (focus is on college students and young adults)
  • Proposals from organizations outside the United States

Health and Mental Health Program:

  • Clinical services for serious mental illness

Geographic Restrictions:

  • Baltimore City/metropolitan area for domestic programs (Education, Arts, Health)
  • Unsolicited proposals from Baltimore-based Jewish groups (sustaining support goes to The Associated)
  • Organizations based abroad (prefers U.S.-based organizations addressing international issues)

Governance and Leadership

President: Michael J. Hirschhorn

Executive Director: Regan E. Ralph (Tel: 410-347-7103)

Historical Leadership: David Hirschhorn served as President from 1990 to 2000; Barbara Blaustein Hirschhorn served as Trustee.

Foundation Philosophy: As President Michael J. Hirschhorn notes, "Human rights and Jewish values drive everything here." The foundation's concern for social justice and equality of opportunity flows from its family and community history, rooted in the legacy of Jacob Blaustein, who worked to protect civil and religious rights of Jews and other minorities and promote intergroup tolerance during his tenure as President of the American Jewish Committee.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Step 1: Initial Contact

  • Prospective applicants should first contact a Program Officer using the Contact form at blaufund.org
  • Provide organization name, nature of request, and website link
  • A Program Officer will assess potential fit and advise whether to submit a full proposal
  • The Program Officer will provide the appropriate email address for electronic submission

Step 2: Proposal Submission

  • Proposals can be submitted electronically (email address provided by Program Officer) or by mail
  • Mail submissions: One South Street, Suite 2900, Baltimore, MD 21202
  • All documents should be submitted as PDF files
  • Proposals must be addressed to a specific foundation
  • Any proposal format is acceptable, including standard formats developed by regional associations of grantmakers

Step 3: Acknowledgment

  • Receipt of materials will be acknowledged within three weeks

Important Restrictions:

  • No unsolicited proposals accepted for Strengthening Israeli Democracy program area
  • No unsolicited proposals accepted from Baltimore-based Jewish groups (sustaining support provided to The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore)
  • No unsolicited proposals accepted for International Human Rights capacity-building programs

Eligibility:

  • Nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
  • Organizations with fiscal sponsors or agents are also eligible

Decision Timeline

  • Acknowledgment: Within 3 weeks of receipt
  • Board Meetings: Foundation meets independently 2-3 times per year to consider requests
  • Final Determination: Up to 6 months from submission
  • Notification Method: Not specified in available sources

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly available. The foundation made 192 grants in 2023, but the number of applications received is not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact a Program Officer for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations demonstrating:

  • Systemic change focus rather than one-off interventions
  • Constituent participation in program design and implementation
  • Innovation in service provision or approach
  • Clear goals with measurable objectives
  • Evaluation processes to assess impact
  • Long-range strategic planning showing sustainability

Pre-Application Contact is Essential: The foundation strongly encourages using the Contact form to speak with a Program Officer before submitting a proposal. This step helps assess fit and can save applicants time if the project falls outside current priorities.

Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation considers both general support and project proposals, and multi-year funding is available. This suggests they value long-term partnerships with organizations demonstrating impact.

Geographic Focus Matters:

  • Baltimore City/metropolitan region for Education, Arts and Culture, and Health programs
  • National scope for Jewish Life (but not Baltimore-based Jewish groups due to relationship with The Associated)
  • U.S.-based organizations for International Human Rights work (not organizations based abroad)
  • Negev region for Israeli Democracy programs

Know What They Don't Fund: The foundation has clear exclusions in each program area. Reviewing these carefully before applying can prevent wasted effort on proposals that fall outside scope.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust: $70,000 (2023, 2-year term)
  • Habitable: $35,000 (2024, 1-year term) for environmental health
  • Israeli grantees include Adam Teva V'Din, Association of Academic Arabs in the Negev, Ben Gurion University, and Bizchut

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Make contact first: Use the foundation's Contact form to speak with a Program Officer before investing time in a full proposal. This pre-screening saves time and ensures alignment.

  • Demonstrate systemic impact: The foundation prioritizes organizations working toward systemic change with constituent participation, not isolated programs or services. Show how your work creates lasting structural improvements.

  • Geographic fit is non-negotiable: Baltimore/Maryland focus for most domestic programs. If you're outside this area, only Jewish Life and International Human Rights programs may apply (with specific restrictions).

  • Multi-year funding is available: The foundation supports both project and general operating grants, with multi-year commitments possible. Frame proposals with long-term sustainability in mind.

  • Be patient with timeline: With only 2-3 board meetings annually and up to 6 months for final determination, plan your application timing accordingly. Submit well in advance of funding needs.

  • Know the unsolicited proposal restrictions: Three program areas don't accept unsolicited proposals (Israeli Democracy, Baltimore Jewish groups, and International Human Rights capacity-building). Don't waste time applying if you fall into these categories.

  • Leverage the grants database: Review the foundation's searchable grants database at blaufund.org/grant-database/ to see recent awards in your program area and understand typical grant sizes and recipient profiles.

References

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