Am Dachs Foundation
Am Dachs Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2024 giving included support for schools and universities, public policy research, conservation, health, and food assistance organizations.
Am Dachs Foundation at a glance
In short: Am Dachs Foundation gave $870K across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $35K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $870,000
- +10.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- +47.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,800
- -25.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $9,885,520
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Am Dachs Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 193809, San Francisco, CA 94119-3809
Phone: (415) 284-8602
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Am Dachs Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Thacher School ($300K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $758K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 53 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 62% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 17% to Connecticut, 11% to Massachusetts, and 3% each to recipients in Washington, DC, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
How Am Dachs Foundation gives
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 228% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 198% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $75K (2022) to $870K (2024). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $870K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Thacher School Ojai, CA | To help fund the purchase of the house adjacent to the school property | $250,000 |
| Wesleyan University Middletown, CT | Support the establishment of the assistant director of athletics fundraising position. | $100,000 |
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | Supporting the jay a. Levy endowed professorship in virology. | $50,000 |
| American Academy of Arts and Sciences Cambridge, MA | Support the Presidential Priorities Fund | $50,000 |
| The Thacher School Ojai, CA | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| San Francisco-Marin Food Bank San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $37,500 |
| John Muir Health Foundation Walnut Creek, CA | Campaign to Conquer Cancer | $25,000 |
| American Academy of Arts and Sciences Cambridge, MA | Annual Fund | $25,000 |
| The Brookings Institution Washington, DC | Foreign Policy Program | $25,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc Memphis, TN | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Am Dachs Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,885,520 | $708,274 | $901,837 | $870,000 | 25 | $891,992 | $708,274 | $450,944 |
| 2023 | $10,079,083 | $1,196,072 | $816,429 | $790,000 | 17 | $809,370 | $507,875 | $454,107 |
| 2022 | $9,699,440 | $471,634 | $119,695 | $75,000 | 2 | $114,960 | $340,634 | $386,647 |
| 2021 | $9,379,417 | $3,005,602 | $318,224 | $265,000 | 6 | $280,170 | $2,725,431 | $385,285 |
| 2020 | $6,660,123 | $476,451 | $169,420 | $150,000 | 3 | — | $306,451 | $298,231 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Am Dachs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $451K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. The Thacher School describes itself as a coeducational boarding high school for grades 9–12, while Wesleyan University describes its work as providing a liberal arts education through a diverse community that values independence of mind and generosity of spirit.
Other supported organizations describe different areas of work: Brookings conducts independent public policy research; Sustainable Conservation advances collaborative stewardship of California’s land, air, and water; John Muir Health Foundation stewards philanthropic support for John Muir Health; and Landmark School serves students with language-based learning disabilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $870,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000.
The largest listed grant was $250,000 to The Thacher School to help fund the purchase of a house adjacent to the school property. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Wesleyan University for an assistant director of athletics fundraising position; $50,000 to UCSF Foundation for the Jay A. Levy Endowed Professorship in Virology; and $50,000 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for its Presidential Priorities Fund. The Thacher School also received $50,000 in general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alan M Dachs as president and director; Lauren B Dachs as vice-president and director; Deborah L Duncan as director; and Susan Warburg as secretary/treasurer.
Am Dachs Foundation is led by Alan M. Dachs, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alan M. Dachs
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Deborah L. Duncan
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lauren B. Dachs
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan Warburg
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nancy Wong (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Am Dachs Foundation
How much does Am Dachs Foundation give each year?
Am Dachs Foundation gave $870K across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $790K across 17 grants.
What is Am Dachs Foundation's typical grant size?
Am Dachs Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $34,800, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Am Dachs Foundation give grants?
Am Dachs Foundation gives mostly in California: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (17%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (5 grants), Middletown, CT (3 grants), Ojai, CA (2 grants) and Cambridge, MA (2 grants).
Does Am Dachs Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of Am Dachs Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Am Dachs Foundation's largest grantees?
Am Dachs Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Thacher School ($300,000 across 2 grants), Wesleyan University ($145,000 across 3 grants) and American Academy of Arts and Sciences ($75,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Am Dachs Foundation?
Am Dachs Foundation reported $9.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $892K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $451K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Am Dachs Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Am Dachs Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Am Dachs Foundation's EIN?
Am Dachs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3144688. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Am Dachs Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Am Dachs Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Laural Foundation
San Francisco, CA
LAURAL Foundation funds environmental conservation, water supply and clean-water campaigns, parks, and land stewardship, with most 2024 grant dollars going to California and others to organizations in D.C., New York, Virginia, and Idaho. Its 84 grants ranged from $500 to $1 million, with a median of $100,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$82.9M
Grants
84
Total Given
$18.6M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Am Dachs Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/am-dachs-foundation-morg_9ef9f87652984d55bfe21b10d573017d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943144688_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Am Dachs Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/am-dachs-foundation-morg_9ef9f87652984d55bfe21b10d573017d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Am Dachs Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Am Dachs Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?