The Philip L. Graham Fund

The Philip L. Graham Fund is a private grantmaking organization affiliated with the Graham Holdings Company, previously known for its ownership of The Washington Post. Based in Arlington, Virginia, the Fund provides philanthropic support to nonprofit organizations that serve communities within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. With a longstanding history of community investment, the Fund focuses on strengthening the civic and social fabric of the region through targeted financial assistance across defined programmatic areas. The Fund operates a structured two-stage online application process. Prospective applicants must first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) via the Fund’s online portal. If the LOI meets the Fund's criteria and aligns with its funding priorities, the organization may be invited to submit a full proposal. Paper submissions are not accepted under any circumstances. The online LOI application for the December 5, 2025 deadline will become available on June 25, 2025. The Fund hosts three application cycles annually, with deadlines typically falling in March, July, and December. To be eligible, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) public charity and operate within the Fund’s giving footprint, which includes Washington, D.C.; Maryland’s Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties; and Virginia’s Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. The proposed project must align with the Fund’s focus areas. Additionally, organizations must not have received funding in the prior twenty-four months or been declined in the past twelve months. All past grant recipients must have submitted a Final Grant Report for previously awarded funds. Applicants undergoing executive leadership changes are also deemed ineligible. The Fund does not consider requests from individuals, government agencies, or membership organizations. It excludes applications from most educational institutions, except for public charter and parochial schools. Other exclusions include hospitals, hospital foundations, and entities primarily engaged in advocacy, litigation, or public policy reform. Specific types of requests, such as for endowments, special events, travel, research, or media production, are also disqualified. While the Fund provides generous support to community-serving nonprofits, it does not publish award ceilings, floors, or total program funding in its public-facing materials. It also does not require matching contributions. The number of grants awarded per cycle is not disclosed, and applicants are encouraged to consult the Fund’s Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Fund directly at plgfund@ghco.com for additional guidance. All communications and applications must be directed to the Fund’s current address: c/o Graham Holdings Company, 1812 North Moore Street, Suite 2100, Arlington, VA 22209. Prospective applicants should ensure that their proposals meet all eligibility conditions and are submitted by the published deadlines. The final application deadline for the current cycle is December 5, 2025, with recurring deadlines anticipated annually in March, July, and December. No phone number or contact name is listed, and all inquiries are handled via email or through the Fund’s website.