DBJ Foundation
DBJ Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Its 2024 filing states that awards are limited to religious, community, and charitable programs; its grants that year supported organizations in several states and included contributions to organizations working in areas such as crisis support, education, and food assistance.
DBJ Foundation at a glance
In short: DBJ Foundation gave $2.0M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $118K), mostly in Indiana. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,010,000
- +49.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -10.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $118,235
- +67.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $19,942,539
- -5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (52% 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 DBJ Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a letter indicating the purpose, intent, and projected date to David H Jacobs Jr. Awards are limited to religious, community, and charitable programs.
- Contact
Application contact: David H Jacobs Jr
Mailing address: 235 Entrada Dr, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Phone: (310) 573-1410
Website: https://dbjfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who DBJ Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Eiteljorg Museum ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 92 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana (52%), Ohio (40%), California (6%), Missouri (1%), and Oklahoma (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is DBJ Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 17 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $124K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 185% of 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 $935K (2020) to $2.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eiteljorg Museum Indianapolis, IN | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $1,000,000 |
| North Point Educational Service Center Sandusky, OH | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $500,000 |
| Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Cleveland, OH | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $100,000 |
| Cleveland Sight Center Cleveland, OH | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $75,000 |
| Cleveland Food Bank Cleveland, OH | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $75,000 |
| The Point Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $50,000 |
| Project Angel Food Los Angeles, CA | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $25,000 |
| United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Clevela Cleveland, OH | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $25,000 |
| Indiana University Foundation Bloomington, IN | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $25,000 |
| Attica Consolidated School Corporation Attica, IN | Contribution to Tax-Exempt Org General Fund | $20,000 |
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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 | $19,942,539 | $1,048,739 | $2,187,975 | $2,010,000 | 17 | $2,074,740 | $948,648 | $1,120,519 |
| 2023 | $21,081,775 | $693,380 | $1,547,805 | $1,345,000 | 19 | $1,466,672 | $617,423 | $1,029,273 |
| 2022 | $21,936,200 | $651,877 | $1,198,548 | $935,000 | 17 | $1,061,706 | $574,695 | $1,068,820 |
| 2021 | $22,482,871 | $4,812,623 | $1,606,074 | $1,470,000 | 20 | $1,528,451 | $4,734,519 | $1,142,681 |
| 2020 | $19,276,322 | $-11,169 | $1,076,953 | $935,000 | 19 | — | $307,128 | $1,005,724 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, DBJ Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. The 2024 filing limits awards to religious, community, and charitable programs. Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work represented: the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center says it supports survivors of sexual violence and promotes healing and prevention; Project Angel Food says it provides medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling to critically ill people in Los Angeles County; and Vocational Guidance Services says it creates pathways for people with disabilities to engage in the community, gain independence, and attain employment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $2,010,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $1,000,000 to the Eiteljorg Museum and $500,000 to North Point Educational Service Center. Other notable grants were $100,000 to the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, $75,000 each to the Cleveland Sight Center and Cleveland Food Bank, and $50,000 to The Point Foundation.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. To apply, contact David H Jacobs Jr and submit a letter indicating the purpose, intent, and projected date of the request.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David H Jacobs Jr is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
DBJ Foundation is led by David H. Jacobs Jr., Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David H. Jacobs Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 DBJ Foundation
How much does DBJ Foundation give each year?
DBJ Foundation gave $2.0M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 19 grants.
What is DBJ Foundation's typical grant size?
DBJ Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $118,235, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from DBJ Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does DBJ Foundation give grants?
DBJ Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (40%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (6 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does DBJ Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of DBJ Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are DBJ Foundation's largest grantees?
DBJ Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Eiteljorg Museum ($1,000,000), North Point Educational Service Center ($500,000) and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is DBJ Foundation?
DBJ Foundation reported $19.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does DBJ Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. The 2024 filing limits awards to religious, community, and charitable programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from DBJ Foundation?
Submit a letter indicating the purpose, intent, and projected date to David H Jacobs Jr. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is DBJ Foundation's EIN?
DBJ Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1661482. 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). DBJ Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dbj-foundation-morg_86e028087cba454ea00230748953082b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_341661482_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{DBJ Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dbj-foundation-morg_86e028087cba454ea00230748953082b},
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 DBJ 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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