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Hittman Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,536,013 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (pre-selected organizations)
  • Grant Range: Variable (Median: $10,000, Maximum observed: $88,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Maryland-focused with national and international reach

Contact Details

Address: Towson, MD 21208

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. All correspondence would need to be directed through their registered address.

Overview

Founded in 1998, the Hittman Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Towson, Maryland. With assets of approximately $44 million and annual distributions around $1.5-2 million, the foundation has established itself as a significant supporter of Jewish community organizations, education, animal welfare, and humanitarian causes in Maryland and beyond. The foundation is managed entirely by members of the Hittman and Gober families, with Stephen J. Hittman serving as President. The foundation has demonstrated consistent grantmaking activity, awarding 110 grants in 2024, 89 grants in 2023, and 107 grants in 2022. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation, making all grants through trustee discretion to pre-selected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal application programs. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the organization and project:

  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Large Grants: Up to $88,000
  • Typical Range: $5,000 - $70,000

Priority Areas

The foundation's grantmaking reflects the interests of the Hittman family across several key areas:

Jewish Community Support - The foundation's largest funding priority, supporting:

  • Jewish federations and community organizations
  • Israeli humanitarian organizations
  • International Jewish relief efforts

Education - Including:

  • Scholarship funds at universities (e.g., Johns Hopkins University)
  • Educational institutions

Animal Welfare - Substantial support for:

  • Animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations
  • Particularly notable is their recurring support for Barking Holler Animal Sanctuary

Human Services - Support for:

  • Food banks (e.g., Maryland Food Bank)
  • Healthcare organizations
  • Veterans services
  • Emergency relief efforts

International Humanitarian Relief - Recent focus areas include:

  • Ukraine relief
  • Israel emergency support

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only supports pre-selected organizations, they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited applications from new organizations
  • Organizations outside their established network
  • For-profit entities
  • Political campaigns or lobbying

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed entirely by members of the Hittman and Gober families, reflecting its character as a private family foundation:

Board Members (2024):

  • Stephen J. Hittman - President/Director
  • Judith E. Hittman - Vice President & Secretary/Director
  • Karen E. Gober - Vice President & Treasurer/Director
  • Mark S. Gober - Senior Vice President/Director
  • Zachary D. Gober - Senior Vice President/Director
  • Jamie M. Hittman - Senior Vice President/Director
  • Alexandra D. Hittman - Senior Vice President/Director
  • Jake A. Gober - Senior Vice President/Director
  • Shale D. Stiller - Director
  • Jonathan D. Eisner - Assistant Secretary/Director

All board members serve without compensation, and the foundation operates without paid staff, maintaining a purely volunteer governance structure typical of family foundations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Hittman Family Foundation has explicitly stated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations with which the family has established relationships. The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

  • Board members' personal knowledge and connections
  • Existing relationships with organizations the family supports
  • Recommendations within their philanthropic network
  • Long-standing commitments to particular causes and organizations

Organizations cannot apply for funding, and unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals will not be considered.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year to pre-selected organizations based on trustee decisions.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with organizations it chooses to support, with many receiving grants multiple years in succession.

Application Success Factors

Note: Since this foundation does not accept applications, the following information is provided to help understand their funding patterns and priorities:

Established Relationships Are Essential: The foundation's grantmaking is relationship-based. Organizations in their funding portfolio typically have:

  • Direct connections to board members through the Baltimore Jewish community
  • Long-standing relationships built over multiple years
  • Demonstrated track record in areas the family cares about

Alignment with Family Interests: Review of grant history shows clear patterns:

  • Strong preference for Jewish community organizations and Israeli causes
  • Significant commitment to animal welfare, particularly animal sanctuaries
  • Support for Baltimore-area institutions and Maryland organizations
  • Interest in scholarship programs at major universities
  • Response to international humanitarian crises

Grant Sizes Reflect Relationship Depth: Analysis of their grantmaking shows:

  • Median grants of $10,000 suggest broad-based support
  • Larger grants ($60,000-$88,000) go to organizations with apparent deep connections to the family
  • Recurring grantees include The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, animal welfare organizations, and international Jewish relief organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They make all grants to pre-selected organizations through trustee discretion.

  • Relationship-Based Philanthropy: The foundation operates through established relationships, primarily within the Baltimore Jewish community and causes connected to the Hittman and Gober families.

  • Core Funding Priorities: Jewish community support, animal welfare, education (particularly scholarships), food security, and international humanitarian relief form the foundation's primary focus areas.

  • Consistent Grantmaking: With 100+ grants annually and a median grant size of $10,000, the foundation supports a broad portfolio of organizations rather than making a few large grants.

  • Family Foundation Structure: All decisions are made by family members serving as trustees, with no professional staff, indicating deeply personal philanthropic priorities.

  • Geographic Focus: While based in Maryland with strong Baltimore ties, the foundation supports national and international causes, particularly Israeli humanitarian organizations.

  • Multi-Year Support: Review of grant patterns suggests the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with favored organizations, providing support across multiple years.

References

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