Dart Foundation
The Dart Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 by William A. and Claire T. Dart and based in Mason, Michigan. It invests in local organizations, with mid-Michigan a longstanding focus and grantmaking also extending to communities connected to Dart Container Corporation’s production facilities and sales headquarters.
Dart Foundation at a glance
In short: Dart Foundation gave $2.9M across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $133K), top state Michigan. 62% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,930,000
- -10.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $133,182
- +1.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $72,255
- +19.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (13 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dart Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The stated process is to submit a letter describing the project in detail and specifying the requested amount, with a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter. Grants to individuals are not made.
- Contact
Application contact: Dart Foundation Attn Emily Matthews
Mailing address: 500 Hogsback Rd, Mason, MI 48854-9547
Phone: (517) 244-6688
Website: https://dartfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dart Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Columbia University ($900K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
307 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 258 grants of 307 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies mid-Michigan as a longstanding focus and says it gives in communities that are homes to Dart Container Corporation production facilities and sales headquarters. Its listed communities include locations in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Michigan (47%) and New York (31%), followed by Georgia (4%), Florida (3%), and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Dart Foundation open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 21 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $112K; repeat grants $185K. How we count
Medians: $70K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 19% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 146% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $1.2M (2021) to $3.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University New York, NY | Support of Dart Center for Journalism at Columbia University. | $900,000 |
| Lansing Public Media Authority Lansing, MI | Upgrades to the Ovation's sound system. | $625,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lansing Lansing, MI | Renovations to their kitchen and dining hall. | $250,000 |
| 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 |
| Highfields Inc Onondaga, MI | Technology upgrades and restructuring their Home-Based Mental Health Model. | $120,000 |
| 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 |
| Feeding America Kentucky's Heartland Inc Elizabethtown, KY | Support of hunger relief programming in Hart County and the 7 adjacent counties. | $100,000 |
| North Texas Food Bank Plano, TX | Food purchases for their clients. | $100,000 |
| REACH Studio Art Center Lansing, MI | Capital improvements to building and parking lot. | $70,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Dart 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 | $72,255 | $3,000,000 | $2,988,368 | $2,930,000 | 22 | $2,988,368 | — | $14,305 |
| 2023 | $60,623 | $3,350,000 | $3,377,035 | $3,288,300 | 25 | $3,377,035 | — | $12,884 |
| 2022 | $87,658 | $3,550,002 | $3,535,961 | $3,510,699 | 30 | $3,535,961 | $2 | $40,717 |
| 2021 | $73,617 | $1,100,365 | $1,210,673 | $1,192,296 | 42 | — | $365 | $31,395 |
| 2020 | $183,925 | $1,026,817 | $1,696,787 | $1,660,512 | 188 | — | $1,817 | $44,127 |
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 September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it aims to strengthen communities through local investment. Its stated fields of interest include education, engineering and technology, environment, science, youth, math, journalism, and victims.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of community work. Highfields Inc describes its mission as providing opportunities for children, youths, families, and others to take greater responsibility for their lives and strengthen relationships. CASA of Talbot County says it advocates for the best interests of children under court protection because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. North Texas Food Bank describes its work as closing the hunger gap through a network of feeding partners, while REACH Studio Art Center offers visual arts education for youth and adults in the Greater Lansing area.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $2,930,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $900,000, with a median of $50,000. Among the largest were $900,000 to Columbia University for support of the Dart Center for Journalism; $625,000 to Lansing Public Media Authority for sound-system upgrades; $250,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Lansing for kitchen and dining-hall renovations; and $130,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region for a school-based mentorship program.
The foundation says it proactively reaches out to local organizations in its giving communities to identify partnership opportunities. Its board determines the amount and frequency of giving based on local needs and charitable investment opportunities. The 2023 filing describes an application by letter with a detailed project description, the amount requested, and a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter. Grants to individuals are not made.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James D. Lammers as director, president, and treasurer; Kenneth B. Dart as director and vice president; Arianna C. Wooledge as director and secretary; and Jackie Doak as director. The foundation’s website identifies Lammers as board president and describes his previous roles with Dart Container Corporation, including chief executive officer. It describes Kenneth Dart as a longtime board member and former president of Dart Container Corporation, and Arianna Wooledge as a third-generation Dart family member who joined the board in 2021.
Dart Foundation is led by James D Lammers, Director, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James D Lammers
Director, President & Treasurer
Vice President → President, Vice President & Treasurer, 2023
President, Vice President & Treasurer → Director, President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kenneth B Dart
Director & Vice President
Vice President → Director & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Arianna C Wooledge
Director & Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jackie Doak
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Claire T Dart (2020–2023) — Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Francis X Liesman II (2020–2023) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Robert C Dart (2020–2023) — Chairman, President & Secretary
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 Dart Foundation
How much does Dart Foundation give each year?
Dart Foundation gave $2.9M across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 25 grants.
What is Dart Foundation's typical grant size?
Dart Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $133,182, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dart Foundation that year got $112K on average.
Where does Dart Foundation give grants?
Dart Foundation's top state is Michigan, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was New York (31%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lansing, MI (6 grants) and Onondaga, MI (2 grants).
Does Dart Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Dart Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Dart Foundation's largest grantees?
Dart Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Columbia University ($900,000), Lansing Public Media Authority ($625,000) and Boys & Girls Club of Lansing ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dart Foundation?
Dart Foundation reported $72K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dart Foundation fund?
The foundation says it aims to strengthen communities through local investment. Its stated fields of interest include education, engineering and technology, environment, science, youth, math, journalism, and victims. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dart Foundation?
The stated process is to submit a letter describing the project in detail and specifying the requested amount, with a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dart Foundation's EIN?
Dart Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2849841. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 Dart Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dart Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dart-foundation-morg_ef53c0ac615248459f039c0a2a4dcde5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382849841_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dart Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dart-foundation-morg_ef53c0ac615248459f039c0a2a4dcde5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Dart 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.
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