Denison University
Denison University is a public charity based in Granville, Ohio. Founded in 1832, it provides undergraduate liberal arts education and reports that scholarships and grants are provided to its students based on merit and economic need.
Denison University at a glance
In short: Denison University gave $394K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Ohio. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $394,250
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,841
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $1,648,068,533
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Denison University
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 W College Street, Granville, OH 43023
Phone: (740) 587-6679
Website: https://denison.edu
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Denison University funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Granville Township Board of Trustees ($224K). Together the top 10 received $389K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 58 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of Denison’s grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 3% to recipients in Washington, DC. The listed grants include recipients in Granville, Columbus, Newark, and other Ohio communities, as well as the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Denison University open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $193K (2020) to $394K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $394K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Granville Township Board of Trustees Granville, OH | Annual Fire Department Assistance | $223,500 |
| The Columbus Partnership Columbus, OH | Community Sponsorship | $55,000 |
| Licking County United Way Newark, OH | Community Sponsorship | $25,000 |
| Licking County Transit Board Newark, OH | Community Sponsorship | $20,000 |
| Granville Exempted Village School District Granville, OH | Community Sponsorship | $15,000 |
| The Works Newark, OH | Community Sponsorship | $12,500 |
| National Women's History Museum Washington, DC | Community Sponsorship | $10,000 |
| PBJ Connections Inc Pataskala, OH | Community Sponsorship | $10,000 |
| One Columbus Columbus, OH | Community Sponsorship | $10,000 |
| Columbus Association for the Performing Arts Columbus, OH | Collaborative Partnership Sponsor | $8,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Denison University?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,648,068,533 | $299,027,973 | $293,382,030 | $394,250 | 11 | $29,333,769 |
| 2024 | $1,557,167,145 | $295,712,847 | $273,828,504 | $348,576 | 11 | $51,990,298 |
| 2023 | $1,463,954,073 | $265,383,442 | $254,857,397 | $330,644 | 10 | $50,036,867 |
| 2022 | $1,502,847,785 | $275,909,448 | $224,280,076 | $392,200 | 12 | $83,826,793 |
| 2021 | $1,706,364,119 | $297,443,289 | $208,062,501 | $323,660 | 14 | $110,006,598 |
| 2020 | $1,411,393,687 | $248,509,652 | $202,991,198 | $192,652 | 8 | $65,718,724 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Denison’s stated mission is to engage students in the liberal arts through active learning, fostering self-determination and the transformative power of education. Its 2024 filing describes its purpose as educating students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents, and active citizens of a democratic society.
The university’s 2022–2027 strategic priorities include improving affordability and access to meaningful student experiences, investing in faculty and academic programs, and supporting career preparation. The website also describes internal academic funding for student research and travel and faculty development; these are university programs, not grants to outside applicants.
The 2025 grant list includes community sponsorships and support for local institutions. Among the recipients, The Columbus Partnership describes its work as economic development; the National Women’s History Museum describes its mission as preserving, educating about, and amplifying women’s contributions; and PBJ Connections describes providing behavioral health therapy using horses, counseling, and nature. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not stated Denison funding priorities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Denison reported 11 grants totaling $394,250. Grant amounts ranged from $5,250 to $223,500, with a median of $12,500.
The largest listed grant was $223,500 to the Granville Township Board of Trustees for annual fire department assistance. Other notable awards included $55,000 to The Columbus Partnership and $25,000 to Licking County United Way, both for community sponsorship; $20,000 to Licking County Transit Board for community sponsorship; and $15,000 to Granville Exempted Village School District for community sponsorship.
Denison’s website says its Office of Foundation and Corporate Relations works with faculty seeking funding from foundations and corporations, including helping refine proposals and draft applications. The listed student and faculty funding opportunities are internal university programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following trustees: James L. Anderson ’85, George W. Bodenheimer ’80, Cynthia Ooten Booth ’79, Colleen Boyle ’24, Ashley Edwards Bradley ’93, Daniel J. Brickman ’80, Marcus Colwell ’84, H. Timothy Ewing ’89, James Felker ’23, and Jeremy Flug ’83.
