The John J Pohanka Family Foundation
Invitation OnlyCapitol Heights, Maryland · EIN 56-6784266 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$1.9M
Organizations funded91
Typical grant$6,042
Total assets$36.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $2,500 and $25,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
67% of grants went outside Maryland.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Center | Washington, DC | General purpose | $215,000 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA | General purpose | $150,000 |
| Miami Music Festival | Springfield, VA | General purpose | $130,878 |
| Ut Md Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | General purpose | $125,000 |
| Wolf Trap Foundation | Vienna, VA | General purpose | $98,456 |
| Saint James School | Hagerstown, MD | General purpose | $80,000 |
| Catholic Charities | Washington, DC | General purpose | $75,800 |
| The Metropolitan Opera | New York, NY | General purpose | $75,000 |
| The Miami Music Festival | Springfield, VA | General purpose | $75,000 |
| Junior Achievement | Washington, DC | General purpose | $57,000 |
| Washington National Opera | Arlington, VA | General purpose | $42,500 |
| Carson Scholars Fund | Towson, MD | General purpose | $40,000 |
| Forestville Boys & Girls Club of Prince Georges | District Heights, MD | General purpose | $32,200 |
| University of Mary Washington Foundation | Fredericksburg, VA | General purpose | $30,240 |
| The Hill School | Middleburg, VA | General purpose | $30,000 |
| Community Foundation of Western North Carolina | Asheville, NC | General purpose | $25,000 |
| Glimmerglass Festival | Cooperstown, NY | General purpose | $25,000 |
| Lehigh University | Bethleham, PA | General purpose | $25,000 |
| Levine Music | Washington, DC | General purpose | $25,000 |
| Next Gen Personal Finance | Palo Alto, CA | General purpose | $25,000 |
| Shakespeare Theatre Company | Washington, DC | General purpose | $25,000 |
| The Denyce Graves Foundation | New York, NY | General purpose | $25,000 |
| US Army War College Foundation | Carlisle, PA | General purpose | $25,000 |
| World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | General purpose | $25,000 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society | New York, NY | General purpose | $20,030 |
| Sea Turtle Adventures Inc | Boynton Beach, FL | General purpose | $20,000 |
| Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats | Alexandria, VA | General purpose | $18,164 |
| Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation | Marblehead, MA | General purpose | $15,000 |
| Miriam's Kitchen | Washington, DC | General purpose | $15,000 |
| Wanada Auto Dealer Education Institute | Washington, DC | General purpose | $15,000 |
| Greater Prince Georges County Business Roundtable | Bowie, MD | General purpose | $12,500 |
| Josh Freeman Foundaton | Selbyville, DE | General purpose | $12,500 |
| Rdk Melanoma Foundation | West Palm Beach, FL | General purpose | $12,500 |
| Tucker Community Foundation | Parsons, WV | General purpose | $12,000 |
| Leukemia and Lymphoma Society | New York, NY | General purpose | $11,794 |
| Big Dog Ranch Rescue | Loxahatchee Groves, FL | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton, NY | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Main Street Gym | Salisbury, MD | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | New York, NY | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Morattico Waterfront Museum | Morattico, VA | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Nada Foundation | Tysons, VA | General purpose | $10,000 |
| New York Sign Museum | Brooklyn, NY | General purpose | $10,000 |
| Wagner Society of DC | Washington, DC | General purpose | $10,000 |
| North Forestville Elementary School | Forestville, MD | General purpose | $9,844 |
| Love on a Leash | Oceanside, CA | General purpose | $8,000 |
| First Book Marketplace | Moorestow, NJ | General purpose | $6,042 |
| Academy of Vocal Arts | Philadelphia, PA | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Arts Fairfax | Fairfax, VA | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Boca Helping Hands | Boca Raton, FL | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Boston Partners in Education | Boston, MA | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Flatbush Cats Inc | Brooklyn, NY | General purpose | $5,000 |
| John's Hopkins Children's Center | Baltimore, MD | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Krimson Achievement Foundation | Clinton, MD | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Lbi Foundation of Arts & Sciences | Long Beach, NJ | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Newman Center Lehigh University | Bethleham, PA | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art | Philadelphia, PA | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Riverdale Baptist Track Team | Upper Marlboro, MD | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Step Afrika | Washington, DC | General purpose | $5,000 |
| Sweet Dream Makers | Boca Raton, FL | General purpose | $5,000 |
| The American Pops Orchestra | Washington, DC | General purpose | $5,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 91 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,867,734 | 91 |
| 2023 | $1,285,924 | 61 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 12, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513169349101641
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 56-6784266
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.