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The Ceres Foundation Inc

Gaithersburg, Maryland  ·  EIN 912170962  ·  Private foundation

Based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, The Ceres Foundation Inc has awarded $20.3M across 189 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Thrive Scholars. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$1.7M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$19.8M
Total assets
189
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What The Ceres Foundation Inc funds

The Ceres Foundation Inc's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, arts education, community improvement, disability services, and related causes.

Adult EducationArts & CultureArts EducationCommunity ImprovementDisability ServicesDomestic ViolenceEconomic DevelopmentEducationEnvironment & ConservationFinancial Empowerment

Populations it has supported include children, disabled, families, foster youth, hispanic communities, homeless population.

childrendisabledfamiliesfoster youthhispanic communitieshomeless populationimmigrants & refugeeslow-income communities

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Ceres Foundation Inc, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Thrive Scholars
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE THRIVE SCHOLARS' LOS ANGELES AND BOSTON PROGRAMS
Los Angeles, CA$2.0M2024
Thrive Scholars
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE THRIVE SCHOLARS' LOS ANGELES AND BOSTON PROGRAMS
Boston, MA$2.0M2023
California Community Foundation
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Los Angeles, CA$450K2022
Orange County Community Foundation
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Newport Beach, CA$400K2022
Friendship Shelter Inc
SUPPORT THE HOME FOR GOOD INITIATIVE AND HENDERSON HOUSE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM
Laguna Beach, CA$360K2024
Schoolhouse Connection Inc
SUPPORT THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUTH HAVING EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS
Washington, DC$275K2024
Community Adolescent Resources and Education Center Inc
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE BARD MICROCOLLEGE PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN
Holyoke, MA$250K2024
Community Adolescent Resources and Education Center Inc
SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE BARD MICROCOLLEGE PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN
Holyoke, MA$250K2022
Community Adolescent Resources and Education Center Inc
SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE BARD MICROCOLLEGE PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN
Holyoke, MA$250K2023
Stem Advantage
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Huntington Beach, CA$200K2023
Future Link Inc
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMATIC MODEL
Rockville, MD$200K2023
Thrive Scholars
GENERAL OPERATIONS
Boston, MA$200K2020
Stem Advantage
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Huntington Beach, CA$200K2022
Thrive Scholars
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR THE THRIVE SCHOLARS' LOS ANGELES AND BOSTON PROGRAMS
Boston, MA$200K2022
Lift Inc
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF FINANCIAL COACHING MODEL FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES AND WASHINGTON D.C.
Washington, DC$200K2024

The Ceres Foundation Inc giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2020$1.7M
2022$4.0M
2023$6.7M
2024$7.9M

How to apply for funding from The Ceres Foundation Inc

The Ceres Foundation Inc's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at ceresgiving.org.

Is The Ceres Foundation Inc the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what The Ceres Foundation Inc has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

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Frequently asked questions about The Ceres Foundation Inc

Does The Ceres Foundation Inc accept grant applications?
The Ceres Foundation Inc's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does The Ceres Foundation Inc fund?
The Ceres Foundation Inc's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include Thrive Scholars, Thrive Scholars, California Community Foundation. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does The Ceres Foundation Inc give in grants?
The Ceres Foundation Inc reported $1.7M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $20.3M over 189 grants.
Where is The Ceres Foundation Inc located?
The Ceres Foundation Inc is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 912170962.
How can I find foundations similar to The Ceres Foundation Inc?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Ceres Foundation Inc, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to The Ceres Foundation Inc

Other Maryland grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from The Ceres Foundation Inc's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with The Ceres Foundation Inc. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.