Denison University is led by Adam S. Weinberg, President on every filing since 2020; 15 of 50 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam S. Weinberg
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$560K (2020) → $968K (2025)
Rajesh N. Bellani
Vice President Career Outcomes & Chief-Office of President
Vice President & Chief of Staff → Vice President Career Outcomes & Chief-Office of President, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$201K (2021) → $282K (2025)
Lewis A. Sachs
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua M. Beitzel
Managing Director & Investments
Director of Investments → Managing Dir.of Investments, 2023
Managing Dir.of Investments → Managing Director & Investments, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$198K (2020) → $408K (2025)
Julie Crosby
Managing Director & Investments
Managing Dir.of Investments → Managing Director & Investments, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$354K (2023) → $701K (2025)
Nicholas Carangelo
Managing Director & Investments
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$305K (2025)
Amy Todd Middleton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Ooten Booth
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel J. Brickman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Lindberg
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George V. Russell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George W. Bodenheimer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James L. Anderson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James T. Glerum Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie K. Thorsen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Masten
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy J. Flug
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcus Colwell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew J. Harrington
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard A. Kienzle
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Polk
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan D. Whiting
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne B. Kriscunas
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas E. Szykowny
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William C. Mulligan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur P. Steinmetz Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
H. Timothy Ewing
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeryl D. Hayes
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail E. Pringle
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Edwards Bradley
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory N. Taylor
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Staniar Haarlow
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vivian Quaye
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Roberts Jezierski
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Felker
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colleen Boyle
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Forbes
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David A. English
Vice President Finance, Management & CFO
Vice President Finance & Management → Vice President Finance, Management & CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$287K (2020) → $363K (2025)
Gregory R. Bader
Vice President Instiutional Advancemen
Vice President Instiutional Advancemen → Vice President Instiutional Advancement, 2024
Vice President Instiutional Advancement → Vice President Instiutional Advancemen, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$242K (2020) → $343K (2025)
Gregory W. Sneed
Vice President Enrollment Management
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$225K (2020) → $216K (2025)
Kathleen R. Browne
Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$833K (2020) → $903K (2025)
Kimberly A. Coplin
Provost
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$252K (2020) → $341K (2025)
Alexandra T. Schimmer
Vice President & General Counsel
Secretary & General Counsel → Vice President & General Counsel, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$270K (2021) → $366K (2025)
Janine Watkins
Vice President People, Culture & Chro
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$236K (2024) → $262K (2025)
John Haller
Vice President Enrollment Management
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$154K (2025)
Liv Gjestvang
Vice President & Chief Info.officer-I.t.services
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$265K (2025)
Meghan Ulsh
Vice President Enrollment Management
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2025)
Kristen Fitzwilliam Giarrusso
Vice Chair & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc B. Lautenbach
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (28)
- Former: Douglas W. Mabie (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: G. Jackson Tankersley Jr. (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kathryn Correia (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Eckhardt (2023–2024) — Vice President Univ.communications
- Former: Rayshon Walker (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Alex Miller (2024) — Vice President Student Life
- Former: Ann Townsend (2024) — Professor
- Former: David O. Woodyard (2020–2023) — Professor
- Former: Lisa M. Coleman (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Ben Cross (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Alexander R. Miller (2022–2023) — Vice President Student Development
- Former: Fatimah Elghazawi (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: David A. Barcus (2020–2022) — Director of Investments
- Former: Elena Meth (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Lady Trish Malloch-Brown (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Dena L. Speranza (2022) — Chief Information Officer
- Former: Thomas C. Bressoud (2022) — Professor
- Former: Anthony J. Lisska (2020–2021) — Professor
- Former: Casey Chroust (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Julia Beyer Houpt (2020–2021) — Secretary.vp Inst.adv.
- Former: Kenneth E. Wegner (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Laurel Kennedy (2020–2021) — Vice President Student Development
- Former: Paul W. Hylbert (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Steven P. Matteucci (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Christy Tostevin (2021) — Vice President University Communications
- Former: David J. Hooker (2020) — Trustee
- Former: John V. Faraci Jr. (2020) — Chair
- Former: Kelsey Schwimmer (2020) — Trustee
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 $968K, to Adam S Weinberg (President). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Denison University
How much does Denison University give each year?
Denison University gave $394K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $349K across 11 grants.
What is Denison University's typical grant size?
Denison University's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $35,841, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Denison University that year got $25K on average.
Where does Denison University give grants?
Denison University gives mostly in Ohio: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Granville, OH (3 grants), Columbus, OH (3 grants) and Newark, OH (3 grants).
Does Denison University give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Denison University's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Sponsorship" (9 grants).
Who are Denison University's largest grantees?
Denison University's largest 2025 grantees include Granville Township Board of Trustees ($223,500), The Columbus Partnership ($55,000) and Licking County United Way ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Denison University?
Denison University reported $1.6B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $299.0M.
What does Denison University fund?
Denison’s stated mission is to engage students in the liberal arts through active learning, fostering self-determination and the transformative power of education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Denison University?
Denison University has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check denison.edu for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Denison University's EIN?
Denison University's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-4379459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Denison University's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Denison University funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/denison-university-morg_a101c1cd3ed04b36aa4504d62c978bad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_314379459_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Denison University funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/denison-university-morg_a101c1cd3ed04b36aa4504d62c978bad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Denison University'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.
Denison University down — hundreds of funders to go?