HISTORY
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation exists through the generosity of Robert Deutsch and Florence Kadish Deutsch, who believed in giving back to the community, supporting education, and helping others throughout their lives.
Robert W. Deutsch was born in New York City in 1924 to a family of modest means. Robert earned a degree in physics from M.I.T in 1948 and completed his doctoral degree in physics in 1953 at UC Berkeley. Florence Kadish’s family fled Poland in 1938 for New York City. Florence and Bob married in 1949. The couple settled in Baltimore in 1964. In 1968, Dr. Deutsch launched his career as an entrepreneur by founding General Physics Corporation, which would become the leading provider of training programs for operating personnel in the nation’s nuclear power plants. While most consultants would talk to the CEO, Deutsch’s approach was to roll up his sleeves, talk to those on ground level, and get suggestions from them on how to improve the company.
“Dr. Deutsch was a risk-taker and tech pioneer. He would invest in people and projects early, generating big ideas with the potential to change the world.”
In 1988, Dr. Deutsch left General Physics and founded RWD Technologies, a company focused on the IT revolution that was transforming the way companies manufactured products, managed their business operations, and communicated with their suppliers and customers.
Throughout his career, Dr. Deutsch remained true to his commitment to invest in the education, training, and development of people, and to promote innovative thinking and solutions for complex problems in the workplace.
Formed in 1991, the Deutsch Foundation was quite small for its first 15 years, but grew tenfold following the sale of the family-owned business. The Foundation looked at what it could contribute significantly to the vitality and revitalization of Baltimore—assets in which others were not investing. It became clear that investing in the emerging innovation, arts, and creative economy in Baltimore would have the greatest impact.
Florence and Robert were extraordinarily generous in a very private and unassuming way. While much has changed over the years, their vision and values are still embedded in the heart of the foundation.
MISSION
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation invests in innovative people, projects, and ideas that improve the quality of life in Baltimore and beyond.
Asking the right questions
The Deutsch Foundation realized that Baltimore attracts amazing young creatives. Whether working in tech, science, social justice, or the arts, the whole city’s creative economy is fueled by these individuals coming and wanting to stay. The problem? Their contributions were not being recognized and their needs were not being supported. So the foundation asked—what can we do that would have a major impact? They talked with these young creatives, asking them three questions: Why are you here? What do you need to be more successful? What would make you leave? They learned what attracts, retains, and the barriers that push them out. One big takeaway was the need for quality places to work, create, perform, and showcase what they do.
“We ask, what are Baltimore’s underappreciated and underinvested assets?”
Developing the creative economy
Creatives are often pushed out of communities once the area becomes exciting to developers. The only way to counter that is to buy, develop, and sustain facilities, but foundations don’t do that. We decided to incubate and launch BARCO, a nonprofit arts real estate development corporation. For every dollar the Deutsch Foundation puts in, BARCO raises or secures two or three, dedicated to developing the creative economy. The Deutsch Foundation sees Baltimore’s cultural sector as a creative ecosystem where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Collaboration, influence, and access allow people to come together and grow together, whether through community spaces, creative hubs, art education, public art, or more. The overall goal in funding smaller organizations and projects is to attract and retain emerging talent, for artists and activists to have jobs, and for organizations to grow and hire staff. The longer term impact is to revitalize Baltimore as a thriving, healthy, and growing creative community.
Left to right: David Deutsch, Jane Brown, Mac Maclure, Neil Didriksen
Investing early and taking a hands-on approach
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation operates differently than many other philanthropic organizations. Most of our grants go for general operating support and capacity building. It’s hardest for organizations to raise money to keep the lights on as opposed to an exciting special project. We try to place as few barriers as possible in front of grantees. Additionally, many foundations will not fund newer organizations until they have several years of financials. In this context, the Deutsch Foundation decided to essentially become “Angel Investors,” and create greater access to early stage funding, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and to intellectual, financial, and collaborative resources. Our key decision-makers are deeply involved in Baltimore’s communities. We want to be able to rapidly respond when a need is dire. Since we are not limited by an overly bureaucratic process, we can be nimble, flexible, and responsive. The Deutsch Foundation stays closely engaged with the people we support, from the earliest stages to the point when they attract funding from other sources. We see great value, come in early, take the risk, and help innovators to be successful. We are determined to “go to where the silence is.”
