Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Horizon Foundation of Howard County (Horizon Foundation)

Website:

www.thehorizonfoundation.org/
Location:

Columbia, MD
Tax ID:

52-2119011
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $6,341,900
Expenses: $5,410,956
Assets: $88,105,636
Type:

Health advocacy group
Formation:

1998
President & CEO:

Nikki Highsmith Vernick
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $5,160,566

Expenses: $4,851,156

Asset Valuation: $93,191,948 18

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Horizon Foundation of Howard County Inc. (known as Horizon Foundation) is a Howard County, Maryland-based left-of-center health-focused advocacy organization that promotes policy change, community engagement, and left-of-center ideas related to race and race relations within health care. It is Maryland’s largest independent health foundation. 1

The foundation was started with the proceeds from the sale of Howard County General Hospital to Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2

Activities

The 2024 grant year was the first under the Horizon Foundation’s new strategic plan as it shifted to “trust-centered philanthropy.” This approach provides the grantees and the Horizon Foundation a partnership with shared values, allowing the grantees to co-create programs and policy solutions to meet the two organizations’ shared goals. This is to eliminate any power dynamics that might have previously existed between Horizon Foundation and its grantees. 3

Abortion

Horizon Foundation actively supports organizations that support and promote abortion services. In 2023, the foundation awarded $100,000 to Planned Parenthood of Maryland specifically for reproductive and abortion services. 4

The Horizon Foundation created the Maternal Health Workgroup with left-leaning organizations in Maryland, including Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Stillborn and Infant Loss Support, the Howard County Health Department, the Luminus Network, and the Morgan State University Foundation in exchange for the Horizon Foundation granting $3,000 to each of the organizations. These five participants will work together to create relationships and determine maternal healthcare policy change possibilities. 3

The Horizon Foundation, along with the Community Foundation of Howard County and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County expressed dismay at the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which upheld Mississippi’s law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. 5 The organizations claim the decision negatively affects low-income women and racial minority women. 6

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles guide the Horizon Foundation in its programs, policies, and granting subsidies. In January 2022, the foundation created the Howard County Racial Equity Collaborative, which joined grantees together to receive monthly racial equity training, coaching and development to advance equity and fight systemic racism, and participate in joint equity-policy campaigns. 7

The Horizon Foundation published “The 2020 Vision for Health in Howard County,” a report highlighting the racial health disparities across the county. The report stressed the importance of prioritizing racial equality to advance community health and healthcare in Howard County. According to the report, there is a lack of diversity among health care providers and from the “nation’s founding to today” there are stark inequalities where some people benefit, and others do not. To meet the Horizon Foundation’s equity and diversity initiatives, it provides grants to community organizations that follow the same DEI goals to enact policy change. 8

Housing

The Horizon Foundation created a workgroup consisting of several left-leaning Maryland organizations including Bridges to Housing Stability, Building Families for Children Inc., the Columbia Housing Center, the Community Action Council of Howard County, the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, the Luminus Network, MakingChange, and Maryland Inclusive Housing to focus on housing insecurity for Black and Brown communities throughout the state to create policy change in exchange for a $10,000 grant. 3

Health

The Horizon Foundation is a financial supporter of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative (MCHI), also referred to as Healthcare for All, a coalition of nonprofit and for-profit organizations that advocate for left-leaning health care policy in Maryland. 9 In 2013, the Horizon Foundation awarded $35,000 to MCHI for a public health campaign. 10

Financials

The majority of Horizon Foundation’s revenue is generated from investment income and net gains from the sale of assets. 11

Leadership

Nikki Highsmith Vernick became the president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation in March 2012 12 and serves as a trustee on the board. 13 Her total compensation from the Horizon Foundation is $477,345. 14 She is the immediate past chair of the Center for Health Policy Development whose board of directors handles the management and oversight of the organization, which includes the nonprofit National Academy for State Health Policy. 15

Glenn Schneider is the treasurer of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative Education Fund 16 and simultaneously has worked for the Horizon Foundation since 2011 as the chief program officer. 17 In 2023, his total compensation from Horizon Foundation was $233,048. 18

