Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. It made 39 grants totaling $260,500 in 2024, all of the reported grant dollars going to recipients in Maine.
Key facts about Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN
In short: Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN gave $225K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Maine. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-2337934
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $225,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- Average grant
- $9,000
- Median grant
- $11,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 25, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,408,004
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+45.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$225K
-13.6% YoY
Grant Count
25
-35.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+34.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN reported a distributable amount of $139K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 25 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 96% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 162% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include providing opportunities for people with disabilities (Pine Tree Society), advancing land and water conservation in Maine (Maine Coast Heritage Trust), and making art accessible to all (Portland Museum of Art). Other recipients describe work in library services, coastal research and stewardship, and support for grassroots organizations in Maine.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 39 grants totaling $260,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $11,000, with a median of $11,000. Among the recipients were Portland Public Library ($11,000), Pine Tree Society ($11,000), Maine Coast Heritage Trust ($11,000), Maine Initiatives ($11,000), Laudholm Trust ($11,000), Wayfinder Schools ($11,000), and Portland Museum of Art ($11,000). The Cedars received $1,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine; the reported share for California was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $220K (2020) to $365K (2023). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $225K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jackson Labratory ($11K). Together the top 10 received $110K.
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 160 grants of 161 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Labratory Bar Harbor, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Maine Island Trail Assoc Portland, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Pine Tree Society Bath, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Univ of so Maine - Music School Gorham, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Iris Network Portland, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| The Ecology School Saco, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Portland Public Library Portland, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| So Maine Agency on Aging Scarborough, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Sweetser Agency Saco, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
| Portland Museum of Art Portland, ME | Donation | $11,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $260,500 | 39 |
| 2023 | $364,500 | 43 |
| 2022 | $249,500 | 34 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,408,004 | $2,347,639 | $2,486,515 |
| Revenue | $1,301,909 | $131,497 | $127,332 |
| Expenses | $239,349 | $270,373 | $376,145 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $225,000 | $260,500 | $364,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $94,279 | $114,290 | $115,687 |
| Distributable Amount | $139,040 | $115,863 | $126,980 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 19, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dorothy Suzi Osher as President, Joel Brown as Secretary, and Daniel Bruzgo as Treasurer.
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel Bruzgo CPA
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel Brown
General Manager
Vice President → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → General Manager, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dorothy Suzi Osher (2020–2024) — President
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 163 Fore St 500, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 874-7701
Frequently asked questions about Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN
How much does Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN give each year?
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN gave $225K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $261K across 39 grants.
What is Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's typical grant size?
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's median grant in 2025 was $11,000, and its average grant was $9,000, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN that year got $1K on average.
Where does Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN give grants?
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (9 grants), Saco, ME (2 grants), Biddeford, ME (2 grants) and Augusta, ME (2 grants).
Does Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (25 grants).
Who are Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's largest grantees?
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's largest 2025 grantees include Jackson Labratory ($11,000), Maine Island Trail Assoc ($11,000) and Pine Tree Society ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN?
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $225K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $139K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's EIN?
Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2337934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Dorothy Suzi Osher FDN 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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