The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is a non-profit philanthropist organization founded by businessman Harry Weinberg (1908–1990) and his wife Jeanette Weinberg.
With total assets of approximately $2 billion, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is one of the largest private charitable foundations in the U.S. funding nonprofits that provide direct services to the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable.
Most of the Foundation’s approximately $100 million annual grantmaking is for the benefit of disadvantaged people primarily located in Maryland, Hawaii, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Israel, and the Former Soviet Union. These grants are focused on meeting basic needs such as shelter, nutrition, health, and socialization and on enhancing an individual’s ability to meet those needs. Within that focus, emphasis is placed on older adults and the Jewish community. The Foundation is committed beyond the Jewish community with at least 40% of all grants going to the community at large.
Program Areas
Older Adults (funded nationwide)
This is the single largest area of grantmaking by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. The Foundation remains committed to providing support to older adults to live dignified, meaningful, and engaged lives in the community and to maintain their independence for as long as possible.
Workforce Development (funded nationwide)
The Weinberg Foundation is committed to helping people to help themselves by obtaining and keeping employment, preferably on a career track. The Foundation supports programs that provide the "life-tools" for clients to lift themselves from poverty into solid self-support.
Basic Human Needs & Health
The Foundation supports organizations that assist people to meet their basic needs and move toward self-sufficiency. The major goals are to prevent and end homelessness; provide sufficient and nutritious food; and increase access to primary health care.
Disabilities
The Foundation supports organizations and programs that respect and promote the independence, integration, individual choice, and civil rights of children and adults with intellectual, physical, and sensory disabilities, as necessary preconditions for a good life.
US Education
The Foundation strives to ensure that all children enter kindergarten ready to learn; achieve grade-level academic performance in reading, math, and science; and graduate from high school prepared for college, the workforce, and self-sustained participation in society. This program also supports interventions that promote child and family safety and reduce the traumatic effects of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
General Community Support
This program area includes support for Jewish causes worldwide, grants to organizations that distribute funds to many of the Foundation’s priority areas, and local community development efforts including renovation or construction of affordable housing and improvement projects in low-income neighborhoods.
Maryland Small Grants Program
The MSGP supports smaller Maryland nonprofits seeking general operating support, program support, or certain capital requests. The Foundation offers this reminder: "5/50/50," a streamlined 5-page proposal and, in most cases, only 50 days for up to $50,000.
