Dart Foundation

MASON, MI EIN: 38-2849841 Website

The Dart Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 by William A. and Claire T. Dart, headquartered in Mason, Michigan. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since November 1989. Over its 40-year history, the Dart Foundation has invested more than $100 million in community initiatives across mid-Michigan and beyond.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$72K

+19.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.9M

-10.9% YoY

Grant Count

-12.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$133K

+1.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Primary funding areas include:

Education, with particular emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Workforce development
Community services
Programs of interest to trustees

The foundation is known for identifying emerging community needs before they become mainstream priorities, having been early champions of STEM education and workforce development initiatives.

Grantmaking

The foundation emphasizes a community-first approach, building long-term relationships with grantees rather than simply providing financial support. The foundation supports both program grants and infrastructure improvements, focusing on helping organizations make the biggest impact in their communities.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Dart Foundation provides grants in mid-Michigan and in several other specific geographic communities. The foundation supports more than 20 communities nationwide, including:

Michigan: Lansing, Mason
Kentucky: Horse Cave
Pennsylvania: Lancaster
Major urban centers: Chicago, New York, Miami
Additional communities: Twin Falls (Idaho) and various other U.S. cities

Grant Distribution by State

Michigan $7.0M (61%)

New York $1.8M (16%)

Florida $544K (5%)

Illinois $372K (3%)

Kentucky $333K (3%)

Georgia $323K (3%)

Texas $236K (2%)

California $212K (2%)

+8 more states

States

California Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Kentucky Maryland Michigan Mississippi North Carolina New Jersey New York Oklahoma Pennsylvania Texas Washington

Cities

AdaArlingtonAsheboroAtlantaAuroraBaltimoreBellevueBowling GreenBrandonBrownsvilleCave CityChambleeChampaignCharlotteChicagoConyersCoronaCovingtonDallasDelray Beach

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Fiscal Year (2024):

Total Assets: $72,255
Revenue: $3,000,000
Expenses: $2,988,368
Net Income: $11,632

Previous Fiscal Year (2023):

Total Assets: $60,623
Revenue: $3,350,000
Expenses: $3,377,035

The foundation is supported by the William and Claire Dart Foundation, which provided $1,000,000 in general support in 2023.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$72,255	$60,623	$87,658
Revenue	$3,000,000	$3,350,000	$3,550,002
Expenses	$2,988,368	$3,377,035	$3,535,961
Qualifying Distributions	$2,988,368	$3,377,035	$3,535,961
Net Investment Income	—	—	$2
Distributable Amount	$14,305	$12,884	$40,717

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

169 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Columbia University ($900,000), Lansing Public Media Authority ($625,000), Boys & Girls Club of Lansing ($250,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center Inc Social Circle, GA	Support forensic interview program.	$25,000
Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Inc Delray Beach, FL	Security upgrades to their residential campus.	$25,000
Anderson Animal Shelter DBA Anderson Humane South Elgin, IL	Repairs to the building and parking lot, as well as off setting costs for spay/neuter clinic.	$50,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region Inc Lansing, MI	Establishment of a School Based Mentorship Program in the Lansing and Waverly School Districts.	$130,000
Boys & Girls Club of Lansing Lansing, MI	Renovations to their kitchen and dining hall.	$250,000
Capital Area Humane Society Lansing, MI	Relocation/expansion of their Spay & Neuter Clinic.	$100,000
CASA of Talbot County Inc Easton, MD	Technology upgrades and challenge grant in honor of their 35th anniversary.	$100,000
Columbia University New York, NY	Support of Dart Center for Journalism at Columbia University.	$900,000
Cristo Rey Community Center Lansing, MI	Capital improvement projects at the facility.	$50,000
Feeding America Kentucky's Heartland Inc Elizabethtown, KY	Support of hunger relief programming in Hart County and the 7 adjacent counties.	$100,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Robert C. Dart: Chairman, President, and Secretary
Claire T. Dart: Vice President and Treasurer
William A. Dart: Founder
Claire T. Dart: Founder

All leadership members report no compensation for their roles.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
James D Lammers	Director, President, Treasurer	—	—
Kenneth B Dart	Director, Vice President	—	—
Arianna C Wooledge	Director, Secretary	—	—
Jackie Doak	Director	—	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The Dart Foundation has announced grants to expand access to Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programming, supporting STEM education initiatives. The foundation has also made grants to support arts integration research and state-of-the-art educational facilities at institutions including North Central College.

The Hop Announces Arts Integration Research Grants | Dartmouth

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dart Foundation fund?

The Dart Foundation's mission centers on values-based philanthropy guided by its founders' principles of curiosity and open-mindedness. The foundation creates lasting change through both program support and infrastructure investments. Primary funding areas include: • **Education**, with particular emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) • **Workforce development** • **Community services** • Programs of interest to trustees The foundation is known for identifying eme…

How do I apply for a grant from Dart Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • In fiscal year 2023, the foundation made 188 grants • Total giving in 2024: $2,930,000 • Typical award range: $1,500–$1,500,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Columbia University: $900,000 (General Operating Support for the Dart Center for Journalism) • Potter Park Zoological Society: $500,000 (New Veterinary Facility) • Impression 5 Science Center: $300,000 (Science Center Exhibit Support) **Grantmaking Approach:** The foundation emphasizes a community-first approach…

Where does Dart Foundation make grants?

The Dart Foundation provides grants in mid-Michigan and in several other specific geographic communities. The foundation supports more than 20 communities nationwide, including: • **Michigan**: Lansing, Mason • **Kentucky**: Horse Cave • **Pennsylvania**: Lancaster • **Major urban centers**: Chicago, New York, Miami • **Additional communities**: Twin Falls (Idaho) and various other U.S. cities

What size grants does Dart Foundation award?

In 2024, Dart Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $133K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Dart Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.