David And Lorna Gladstone Foundation

## How to Approach the David and Lorna Gladstone Foundation

The David and Lorna Gladstone Foundation is a preselected-only private family foundation based in McLean, Virginia. It does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grantmaking decisions are made directly by the foundation trustees — principally David Gladstone, who is also chairman and CEO of the Gladstone Companies, a family of publicly-traded investment funds (Gladstone Capital/GLAD, Gladstone Investment/GAIN, Gladstone Commercial/GOOD, and Gladstone Land/LAND).

### Key Strategic Considerations

• Relationship-driven grantmaking: Grants originate from the trustees' personal charitable interests and community connections. The most effective path to funding is building a genuine relationship with David and Lorna Gladstone through board service, community events, or mutual connections in the Northern Virginia / Washington DC business community.
• Washington DC metro focus: Over 85% of grant dollars go to organizations in DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Organizations outside this region receive funding only when they have national prominence or align closely with the Gladstones' specific interests.
• Broad but consistent interests: The foundation supports healthcare, education, food security, military/veterans, arts and culture, faith-based organizations, and animal welfare. Organizations that touch multiple interest areas may have stronger appeal.
• No formal application process: There is no application form, no published deadline, and no RFP. Cultivation is the only path to a grant.

### Recommended Approach

1. Identify mutual connections through the Gladstone Companies network, Northern Virginia business community, or Johns Hopkins alumni network. 2. Invite the Gladstones to events, site visits, or recognition opportunities that showcase your mission. 3. Demonstrate measurable community impact, particularly in the DC metro area. 4. Be patient — many grantees were cultivated over years before receiving their first grant.

## Funding Patterns and Grant Analysis

### Overall Grantmaking Scale - Total annual giving: ~$255K–$336K per year (2021–2023), trending upward - Number of grants per year: 33–51 grants - Average grant size: $5,800–$8,000 (varies by year) - Grant range: $200 to $38,000 - Median grant: ~$3,500

### Sector Allocation (FY2023) - Healthcare & Medical Research: ~$65,000 (Sibley Memorial Hospital, Inova Health, Wilmer Eye Institute, Focused Ultrasound Foundation) - Education: ~$48,000 (Brunswick School, Hillsdale College, Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries) - Food Security & Social Services: ~$51,000 (Capital Area Food Bank, Salvation Army, Central Union Mission, So Others Might Eat, Christ House) - Military/Veterans & Youth: ~$22,000 (Youth For Tomorrow, Our Military Kids) - Arts, Culture & Civic: ~$16,000 (Metropolitan Opera, Museum of the Bible, Friends of the Smithsonian) - Policy & Advocacy: ~$9,000 (National Legal & Policy Center, Judicial Watch, Manhattan Institute) - Faith-based & Other: ~$11,000 (Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc., The Voice of the Martyrs, Turning Point)

## Application Tips and Practical Guidance

### Critical: This Is a Preselected-Only Foundation The David and Lorna Gladstone Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. There is no application form, no published guidelines, no deadline calendar, and no program officer to contact. All grants originate from the personal decisions of the foundation trustees.

### How Organizations Get Funded Based on analysis of 126 grants over three years:

1. Geographic proximity matters most. 74% of all grant dollars go to DC/VA/MD organizations. Being physically present in the Washington DC metro area is nearly a prerequisite.

2. Relationship cultivation is the only path. Connect through: - The Northern Virginia business and investment community (Gladstone Companies is prominent in McLean/Tysons area) - Johns Hopkins University alumni and donor networks - Washington DC charitable event circuits - Existing grantee organizations (board members of funded organizations may provide introductions)

3. Start small, grow over time. Many grantees began with $200–$1,000 gifts before growing to $10,000+ over subsequent years. Initial grants should be viewed as relationship-building opportunities.

4. Align with demonstrated interests: - Healthcare and medical research (especially Johns Hopkins-affiliated) - K-12 and higher education (private schools, colleges with conservative or classical education missions) - Food banks and homeless services in the DC area - Military families and at-risk youth - Arts and cultural institutions - Faith-based service organizations

5. Demonstrate low overhead and high impact. The foundation itself operates with zero officer compensation and no dedicated staff — it values efficiency in the organizations it supports.

### What Will NOT Work - Cold emails or phone calls requesting funding - Formal grant proposals submitted without a prior relationship - Organizations without a clear DC-area presence or connection - Requests that do not align with the foundation's demonstrated interest areas

### Contact Information - Phone: (703) 287-5835 - Address: 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, VA 22102 - Note: This is the shared office of the Gladstone Companies. Any contact should be professional and relationship-oriented, not a cold funding request.

## Peer Comparison

The David and Lorna Gladstone Foundation sits in the mid-size family foundation tier with approximately $8 million in assets and $335K in annual giving. Here is how it compares to similar foundations in the Northern Virginia / Washington DC region:

### Distinguishing Characteristics - Leaner operations: The Gladstone Foundation pays $0 in officer compensation — all administrative work is handled by the Gladstone Companies infrastructure at 1521 Westbranch Drive, McLean, VA. - Higher charitable ratio: 84–93% of total expenses go to charitable disbursements, well above the private foundation average of ~75%. - Personal grantmaking style: Unlike larger DC-area foundations that have professional program staff and formal application processes, the Gladstone Foundation operates on a purely relationship-driven model. - Steady growth: Assets have grown from ~$3M (2020) to ~$8M (2024), with giving increasing proportionally. This suggests sustained commitment and growing capacity. - No staff overhead: The foundation has no dedicated employees. The entire operation is managed by the Gladstone family alongside their investment management business.

## Recent Activity and Trends (2021–2023)

### Grantmaking Trajectory - FY2021: 33 grants totaling $254,600 (avg $7,715) - FY2022: 51 grants totaling $296,550 (avg $5,815) - FY2023: 42 grants totaling $335,562 (avg $7,990) - Trend: Total giving increased 32% over three years, while the number of grantees has fluctuated — suggesting the foundation is concentrating larger grants on priority organizations while maintaining a broad base of smaller gifts.

### Asset Growth - FY2020: $3.4M total assets - FY2021: $5.3M → $5.0M (after a significant new contribution in FY2022 of ~$5M) - FY2023: $8.5M - FY2024: $8.1M - The jump from $5M to $8.5M in FY2023 (revenue of $5M that year) indicates a major infusion — likely an additional contribution from the Gladstone family's investment holdings.

### Consistent Multi-Year Grantees (Funded All 3 Years) These 15 organizations received funding every year from 2021–2023, indicating the foundation's core philanthropic priorities: 1. The Order of St John — $85,000 total (largest cumulative recipient) 2. Brunswick School — $76,000 total 3. Capital Area Food Bank — $65,000 total 4. Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation — $60,000 total 5. Johns Hopkins University - Sheridan Libraries — $42,700 total 6. Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation — $41,500 total 7. The Athenai Institute — $35,197 total 8. The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins — $30,500 total 9. Hillsdale College — $29,000 total 10. Youth For Tomorrow — $22,850 total

### Notable Patterns - Johns Hopkins connection: Three separate Johns Hopkins entities received grants (Libraries, Wilmer Eye Institute, Orthopaedic Surgery), totaling over $73,000 — suggesting a personal alumni or donor relationship. - Equine/animal welfare thread: Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation ($41.5K over 3 years) and Equine Rescue League ($500/yr) reflect a consistent personal interest. - Conservative/civic organizations: Consistent small-to-mid grants to Judicial Watch, National Legal & Policy Center, Manhattan Institute, Hillsdale College, and Turning Point.