History
The Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds (“the Funds”) are a group of Baltimore-based family foundations whose philanthropic contributions have had significant impact not only on the city of Baltimore, but nationally and internationally as well.
Joseph Meyerhoff, a premier Baltimore businessman, philanthropist, and fundraiser, most well known for his leadership of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and his work in the creation of the state of Israel, began the tradition of giving in his family that continues to be a legacy today through his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Joseph’s son, Harvey M. “Bud” Meyerhoff, was instrumental in the building of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Funds’ gift still remains among the largest gifts to the Museum. Bud Meyerhoff is also a long standing supporter of the Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins Health System, where he was Chairman of the board and currently serves as a Trustee Emeritus.
The Funds have always recognized the value of higher education and have made contributions to nearly every university or college in the Greater Baltimore area and to every major university in Israel. In addition, we are involved in supporting the cultural arts, health care, and community redevelopment. In Israel, our funds have built projects from Kiryat Shemona to Eilat, including museums, youth enrichment centers, hospital emergency rooms, libraries, daycare centers and performing arts centers.
Bud Meyerhoff’s daughter, Terry Meyerhoff Rubenstein, is now the Executive Vice President of the Funds. His other children and grandchildren serve as Trustees on several family foundation boards and are active in their communities. His sister, Eleanor Meyerhoff Katz, and her children are all actively involved in family foundations, as well as in their own communities.
Values Statement
Members of the Meyerhoff family are blessed to belong to the 5000 year old Jewish tradition which teaches us that we must address injustice as we encounter it. Tzedakah, a core Jewish value, obliges us to distribute money to those in need; the generous legacy of our parents and grandparents give us the opportunity to do this as funders. We embrace the possibility with hope and humility.
“It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what The Lord doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Micah 6:8
Micah’s prophetic voice reaches across the centuries to capture the essence of our tradition and helps to anchor our work. As members of the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, our duties are multilateral: they extend to applicants, grantees, fellow funders, professional staff, and to one another.
Micah calls us to a progressive trio of obligation: Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly. We must act and also be accountable for the quality of our actions.
DO JUSTLY
We strive to make just and wise funding choices. We acquire expertise or engage experts in the areas we wish to fund in order to be responsible grant-makers. “Who is wise? He who learns from all men.” (Ben Zoma, Pirke Avot 4:1)
We have published guidelines, procedures and standards of excellence that we hope will create a just environment in which all grantees may receive fair consideration for application. Regularly scheduled meetings enable timely notification out of respect for grantees who often have limited budgets and urgent needs.
Internally we strive to create a work environment in which all staff and family members are proud and valued members of the Funds.
Recognizing that we have limited funds and must make choices, we choose areas of interest and populations for investment where we believe our grants can make a difference and potentially leverage or partner with others. “It is not for you to complete the task, neither are you free to desist from it.” (Rabbi Tarfon, Pirke Avot 2:15) The majority of our funds benefit the Jewish community domestically and abroad because we believe in our covenantal responsibility to take care of our fellow Jews.
At the same time we cannot ignore the needs of the broader communities in which we live and middle class initiatives reflect our conviction that this group—essential to our community’s well-being—is often neglected and presents a current injustice requiring attention. “I can’t emphasize too strongly my belief that it is the middle class of America that makes our country what it is and too often that is overlooked or taken for granted and we’re encouraged to take care of those less fortunate than ourselves before doing much else.” (Harvey M. Meyerhoff, Guidelines for Giving June 10, 1997)
LOVE MERCY
Love of our neighbor, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18), and compassion for the challenging world in which non-profits operate compels us to: give Tzedakah awards to organizations doing excellent work outside our area of interest; help promising non-profits whom we may not fund find other sources of support; occasionally work with a grantee to improve a promising grant application; collaborate with other funders to advance initiatives and bring attention to important issues; and use our strengths to advocate on behalf of a non-profit we fund to help them find additional resources they may need.
Communications with grantees and fellow funders reflect the care and concern we have for them as human beings. We are concerned with the dignity and integrity of all encounters: grant application, telephone reception, grant acceptance or rejection, evaluation, conference representation or site visit. Our interactions with staff members and one another should also be a reflection of this key principle: “What is hateful to you, do not do to another. All the rest is commentary.” (Hillel the Elder, BT Shabbat 30b-31a)
WALK HUMBLY
We hold these funds in trust. As their temporary stewards, we are humbled by the realization that our decisions may deeply influence and impact others. We are grateful for the leadership legacy and good name we have inherited. We hope that our choices honor our elders and bring honor to our community. The presence of a family foundation does not relieve any of us of our individual philanthropic responsibilities. We hope that our public acts of philanthropy encourage others yet we often work without recognition as conveners and funders to advance worthy causes. We are committed to regular review and evaluation and know that we can always learn from others to improve our practices. The dedication and sacrifices of those who serve in the non-profit world inspire and regularly remind us that we are obligated to “Choose life, not death, blessing not curse.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
We invite you to join us in this work.