The Helen J Serini Foundation Inc
Reisterstown, MD · EIN 46-1353961. Reported 117 grants totalling $1,201,291 to 74 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Helen J Serini Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $60,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Philanthropy Network | Baltimore, MD | $81,130 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maryland Center on Economic Policy | Baltimore, MD | $77,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Baltimore Community Toolbank | Baltimore, MD | $57,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maryland Hunger Solutions An Initiative of the Food Resource & Action Cent | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Adoptions Together Inc | Calverton, MD | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cash Campaign of Maryland Inc | Baltimore, MD | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maryland Philanthropy Networkcommunity Weath Builders | Baltimore, MD | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Healthcare Access Maryland | Baltimore, MD | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Adoption Exchange Association | Linthicum, MD | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Frederick County Health Care Coalition | Frederick, MD | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Literacy Council of Frederick County | Frederick, MD | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Maryland Philanthropy Networkbaltimore Digital Equity Coalition | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Empowered to Live Inc | Frederick, MD | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Freestate Justice | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Maryland New Directions Inc | Baltimore, MD | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Light House | Annapolis, MD | $21,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Banner Neighborhoods Community | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Beyond Shelter Frederick | Frederick, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Wealth Builders Fiscally Sponsored By Maryland Philanthropy Netwo | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Homeless Persons Representation Project | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Langton Green Inc | Annapolis, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Life Asset Inc | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Maryland Citizen's Health Initiative Education Fund | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maryland Hunger Solutions An Initiative of the Food Research Action Center | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services Inc | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Project Own Inc | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Frederick Center | Frederick, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United Way of Frederick County | Frederick, MD | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs | Frederick, MD | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rob's Barbershop Community Foundation | Odenton, MD | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Baltimore Safe Haven | Baltimore, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maryland Philanthropy Networkimpact Hub Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mental Health Assocation of Frederick County | Frederick, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Paths Together (formerly Adoptions Together) | Calverton, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Interfaith Housing Alliance Inc | Frederick, MD | $11,638 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Baltimore Racial Justice Action Fiscally Sponsored By Fusion Partnerships | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Black Women Build - Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Frederick Mental Health Association | Frederick, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hood College Food Security Network | Frederick, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Impact Hub Baltimore Fiscally Sponsored By Maryland Philanthropy Network | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maryland Citizens Health Initiative Fund | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| MD Citizen's Health Initiative Education Fund | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Lighthouse | Annapolis, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Believe Big | Glyndon, MD | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Banner Neighborhoods | Baltimore, MD | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County | Annapolis, MD | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mha of Frederick County | Frederick, MD | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Student Support Network Inc | Baltimore, MD | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Chapel Hill High School Boosters Club | Chapel Hill, NC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Elijah's Blessing Community Service Center | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Everyman Theatre | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Leaf Project Inc | Landisburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Loyola Early Learning Center | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maryland Association of Student Councils | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance | Millersville, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Public Justice Center Inc | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sisters Saving the City | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Be Org | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Beorg | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wide Angle Youth Media Inc | Baltimore, MD | $4,900 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Neighborhood Design Center Inc | Hyattsville, MD | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership | Frederick, MD | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fusion Partnerships Incbaltimore Action Legal Team | Baltimore, MD | $2,920 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Beneficial Pain Inc | Baltimore, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children's Scholarship Fund of Bmore | Baltimore, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Exponent Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hearts of Hope | Baltimore, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Federated Charities | Frederick, MD | $1,773 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Delaplaine Arts Center | Frederick, MD | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fusion Partnerships Incbaltimore Doula Project | Baltimore, MD | $1,430 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Little Longears Donkey Rescue | New Oxford, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pet Partners | Bellevue, WA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Prison Yoga Project Inc | Bolinas, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
25 of 74 (34%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 41%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Maryland Philanthropy Network
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO CONTINUE AND GROW COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDERS, A CRITICAL EFFORT WORKING TO FOSTER FAMILY-SUSTAINING, EMPOWERING JOBS AND VIBRANT, LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES IN BALTIMORE. - Frederick County Health Care Coalition
TO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO IMPROVE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE IN FREDERICK COUNTY - Maryland Center on Economic Policy
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO HELP MARYLAND RESIDENTS ADVANCE INNOVATIVE POLICY ECONOMIC IDEAS - Adoptions Together Inc
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN AND GROW INFANT ADOPTION PLACEMENT COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES, OLDER CHILD ADOPTION PLACEMENT SERVICES, AND SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THAT KEEP FAMILIES FORMED THROUGH ADOPTION STRONG.LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR KEY STAFF MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE 2023 ATTACH CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS EXECUTIVE COACHING FOR THE INCOMING AND OUTGOING CEOS DURING A SUCCESSION TRANSITION. - Maryland Hunger Solutions An Initiative of the Food Resource & Action Cent
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR MARYLAND HUNGER SOLUTIONS' WORK IN ANTI-HUNGER ADVOCACY, WORKING TO CREATE HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE NURTITION, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACROSS MARYLAND. FIRST OF THREE INSTALLMENTS. - Maryland Philanthropy Networkcommunity Weath Builders
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO CONTINUE AND GROW COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDERS' CORE PROGRAMS, WHICH TAP COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING (CWB) STRATEGIES/MODELS TO FOSTER MORE EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED ECONOMIES.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 65 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36 | $326,638 | $8,750 |
| 2022 | 37 | $352,590 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 23 | $275,240 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | $246,823 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 97% of this one's giving went to organizations in Maryland. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Maryland.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Helen J Serini Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 146, Reisterstown, MD, 21136. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 46-1353961 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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