References

  1. Our Approach – Our Work. Horizon Foundation. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/our-approach/
  2.  Grantmaker Profiles – Horizon Foundation. Grantmakers in Health. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://www.gih.org/grantmaker-focus/horizon-foundation/
  3. Recent Grants – Recently Awarded Grants – 2024. Horizon Foundation. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/recent-grants/
  4. 2023 Grants – Recent Grants. Horizon Foundation. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/2023-grants/
  5. “The Dobbs v. Jackson Decision, Annotated.” The New York Times. June 24, 2022. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/24/us/politics/supreme-court-dobbs-jackson-analysis-roe-wade.html
  6. “We Stand in Solidarity” – News. Community Foundation of Howard County. June 27, 2022. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://cfhoco.org/we-stand-in-solidarity/
  7. “Meet Our New Racial Equity Collaborative.” Horizon Foundation. March 23, 2022. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/meet-our-new-racial-equity-collaborative/
  8. “The 2020 Vision for Health in Howard County.” Horizon Foundation. January 2020. Accessed January 31. 2025. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2020-Vision-for-Health-Horizon-Foundation-Report-FINAL2-pages.pdf
  9. Financial – Meet Our Supporters. Maryland Healthcare for All. Accessed January 29, 2025. https://healthcareforall.com/about-us/financial/
  10. 2013 Grants. Horizon Foundation. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/2013-grants/
  11. Horizon Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part VIII. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522119011/202413209349323226/full
  12. Holzberg, Janene. “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Horizon Foundation’s Nikki Highsmith Vernick.” Baltimore Sun. July 1, 2019. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2017/01/03/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-horizon-foundations-nikki-highsmith-vernick/
  13. Board Officers – Board. Horizon Foundation. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.thehorizonfoundation.org/board/
  14. Horizon Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part VII, Section A. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522119011/202413209349323226/full
  15. Board of Directors. National Academy for State Health Policy. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://nashp.org/board-of-directors/
  16. Maryland Citizens Health Initiative Education Fund Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part VII, Section A. Accessed January 30, 2025.  https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522173223/202413069349300546/full
  17. “Glenn Schneider.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenneschneider/
  18. Horizon Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2023, Part I, Lines 12, 18, and 20. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522119011/202413209349323226/full
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 1998

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $6,341,900 $5,410,956 $88,105,636 $3,270,074 Y $500 $0 $1,549,624 $839,214 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $8,300,918 $6,804,757 $103,137,379 $3,418,213 Y $200,196 $0 $1,374,551 $796,575 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,906,262 $6,535,227 $95,051,877 $2,531,901 Y $550 $100,000 $1,295,694 $776,646
    2019 Dec Form 990 $5,871,234 $5,467,974 $91,697,108 $3,342,332 Y $1,502 $0 $1,832,073 $755,063 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $7,088,044 $5,311,699 $84,141,316 $3,487,186 Y $249,998 $0 $1,766,249 $641,771 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $5,022,692 $4,555,884 $93,978,790 $3,437,874 Y $295,000 $0 $1,768,885 $616,274 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $4,657,139 $4,691,348 $85,929,049 $3,428,880 Y $25,000 $0 $2,259,168 $755,074 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $5,745,227 $4,176,429 $83,037,456 $3,512,064 Y $345,853 $0 $1,982,564 $743,891 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $5,016,396 $3,883,491 $87,054,438 $3,955,834 N $309,239 $0 $2,582,524 $266,246 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $5,876,414 $6,883,265 $85,909,326 $3,980,740 Y $250 $0 $1,352,450 $277,727 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $3,186,376 $4,009,482 $79,242,228 $951,968 Y $0 $0 $1,713,445 $572,651 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $3,493,994 $3,801,848 $75,449,898 $1,059,940 Y $20,000 $0 $1,005,043 $385,673 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Horizon Foundation of Howard County (Horizon Foundation)


    Columbia, MD