Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc
The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization established in 2007 that focuses on grantmaking and philanthropy across multiple sectors including education, public policy, health, arts, and environmental preservation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3B
-0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$79.9M
+12.9% YoY
Grant Count
138
-11.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$579K
+26.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $64.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote entrepreneurship, self-reliance, global understanding, and free enterprise, while enhancing quality of life by supporting the arts, education, health advancements, and preservation of the environment.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Human services
- Public policy and traditional American values
- Science and STEM education
Grantmaking
Notable grants made in 2023 include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- Maine
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $1,346,829,486
- Total giving: $79,174,000
- Annual revenue: $39,000,000
- Total expenses: $79,200,000
- Total liabilities: $85,600,000
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $1,347,340,836
- Total revenues: $47,949,417
- Total expenses: $64,801,332
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,346,829,486 | $1,347,340,836 | $1,356,251,879 |
| Revenue | $38,994,993 | $47,949,417 | $63,415,278 |
| Expenses | $79,205,253 | $64,801,332 | $141,986,742 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $83,253,636 | $75,094,635 | $86,923,742 |
| Net Investment Income | $48,319,726 | $36,169,269 | $87,251,859 |
| Distributable Amount | $64,695,976 | $64,894,683 | $69,474,641 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donors Trust ($5,000,000), Donors Trust ($5,000,000), Donors Trust ($5,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 FUND CHESTERTOWN, MD | TOCQUEVILLE CONVERSATIONS 2024 | $35,000 |
| ACADIA REPERTORY THEATRE MOUNT DESERT, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ACTON ACADEMY FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND GROWTH PROJECTS | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES AND ALUMNI WASHINGTON, DC | RECLAIMING AMERICA'S HERITAGE OF FREE SPEECH IN HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM | $1,000,000 |
| AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY COUNCIL WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND RESEARCH | $225,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN PRIVATE RADIO OXFORD, MS | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING | $600,000 |
| AMERICAN STRATEGY GROUP (THE CLAREMONT STRATEGY GROUP INC) CLAREMONT, CA | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING | $600,000 |
| AMERICAN SWISS FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | STRENGTHENING OPERATIONS, EXISTING PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVATING THE ALUMNI NETWORK OF THE YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Diana Davis Spencer – Executive Chairman; journalist and activist who co-leads the foundation and its grantmaking efforts
- Abby Spencer Moffat – President and Chief Executive Officer; daughter of Diana Davis Spencer, former business leader and entrepreneur who oversees day-to-day operations
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANA DAVIS SPENCER | EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN | 40 | $776,545 |
| ABBY SPENCER MOFFAT | CEO & PRESIDENT | 40 | $832,604 |
| HARRISON HOWARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | $30,000 |
| CAROLE A FEATHERSTONE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $643,613 |
| CHRISTOPHER BURN | CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 40 | $894,228 |
| JOHN RICHARDSON | AUDIT & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER | 4 | $75,000 |
| RICHARD PAINTER | AUDIT & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER | 4 | $100,000 |
| THOMAS SKILTON | GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY | 40 | $687,546 |
| KIMBERLY LAMANNA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SPENCER MOFFAT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced support for several notable initiatives:
Warrior-Scholar Project announced an inaugural cohort of Diana Davis Spencer Scholars
$25 million gift from Diana Davis Spencer to the Heritage Foundation \u2013\American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) received a major gift from the foundation
ACTA Receives Major Gift from Diana Davis Spencer Foundation - American Council$25 million gift to The Heritage Foundation announced
$25 million gift from Diana Davis Spencer to the Heritage Foundation \u2013\$10 million commitment to Hazelden Betty Ford for substance abuse treatment and recovery programs
Hazelden Betty Ford Receives $10 Million Commitment from Diana Davis SpencerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote entrepreneurship, self-reliance, global understanding, and free enterprise, while enhancing quality of life by supporting the arts, education, health advancements, and preservation of the environment. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Human services • Public policy and traditional American values • Science and STEM education
How do I apply for a grant from Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $1.35 billion (2024) • Annual giving: $79.2 million (2024) • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $20,000,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable grants made in 2023 include: • $5,000,000 to Donors Trust (Donor Advised Fund Contribution) • $5,000,000 to Hillsdale College (Higher Education Initiatives) • $5,000,000 to The Heritage Foundation (Public Policy and Research Programs) • $10,000,000 to Hazelden Betty Ford (substance abuse treatment and recove…
Where does Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • District of Columbia • Virginia • Maine
What size grants does Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc awarded 138 grants totaling $79.9M — an average of about $579K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $64.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc's EIN?
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3672969. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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