The Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 82-0568453 · since 2003ratcliffefoundation.com·Delaware, Maryland, Virginia·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$8.7M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$30,000 to $815k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$208k
Typical grant (median)
24 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • This foundation funds colleges and other nonprofit organisations working on workforce development, entrepreneurship, job creation and skilled trades training, with a priority on programmes in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, so check that your work fits squarely within those themes and that area before applying.
  • For a realistic request, aim around the median grant of about $155,000, bearing in mind most grants fall between $30,000 and $815,000, though the largest grant made was $3,000,000.
  • The IRS filing gives no deadlines; the process is a written letter describing the nature and use of the requested grant, together with a copy of your IRS non-profit determination letter.
  • Be aware that 94% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the prior two years, suggesting this is a relationship-led funder where new applicants may find it competitive to break in.
  • Only US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations, including academic institutions, are eligible to apply.

Overview

The Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation is a US private foundation based in Annapolis, MD.

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 Ratcliffe Foundation funds colleges and other non-profit organisations working to prepare the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs, with a focus on programmes in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. It supports job creation and entrepreneurship to strengthen local and regional economies. Its grants support workforce and training initiatives, including hands-on training, classroom instruction, scholarships, internships and apprenticeships, and innovative projects for skilled trades and in-demand jobs. Eligible applicants are US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations, including academic institutions. The foundation values programmes connected to their local or regional communities, where participants live, work or plan to work or launch a venture. It values collaboration with local stakeholders and expects partners to measure outcomes, reduce barriers to education, jobs and business ownership, and provide exceptional learning experiences.

Themes

  • Workforce development
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Job creation
  • Skilled trades training

Geographic Focus

Priority: Maryland; Virginia; Delaware.

How to apply

Applicants must provide a written letter describing the nature and use of the requested grant, together with a copy of the IRS non-profit determination letter.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 94% 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 73 grants to organisations were about $155,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The foundation selects grant partners that share its vision and values and provide exceptional learning experiences.
  • It chooses partners that reduce barriers to education, jobs and business ownership.
  • It requires grant partners to measure their impact and assess programme outcomes annually.
  • It encourages partners to assess programmes themselves and adapt when plans do not work as intended.
  • It considers collaboration with local businesses, elected officials and community leaders essential to sustainable growth.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Maryland76%
Florida11%
Virginia6%
Massachusetts4%
Delaware2%
Ohio<1%

1 other state: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 31% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations The Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

24 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $208k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 24 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k4%
$5k–$10k0%
$10k–$25k4%
$25k–$50k4%
$50k–$100k21%
$100k–$250k21%
$250k–$500k33%
$500k–$1M4%
$1M and over8%

Median $208k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • YMCA of Queen Anne's County · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $3,000,0002024 tax year
  • Ferry Cove Shellfish · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $1,000,0002024 tax year
  • CCBC - 2024 · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $810,9132024 tax year
  • Mica · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $441,0002024 tax year
  • Mountain Gateway CC - 2024 · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $400,0002024 tax year
  • Fiu - 2024 · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $380,0002024 tax year
  • Florida International University · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $312,5002024 tax year
  • Aacc Foundation - Esi 2022 · Unrestricted use by recipient
    $300,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • James A Clauson — Trustee
  • Tina Davenport — Trustee
  • James D Wright — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$6,538,165$7,334,240$80,321,412Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$5,311,042$7,970,567$58,470,579Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$11,920,061$8,710,642$72,739,833Filing 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

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