Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Payson, Arizona. It supports organizations through grants; its filing states that requests related to education, evangelism, family issues, and acts of mercy will be considered.
Key facts about Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc
In short: Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc gave $425K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Arizona. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 86-0931606
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $425,033
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $13,711
- Median grant
- $9,983
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (10 of 31, 2025)
- Total assets
- $10,137,524
- Primary geography
- Arizona (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts written requests on the requesting organization’s letterhead. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- December 31 of each year.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.1M
+12.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$425K
-4.9% YoY
Grant Count
31
+6.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-11.0% YoY
Is Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 31 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 47% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing says it considers requests related to education, evangelism, family issues, and acts of mercy.
Its 2025 grantees included organizations working in education, health care, domestic-violence services, clean water, senior services, children’s programs, and religious ministry. For example, Point Loma Nazarene University describes its work as providing higher education in a Christian community; Payson Christian Clinic describes itself as an outpatient treatment center for the uninsured working poor; and Time Out Inc describes its mission as providing a safe sanctuary from abuse and domestic violence. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $425,033. The 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $49,522, with a median of $9,983.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $49,522 to Point Loma Nazarene University, $35,000 to Graceworks Global, $35,000 to Payson Christian Clinic, $34,646 to Time Out Inc, and $30,000 to Rise Congo. Other notable awards included $29,930 each to National Christian Charitable Foundation and Smile Train, and $25,500 to Charity Global Inc.
Review Cycle
December 31 of each year.
How to Apply
The foundation accepts written requests on the requesting organization’s letterhead. Requests should include a complete description of the purpose and use of funds, the organization’s Federal ID number, and any supporting documentation or materials.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in Arizona received 51% of grant dollars, followed by California (16%), New York (8%), Washington, DC (7%), and Tennessee (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $278K (2020) to $447K (2024). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $425K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Point Loma Nazarene University ($50K). Together the top 10 received $310K.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 141 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA | Educational | $49,522 |
| Graceworks Global Payson, AZ | Religious | $35,000 |
| Payson Christian Clinic Payson, AZ | Medical | $35,000 |
| Time Out Inc Payson, AZ | Charitable | $34,646 |
| Rise Congo Payson, AZ | charitable | $30,000 |
| Natl Chrisian Charitable Foundation Washington, DC | Charitable | $29,930 |
| Smile Train New York, NY | Medical | $29,930 |
| Charity Global Inc Franklin, TN | Charitable | $25,500 |
| Indo Partners Mesa, AZ | Charitable | $25,000 |
| One International Griffin, GA | Religious | $15,358 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $425,033 | 31 |
| 2024 | $447,000 | 29 |
| 2023 | $296,500 | 27 |
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,137,524 | $9,029,692 | $8,567,190 |
| Revenue | $-68,875 | $707,470 | $4,345,543 |
| Expenses | $591,845 | $550,704 | $393,842 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,691,359 | $447,000 | $296,500 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $603,766 | $1,168,201 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William Knauss as President, Cynthia Knauss-Konija as Vice President, Tamara Hill as Treasurer, Sara Mersek as Secretary, and Marissa Carey as Program Manager.
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc is led by William Knauss PRESIDENT, President on the 2025 filing; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William Knauss PRESIDENT
President
New on the 2025 filing
30 hrs/week
$25K (2025)
Sara Mersek
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $7K (2025)
Tamara Hill
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $7K (2025)
Cynthia Knauss-Konija
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
$7K (2025)
Marissa Carey
Program Manager
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$7K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Cynthia Diaz (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Marissa Knauss (2020–2024) — Program Manager
- Former: William Knauss (2020–2024) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $25K, to William Knauss PRESIDENT (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Dalton Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc
Mailing address: 2508 E Pine Island Lane, Payson, AZ 85541
Phone: (928) 474-4544
Frequently asked questions about Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc
How much does Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc give each year?
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc gave $425K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $447K across 29 grants.
What is Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $9,983, and its average grant was $13,711, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc that year got $15K on average.
Where does Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc give grants?
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc gives mostly in Arizona: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (16%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Payson, AZ (7 grants), Mesa, AZ (4 grants), Phoenix, AZ (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (13 grants), "Religious" (9 grants) and "Medical" (5 grants).
Who are Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Point Loma Nazarene University ($49,522), Graceworks Global ($35,000) and Payson Christian Clinic ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc?
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What does Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing says it considers requests related to education, evangelism, family issues, and acts of mercy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts written requests on the requesting organization’s letterhead. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's EIN?
Dalton & Elaine Knauss Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0931606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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