Who We Support

Eligibility Guidelines

Eligible applicants must be:

  • A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
  • Serving the State of Maryland areas
  • In operation for at least four (4) years with at least a minimum of five hundred thousand ($500,000) in total revenue
  • Able to demonstrate strong governance, financial stability, and mission alignment

Exclusions — What We Do Not Fund

The Brian & Patricia Giese Foundation stewards its resources with prayerful intention. To remain focused on our mission, the following fall outside the scope of our grantmaking:

Grant Types

We do not provide:

  • Unrestricted grants — funding given without a specific project or purpose attached.
  • Subgrants — funds intended to be re-granted by your organization to a third party, rather than used directly by you.
  • Endowment support — contributions to an organization’s permanent investment fund, rather than to an active program.
  • Reimbursable expenses — costs already incurred before a grant is awarded.

Political Activity & Causes Contrary to Our Faith

We do not fund political campaigns, lobbying efforts, or advocacy for or against legislation — whether direct or indirect. We also do not fund causes or activities that conflict with our Christian values including advocacy or programming centered on abortion or reproductive rights, gender identity, advocacy, or organizations whose primary mission is political or social advocacy on these topics.

Public Schools, Government Agencies & Charter Schools

Our focus is on nonprofit organizations based in  Maryland. Public schools, charter schools, and government agencies operate under different funding and governance structures than the community nonprofits we are built to support, so they fall outside our scope.

Medical Research

Medical research falls outside our program areas. This includes clinical trials, laboratory research, and studies requiring specialized scientific evaluation beyond our team’s expertise.

Individuals

Our giving supports established nonprofit organizations, not individuals. We are not able to provide personal financial assistance or direct support for a single person’s needs.

New Organizations

We require organizations to have at least four years of operating history before applying. This gives us confidence in an organization’s stability, leadership, and track record before we invest.