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Ausherman Family Foundation
The Ausherman Family Foundation was established in 2001 by Marvin Ausherman, a Frederick County real estate developer who built Ausherman Properties into a...
Ausherman Family Foundation
The Ausherman Family Foundation was established in 2001 by Marvin Ausherman, a Frederick County real estate developer who built Ausherman Properties into a significant local commercial and residential portfolio. The wealth originates with C.C. Ausherman, and the foundation reflects the family's multigenerational commitment to Frederick. Trustees include Marvin Ausherman, his wife Renee Marie Ausherman, who chairs the finance committee, and their son Justin Ausherman, founder of AushCo. Executive Director Leigh Adams runs day-to-day operations. The foundation's investment strategy is unusually direct for an entity of its size. It makes concentrated commercial and residential property investments in Frederick County—holdings include the Patriot Center, Aspen Ridge Medical Office Portfolio, Kemp Hall Apartments, and multiple Thomas Johnson Drive office buildings. It also issues grants to local organizations, with focus areas spanning Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture, Public Society Benefit, and Children, Youth, & Families. The foundation deploys capital through buyout, venture, and fund-of-funds structures, and has co-invested alongside the Community Foundation of Frederick County on community initiatives. The $10M–$25M foundation (Altss estimate) operates without a publicly disclosed number of investment professionals. Its holdings are geographically concentrated in Frederick, Maryland, with properties including commercial offices on Thomas Johnson Drive, the Liberty Professional Building, and mixed-use arts center buildings on East Church Street. The foundation maintains memberships in the Maryland Philanthropy Network and the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce's Nonprofit Alliance. Marvin Ausherman is a Paul Harris Fellow with the Frederick Rotary Club. In recent years, the foundation has continued its concentrated local investment strategy, maintaining its real asset portfolio while funding community grants. The foundation's structural distinction lies in its hands-on real estate ownership approach. Rather than outsourcing investment management to a conventional OCIO, the Ausherman family directly owns and manages commercial and residential properties through the foundation's balance sheet. This blurs the line between operating company and philanthropic vehicle, creating a model where grantmaking and property development are intertwined parts of a single local investment thesis.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2001
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Frederick
Corporate office
Frederick, MD, United States
Principals
Marvin E. Ausherman
Founder
Justin E. Ausherman
Trustee
Renee Marie Ausherman
Trustee and Finance Committee Chair
Leigh Adams
Executive Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Ausherman Family Foundation?
The foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes founder Marvin Ausherman, his wife Renee Marie Ausherman, who chairs the finance committee, and their son Justin Ausherman. Executive Director Leigh Adams manages day-to-day operations. Investment decisions appear to be made directly by the family rather than through an external OCIO or investment committee structure.
Is the foundation's real estate portfolio separate from Ausherman Properties?
The foundation owns properties directly on its balance sheet, including the Patriot Center, Aspen Ridge Medical Office Portfolio, and multiple commercial buildings on Thomas Johnson Drive. Ausherman Properties, the family's operating real estate company, is a distinct entity, though the foundation's holdings are concentrated in the same Frederick County market where Ausherman Properties operates.
Does the Ausherman Family Foundation accept unsolicited grant proposals?
The foundation supports organizations in Frederick County, Maryland, with focus areas including Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture, and Children, Youth, & Families. It is community-informed and prioritizes collaborations and bold ventures. Specific grant application policies should be confirmed through the foundation's website, as formal processes may vary by cycle.
What is the relationship between the Ausherman Family Foundation and the Community Foundation of Frederick County?
The two foundations are frequent collaborators on community grants and local initiatives. The Ausherman Family Foundation is a separate entity governed by the Ausherman family, while the Community Foundation of Frederick County is a broader community foundation serving the region. Both are members of the Maryland Philanthropy Network.
How does the foundation's investment approach differ from a typical family foundation?
The Ausherman Family Foundation directly owns and manages a portfolio of commercial and residential real estate assets rather than outsourcing investment management. This hybrid model combines direct property development and ownership with traditional grantmaking, both concentrated in a single geographic market—Frederick County, Maryland.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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