The Elizabeth B and Arthur E Roswell
Baltimore, MD · EIN 52-1490498. Reported 282 grants totalling $5,820,311 to 116 recipients 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 Elizabeth B and Arthur E Roswell 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 $20,000; the smallest was $173 and the largest $500,000. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion | New York, NY | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs | Calabasas, CA | $435,000 | 7 | 3 | 2024 |
| Forward Justice | Morrisville, NC | $300,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Vote Voice of the Experienced | New Orleans, LA | $300,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Louisiana Bucket Brigade | New Orleans, LA | $226,000 | 9 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Israel Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $215,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Project South | Atlanta, GA | $210,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Florida Rights Restoration Coalition | Orlando, FL | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tides Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People & Families Movement | Windermere, FL | $175,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rural Roots Louisiana | Donaldsonville, LA | $120,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Power An Interfaith Movement | Philadelphia, PA | $113,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services | Houston, TX | $113,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Steps Coalition | Gulfport, MS | $103,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Taproot Earth | Tulsa, OK | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Sentencing Project | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Descendants Project | Vacherie, LA | $93,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rutgers Hillel | New Brunswick, NJ | $84,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Alliance for Global Justice | Tucson, AZ | $83,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Earth Quaker Action Team | Philadelphia, PA | $83,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Institute for Enhanced Equity | New Orleans, LA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Electronic Frontier Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Information Technology Disaster Resource Center | Fort Worth, TX | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jubilee Justice | Alexandria, LA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Fusion Partnerships Inc | Baltimore, MD | $57,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Trolley Car Helping Hands | Philadelphia, PA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Baltimore Green Space | Baltimore, MD | $51,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| A New Way of Life Reentry Project | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bold Education Fund | Hastings, NE | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Partnership Project | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $49,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Goucher College | Baltimore, MD | $47,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Civic Influencers | Lewes, DE | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bikemore | Baltimore, MD | $44,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Blue Water Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $44,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Germantown United Community Development Corporation | Philadelphia, PA | $42,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm | Baltimore, MD | $41,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Clean Water Fund | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Face to Face | Philadelphia, PA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Parks & People Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Philabundance | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Americans United for Separation of Church and State Inc | Washington, DC | $34,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Return Home Baltimore | Cockeysville, MD | $34,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Safe Sound Somerset | Hillsborough, NJ | $34,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mazon Inc | Los Angeles, CA | $32,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Food Bank Network of Somerset County Inc | Bound Brook, NJ | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Philly Thrive | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Movement Alliance Project | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Your Public Radio Corporation | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Baltimore Orchard Project | Millersville, MD | $29,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| People for the American Way Foundation | Washington, DC | $29,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maryland Food Bank Inc | Baltimore, MD | $28,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Children First Pa | Philadelphia, PA | $27,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Share Food Program Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Homesharing of Somerset County | Bridgewater, NJ | $24,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Center for Popular Democracy | Brooklyn, NY | $23,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Allied Media Projects | Detroit, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Red Cross of Central New Jersey | Fairfield, NJ | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Awbury Arboretum Association | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Baltimore Tree Trust Inc | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation | New York, NY | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Center for Biological Diversity | Tucson, AZ | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Home of Somerset County Inc | Somerville, NJ | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Houma Nation | Houma, LA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Baltimore Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Zufall Health Center | Dover, NJ | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | New York, NY | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Abortion Liberation Fund of Pa | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Women's Medical Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Keystone Research Center | Harrisburg, PA | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Naral Pro Choice Maryland Fund Inc | Baltimore, MD | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Baltimore Public Media Corporation | Baltimore, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Global Greengrants Fund | Boulder, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Naral Pro-Choice America Foundation | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chesapeake Climate Action Network | Takoma Park, MD | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children First | Philadelphia, PA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Democracy Now | New York, NY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Environmental Grantmakers Association | New York, NY | $7,388 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Nutritional Research Foundation | Flemington, NJ | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Baltimore Green Map | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bike Maryland | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Black Youth Project 100 | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ceasefire Pennsylvania Education Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Corporate Accountability International | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairmount Park Conservancy | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fulphil | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inn Dwelling | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| League of Conservation Voters Education Fund | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Legal Assistance of Western New York | Geneva, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mural Arts Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Out for Justice Inc | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network Inc | Philadelphia, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Preservation Maryland | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Southern Coalition for Social Justice | Durham, NC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Texas Jail Project | Cypress, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Genesis at the Crossroads | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund | Hamilton, NJ | $3,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maryland Pesticide Education Network | Annapolis, MD | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Loading Dock | Baltimore, MD | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church | Baltimore, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Urban Families Inc | Baltimore, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Commonwealth Youthchoirs | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| CROSSROADS4HOPE | Bedminster, NJ | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food Moxie | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of the Wissahickon | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Irvine Natural Science Center | Owings Mills, MD | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Living Beyond Breast Cancer | Bala Cynwyd, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mighty Writers | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Family Farm Coalition | Gloucester, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Kensington Community Development Corporation | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Philadelphia Student Union | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Whyy | Philadelphia, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Center for Families | Washington, DC | $173 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
58 of 116 (50%) 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 87%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
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.
- Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion
support for the creation of the Florence G. Roswell Fund for the Abramov Library for the Love of Libraries and Books, Language Acquisition, and Reading - Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs
general support for the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People & Families Movement and support for the Quest for Democracy Fund - Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People & Families Movement
general support and support for the Quest for Democracy Fund - New Israel Fund
support for the Israel Center for Educational Innovation for ten in-class libraries in four schools in Ramle - Taproot Earth
support for the Community Controlled Fund of the Gulf South for a Green New Deal - Project South
support for the Community Controlled Fund of Gulf South for a Green New Deal
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 199 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 96 | $1,163,348 | $6,500 |
| 2022 | 56 | $1,175,173 | $10,500 |
| 2023 | 69 | $1,977,790 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 61 | $1,504,000 | $13,000 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Elizabeth B and Arthur E Roswell has 25 of them, worth $2,705,000. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $300,000 |
| New Israel Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $300,000 |
| Project South | Atlanta, GA | $200,000 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs | Calabasas, CA | $150,000 |
| The Institute for Enhanced Equity | New Orleans, LA | $150,000 |
| Louisiana Bucket Brigade | New Orleans, LA | $120,000 |
| Rural Roots Louisiana | Donaldsonville, LA | $120,000 |
| Florida Rights Restoration Coalition | Orlando, FL | $100,000 |
| Home of Somerset County Inc | Somerville, NJ | $100,000 |
| Tides Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 |
| The Descendants Project | Vacherie, LA | $90,000 |
| Alliance for Global Justice | Tucson, AZ | $90,000 |
| Earth Quaker Action Team | Philadelphia, PA | $90,000 |
| Louisiana Bucket Brigade | New Orleans, LA | $90,000 |
| Power An Interfaith Movement | Philadelphia, PA | $90,000 |
Where its money goes
16% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
- 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.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Elizabeth B and Arthur E Roswell's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Co Afs One South Street 2950, Baltimore, MD, 21202. 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 52-1490498 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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