Posted on November 10, 2008

Weinberg Foundation Announces Temporary Suspension of Grant Application Process

The Baltimore-based Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has announced that it will temporarily stop accepting letters of inquiry from potential grantees and expects to continue with that policy through April 1, 2009.

In keeping with its intention to be transparent in its grantmaking and respectful of nonprofits, the foundation said the change was made due to the substantial number of grants already approved for the coming year and a desire by the foundation to evaluate the effectiveness of its prior grantmaking in the context of a slowing economy. While the foundation's grantmaking process will remain unchanged in every other respect, the foundation may chose to focus more of its grants in 2009 on providing basic human needs such as food, shelter, and medical care.

According to Weinberg Foundation president Shale D. Stiller, the foundation's asset base is both strong and diverse, and that will allow it to continue its grantmaking at a relatively stable level this year and beyond. The foundation already has awarded grants totaling nearly $100 million this year and is on track to distribute between $90 million and $100 million in 2009.

"The Weinberg Foundation remains committed to its mission of assisting those living in poverty here in the United States and abroad," said Stiller. "Many nonprofits are experiencing declining donations as donors find themselves with fewer resources during these difficult economic times. We have already awarded 348 grants to nonprofits this year, and we anticipate funding more nonprofits before the end of the year. During the past three years, the Weinberg Foundation has increased both the amount and the total number of grants awarded each year as well as the size of its professional grant staff."