“We go where the silence is; Our Mission evolving in time with Baltimore.”
Addressing racial inequity
At the Deutsch Foundation, we bring a lens of racial equity—an understanding and acknowledgement of historical and ongoing racial inequities and a commitment to actions challenging those inequities—to our grant making, priority setting process, programming, and strategic planning.
Because of our commitment to a racially just and equitable Baltimore and beyond, we are working intentionally and collaboratively to:
Build pathways to increase access to financial and human capital among organizations and communities most affected by inequities, and to amplify those voices;
Foster ongoing dialogue through deep partnerships with anti-racist and anti-oppression practitioners to explore key concepts including cultural, structural, and institutional racism, white privilege, and racial equity, especially with regard to context of place.
Our commitment to racial equity requires ongoing reflection and action. We see emergence and adaptation as core to our approach as we encounter new perspectives and additional information; as such, this statement is "living" and will continue to evolve as we gain new understandings.
Focusing on Baltimore
The Deutsch Foundation is hyper-local. We focus on Baltimore because the money we distribute was made here, because the needs are massive, and because Baltimore has exciting potential. The city’s history as an entrepreneurial hub and its contributions as a creative leader are significant, but our former prominence in 19th and 20th century industry has been lost. Now that we are a 21st century city, we need to participate in a new, creative economy. The Deutsch Foundation sees its role as providing seed funding to create and sustain human capital—helping the inspiring change-makers here do what they do best.
PRIORITY AREAS
STAFF & BOARD
JANE BROWN
she/her
President and BOARD president
Jane has led the foundation’s grant making and operations since 1995, supporting innovations in science and technology; arts and culture; media; education; digital equity and social justice. She also created the Ruby’s Artist Grants Program and co-founded the Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation. Previously she worked as an editor, writer and journalist. She holds a BA and two MAs.
DAVID DEUTSCH
he/him
Board Director
David began his career as a software engineer specializing in simulation software and finished his working career as a high school mathematics teacher. He is now retired and is continuing his studies of both mathematics and software. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and Boston University.
NEIL DIDRIKSEN
he/him
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Board Director
Neil joined the foundation staff in 2010. He serves as the chief operating officer, is responsible for the foundation's finances, and chairs the investment committee. Neil co-founded the Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation. His prior career was in higher education. Neil holds a BA and an MBA.
TANYA TERRELL
she/her
Board Director
Tanya Jones Terrell is the Director of Corporate Community Impact at BGE, leading workforce development, community engagement, and corporate philanthropy initiatives across Central Maryland. She manages strategic partnerships with community organizations, historically Black colleges and universities, and cultural institutions to align BGE's social impact with community needs. Before joining BGE in 2020, Tanya spent nearly 20 years in Maryland’s nonprofit sector, focusing on community and workforce development. Tanya holds a Master of Science in Counseling and Development from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Framingham State University.
DAVID BRAMBLE
he/him
Board Director
P. David Bramble is the co-founder and Managing Partner of MCB Real Estate based in his hometown of Baltimore. He has been working in real estate investment for over 20 years. He dedicates his time to sourcing & capitalizing transactions and overseeing project underwriting and execution. As a corporate and real estate attorney by training, David brings a deep knowledge of all aspects of the real estate cycle. David received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and A.B. from Princeton University.
PETE HAMMEN
he/him
Board Director
Pete was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 22 years and served as Chairman of the Health and Government Operations Committee. He left the legislature to become Chief of Operations for the City of Baltimore. Prior to his election to the House of Delegates, Pete worked as a staff person to then-Congressman Ben Cardin. He is currently a principal at Kress Hammen Government Affairs. Pete is a graduate of the University of Baltimore and holds a BS and a MPA.
