The Maryland-Focused Giving of the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation

The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation is known in the Baltimore area for its religious overtones. However, this transparent and accessible funder also funds many secular organizations working in the Baltimore region. The family-run philanthropic venture has been on the local grantmaking scene since 1977.

Here's what Maryland nonprofits should know about the Knott Foundation before approaching this Mid-Atlantic grantmaker for support.

Five focus areas

The Knott Foundation annually awards approximately $2.5 million in grants across its five program areas. Education has been the most significant focus area over the past five years. The funder focuses its education giving on Catholic schools, special needs schools, after-school programs, and private universities and colleges. After education, human services is the next most-funded program area. These grants address basic needs like housing, homelessness, workforce development and children's services.

The funder also funds health and gives to programs that offer patient support services, palliative care, preventative care and rehabilitation. The Knott Foundation supports Catholic activities and regularly gives to churches, faith communities, retreat houses, spiritual centers and religious orders. The arts and humanities program area is the smallest funding priority for the foundation, with arts grants going to performing arts organizations, visual art and history museums and instructional art programs. Recent grantees include the B&O Railroad Museum, Asylee Women Enterprises, the Baltimore Urban Baseball Association, the Center for Pregnancy Concerns and the Fuel Fund of Maryland.

Three funding opportunities

At the Knott Foundation, three distinct funding opportunities are available — grants, cash flow loans and discretionary grants. Standard grants are for one-year periods and come out to between $10,000 and $100,000, with the median grant at approximately $45,000. The funder accepts letters of inquiry three times annually. It welcomes applications for cash flow loans and discretionary grants between $500 and $2,500 throughout the year.

The Knott Foundation supports capital expenses, development, new and ongoing programs, operating expenses and technology. However, it does not provide unrestricted grants or support medical research, scholarships, public school education or one-time events. Because of its religious affiliation, it does not support any pro-choice causes or reproductive health services that conflict with Catholic teachings. The foundation also requires its grantees to have been in operation for over one year.

Geographic area of interest

The Knotts were dedicated to their home community of Baltimore, and the foundation still keeps its grantmaking within the Archdiocese of Baltimore today. This geographic area includes the city of Baltimore and the Maryland counties of Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Hartford, Howard and Washington. Grantseekers in these areas can submit letters of inquiry for traditional grants by early February, June and October.

You can learn more about this funder in IP’s full profile of the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation, part of our Maryland funding guide.

Featured