Donors Trust Inc
Donors Trust Inc is an Alexandria, Virginia-based public charity and donor-advised fund provider, formed in 1999. It facilitates charitable giving by individuals and families, with an organizational emphasis on protecting donor intent and supporting private philanthropy.
Donors Trust Inc at a glance
In short: Donors Trust Inc gave $282.1M across 919 grants in 2024 (avg $307K), top state District of Columbia. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $282,061,852
- -19.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 919
- +18.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $306,923
- -31.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $1,364,601,090
- +5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (227 of 715, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Donors Trust Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
Donors Trust does not accept unsolicited requests for contributions. Grant recommendations are submitted by donor-advisors through their accounts using the organization’s request channels.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1800 Diagonal Street 280, Alexandria, VA 22314-2840
Phone: (703) 535-3563
Website: https://donorstrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Donors Trust Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was MedStar Georgetown University Hospital ($36.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $103.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($90,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
3,800 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,918 grants of 3,800 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to the District of Columbia (33%), Virginia (19%), New York (7%), Texas (7%), and California (6%). These figures describe the distribution of reported 2024 grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 919 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Donors Trust Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 227 of 715 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $286K; repeat grants $445K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $72K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $181.3M (2020) to $349.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 919 grants totaling $282.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC | for the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute | $35,000,000 |
| America First Legal Foundation Washington, DC | for general operations | $20,734,450 |
| State Policy Network Arlington, VA | for general operations | $7,000,128 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | for general operations | $6,999,880 |
| Consumers' Research Inc Vienna, VA | for general operations | $5,053,100 |
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | for the Center on the Structural Constitution | $5,000,000 |
| Reason Foundation Los Angeles, CA | for general operations | $4,987,225 |
| Teneo Network Inc Austin, TX | for general operations | $4,433,000 |
| Real Clear Foundation Northbrook, IL | for general operations | $4,150,000 |
| GMU Foundation Arlington, VA | for the Law & Economics Center | $3,750,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Donors Trust Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,364,601,090 | $294,438,756 | $291,549,081 | $282,061,852 | 919 | $62,331,329 |
| 2023 | $1,291,166,098 | $158,252,948 | $357,941,924 | $349,118,180 | 779 | $-67,793,665 |
| 2022 | $1,387,471,760 | $323,050,038 | $248,109,953 | $241,308,023 | 700 | $19,787,816 |
| 2021 | $1,504,903,651 | $1,094,663,581 | $191,858,622 | $187,282,004 | 648 | $13,628,082 |
| 2020 | $607,685,575 | $360,225,715 | $185,809,701 | $181,335,968 | 754 | $5,585,659 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Donors Trust states that it supports charities and sponsors programs addressing social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture through education, research, and private initiatives. Its stated mission also encourages private philanthropy and individual giving rather than governmental solutions. Its website describes its guiding principles as limited government, personal responsibility, free enterprise, and civil society and religious liberty.
Donors Trust says about 70% of its grantmaking each year goes to conservative and libertarian policy and education groups. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of recipients: America First Legal Foundation describes its mission as providing litigation tools and resources to advance conservative policy solutions; State Policy Network says it works to catalyze freedom movements anchored by independent think tanks; and the Institute for Justice describes its work as strategic litigation, training, communication, activism, and research advancing individual liberties. Other 2024 recipients included the Texas A&M Foundation, which raises and manages endowed gifts for Texas A&M University, and the Lucy Burns Institute, which describes Ballotpedia as a resource for information on elections, politics, and policy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Donors Trust reported 919 grants totaling $282,061,852. Grants ranged from $5,038 to $35,000,000, with a median of $50,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $35,000,000 to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute; $20,734,450 to America First Legal Foundation for general operations; $7,000,128 to State Policy Network for general operations; and $6,999,880 to the Institute for Justice for general operations. Other large grants included $5,053,100 to Consumers’ Research Inc for general operations, $5,000,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation for its Center on the Structural Constitution, and $4,987,225 to Reason Foundation for general operations.
DonorsTrust’s donor-advised fund process allows account advisors to recommend grants. Requests may be submitted through a grant request form, email, or the client portal. The organization says it conducts due diligence on recommended recipients, including checking for IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Its guidelines generally favor operating charities that receive less than 25% of annual revenue from government sources and require alignment with its stated principles. DonorsTrust retains the authority to approve or reject grant advice. Its filing states that grants may not benefit a disqualified person or be used for lobbying or political activity; foreign grantees must have an equivalency determination.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include Kimberly O Dennis, Chair; James Piereson, Vice Chair; Thomas E Beach and George GH Coates Jr, Directors; Lawson R Bader, President and CEO; Jeffrey C Zysik, CFO, COO and Treasurer; Peter A Lipsett, Vice President; Stephen M Johnson, CTO; Gregory P Conko, Vice President of Programs; and Lukas C Dwelly, Philanthropic Advisor.
Donors Trust Inc is led by Lawson R Bader, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lawson R Bader
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
42 hrs/week
$390K (2020) → $400K (2024)
Kimberly O Dennis
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George G H Coates Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas E Beach
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher D Renner
Controller
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$140K (2020) → $163K (2024)
Jeffrey C Zysik
CFO, COO & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
42 hrs/week
$278K (2020) → $312K (2024)
Peter A Lipsett
Vice President
Vice President & Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$215K (2020) → $241K (2024)
Gregory P Conko
Vice President of Programs
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$204K (2022) → $236K (2024)
Lukas C Dwelly
Philanthropic Advisor
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $186K (2024)
Stephanie L Giovanetti
Philanthropic Advisor
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$148K (2022) → $171K (2024)
Stephen M Johnson
CTO
On filings since 2022
45 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $188K (2024)
James Piereson
Vice Chair
Chair → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Elia J Peterson (2023) — Assistant Controller
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $400K, to Lawson R Bader (President and CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Donors Trust Inc
How much does Donors Trust Inc give each year?
Donors Trust Inc gave $282.1M across 919 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $349.1M across 779 grants.
What is Donors Trust Inc's typical grant size?
Donors Trust Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $306,923, across 919 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Donors Trust Inc that year got $286K on average.
Where does Donors Trust Inc give grants?
Donors Trust Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (19%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (111 grants), New York, NY (65 grants), Arlington, VA (39 grants) and Chicago, IL (21 grants).
Does Donors Trust Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of Donors Trust Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (530 of 919) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "For Historical Building Preservation" (23 grants), "For Museum Exhibits" (17 grants) and "For Historical Education Programs" (7 grants).
Who are Donors Trust Inc's largest grantees?
Donors Trust Inc's largest 2024 grantees include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital ($36,000,000 across 2 grants), America First Legal Foundation ($21,285,450 across 5 grants) and State Policy Network ($9,810,658 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($90,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Donors Trust Inc?
Donors Trust Inc reported $1.4B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $294.4M.
What does Donors Trust Inc fund?
Donors Trust states that it supports charities and sponsors programs addressing social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture through education, research, and private initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Donors Trust Inc?
Donors Trust does not accept unsolicited requests for contributions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Donors Trust Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Donors Trust Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donors Trust Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Donors Trust Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/donors-trust-inc-morg_ea549349f1e145dd832083940369c5c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522166327_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Donors Trust Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/donors-trust-inc-morg_ea549349f1e145dd832083940369c5c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Donors Trust Inc'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.
Donors Trust Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?