LAUREN KELLY-WASHINGTON
she/her
Chief Operating officer
With a drive for shaping a thriving and equitable Baltimore, Lauren Kelly-Washington brings 10+ years of community development leadership and a variety of professional experiences to the Deutsch Foundation. She serves as the Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for leading the Foundation's operations team. Lauren is the founder and teaching artist of BLiS Moves™, an organization serving diverse populations in wellness and arts-based education. She is the immediate past president of the Greenmount West Community Association and currently chairs The Central Baltimore Partnership Steering Committee. Lauren holds a BA in Ethnic Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a variety of professional certifications.
TERRELL WILLIAMS
he/him
program Manager for new initiatives
Terrell is a former educator for Baltimore City Schools, organizer, and co-director for Turnaround Tuesday, a jobs movement in Baltimore City that connects and supports returning citizens in their reentry to society by creating connections to living wage employment, connecting them to civic experiences, and engaging them for two years on their journey to a greater quality of life. Mr. Williams has a BA from the University of Baltimore, a MA and post certification in supervision and administration from Notre Dame University of Maryland, and is currently in a Phd program in Public Administration at the University of Baltimore.
ALEX EBSTEIN
she/her
Senior Program Manager, Rubys Artist grants
Alex Ebstein joins the Foundation as the Senior Program Manager of the Rubys Artist Grants with over a decade of experience in the Baltimore arts community. She is an artist, curator, and a spacemaker, founding and co-directing three artist-run gallery programs in Baltimore since 2009. Most recently, she served as the Director of Exhibitions and Curator at Goucher College and is an executive board member of Pro Bono Counseling - Your Mental Health Connection. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Goucher College and her MFA from Towson University.
NINA CASALENA
she/her
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONs
Nina has seven years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with a focus on operations management and office administration. As Director of Operations, she values streamlining processes, utilizing digital tools and developing workplace practices to ensure smooth and efficient day-to-day operations at the foundation. She holds a BA in Sociology from Goucher College.
CESIA CALERO
she/her
Grants administrator
Cesia joined the Foundation in 2022. She serves as the Grants Coordinator, assisting grantees, while also supporting the full lifecycle of the Foundation's grantmaking process. Previously, Cesia was a fellow at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA) where she worked on a number of issues, including supporting residents to apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program (formerly EBB). Cesia is a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Baltimore.
BARBARA EUCEBIO
she/her
Arts Program Coordinator
Barbara first came to the foundation in 2021 as a college intern. In 2022, she returned as the Digital Equity Coordinator, after working as an organizer at Field Strategies where she led several programs dedicated to progressive change throughout the nation. In 2023, Barbara transitioned to her role as Arts Program Coordinator. She is excited to help our Senior Program Manager coordinate the Rubys, while also supporting other initiatives in Baltimore. Barbara is a graduate of Baltimore City College and holds a BA in Political Science/Spanish from Goucher College.
ALEX DICKEN
he/him
Operations Coordinator
Alex is an arts and nonprofits professional with a background in museum work. He was a co-curator of the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Guarding the Art exhibition, and holds a BA in Philosophy and History of Math & Science from St. John’s College Annapolis. As Operations Coordinator, Alex is responsible for day-to-day logistical support and maintenance at the foundation.
GRETCHEN LEGRAND
she/her
Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity
Gretchen is a passionate advocate for gender and racial equity in tech, and civic technology movements. Her work over the past 20+ years in the non-profit and human services sector has focused on education, workforce development, and social justice. In 2013 Gretchen co-founded the nonprofit, Code in the Schools, where she worked to expand access to computer science education through tech-career readiness programs and teacher professional development. As a consultant, Gretchen has worked in the areas of data science, workforce development, and digital equity. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John's College, Annapolis, and an MS in Applied Psychology from the University of Baltimore.