Donors Trust Inc is a donor-advised fund (DAF) provider based in Alexandria, Virginia. Founded in 1999, it operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity and serves as a philanthropic vehicle for donors committed to promoting liberty and free society principles. The organization provides an alternative to private foundations by offering tax-efficient charitable giving management with reduced regulatory burden and administrative costs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4B
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$282.1M
-19.2% YoY
Grant Count
919
+18.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$307K
-31.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Donors Trust's mission is to provide a reliable philanthropic vehicle for donors who wish to promote liberty, with assurance that their charitable intent will be honored both during their lives and beyond.
The organization supports charities and sponsors programs that alleviate society's most pervasive needs through education, research, and private initiatives. Primary focus areas include:
- Social welfare
- Health
- Environment
- Economics
- Governance
- Foreign relations
- Arts and culture
A core principle of Donors Trust is encouraging private philanthropy and individual giving as opposed to governmental solutions to societal problems. The organization is guided by ideals of limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
Grantmaking
Donors Trust operates a Donor Advised Fund program allowing contributors to advise grants supporting charities aligned with the organization's mission. The organization also makes grants to foreign NGOs that receive equivalency determinations finding they would qualify as 501(c)(3) publicly supported charities if they were U.S.-based organizations.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Donors Trust's grantmaking focuses primarily on Virginia, the District of Columbia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $1,364,601,090
- Total revenue: $294,438,756
- Total expenses: $291,549,081
- Total liabilities: $1,840,000
Staffing:
- 18 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,364,601,090 | $1,291,166,098 | $1,387,471,760 |
| Revenue | $294,438,756 | $158,252,948 | $323,050,038 |
| Expenses | $291,549,081 | $357,941,924 | $248,109,953 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $62,331,329 | $-67,793,665 | $19,787,816 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 Competitive Enterprise Institute ($2,751,250), Discovery Institute ($1,875,200), Cato Institute ($1,163,125).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Council on Science & Health New York, NY | for general operations | $53,500 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | to support the work of Sally Satel | $12,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | for general operations | $42,280 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | for the FREE Initiative | $150,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | for the Silberman Legacy Project | $250,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | for the Silberman Legacy Fund | $750,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute Washington, DC | In support of a specific project American Dream Initiative | $750,000 |
| Atlas Economic Research Foundation Arlington, VA | for the Venezuelan Democracy campaign | $15,800 |
| Atlas Economic Research Foundation Arlington, VA | for the Iran Liberty project | $50,000 |
| Atlas Economic Research Foundation Arlington, VA | for the Unleashing Entrepreneurship Programs | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Peter Lipsett – Vice President. Lipsett leads Donors Trust's Novus Society, a network of donors under 40 committed to growing their philanthropic knowledge. He holds a dual degree in political science and theater from Davidson College and an MBA from George Mason University.
Stephen Johnson – Chief Technology Officer
George Coates – Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly O Dennis | Chair | 1 | — |
| James Piereson | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Thomas E Beach | Director | 1 | — |
| George GH Coates Jr | Director | 1 | — |
| Lawson R Bader | President and CEO | 42 | $399,997 |
| Jeffrey C Zysik | CFO, COO and Treasurer | 42 | $312,413 |
| Peter A Lipsett | Vice President | 45 | $240,536 |
| Stephen M Johnson | CTO | 45 | $188,141 |
| Gregory P Conko | Vice President of Programs | 40 | $236,087 |
| Lukas C Dwelly | Philanthropic Advisor | 40 | $186,290 |
| Stephanie L Giovanetti | Philanthropic Advisor | 40 | $170,558 |
| Christopher D Renner | Controller | 40 | $163,134 |
Contact Information
Address: 1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 280 Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Phone: (703) 535-3563
Fax: (703) 535-3564
EIN: 52-2166327
Website: www.donorstrust.org
Media Inquiries: media@donorstrust.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Donors Trust Inc fund?
Donors Trust's mission is to provide a reliable philanthropic vehicle for donors who wish to promote liberty, with assurance that their charitable intent will be honored both during their lives and beyond. The organization supports charities and sponsors programs that alleviate society's most pervasive needs through education, research, and private initiatives. Primary focus areas include: • Social welfare • Health • Environment • Economics • Governance • Foreign relations • Arts and culture A …
How do I apply for a grant from Donors Trust Inc?
Donors Trust operates a Donor Advised Fund program allowing contributors to advise grants supporting charities aligned with the organization's mission. The organization also makes grants to foreign NGOs that receive equivalency determinations finding they would qualify as 501(c)(3) publicly supported charities if they were U.S.-based organizations. Additionally, Donors Trust serves as an incubator for organizations with missions aligned with Donors Trust that are in the process of applying for …
Where does Donors Trust Inc make grants?
Donors Trust's grantmaking focuses primarily on Virginia, the District of Columbia, and New York.
What size grants does Donors Trust Inc award?
In 2024, Donors Trust Inc awarded 919 grants totaling $282.1M — an average of about $307K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Donors Trust Inc's EIN?
Donors Trust Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2166327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donors Trust Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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