Dorrance Foundation for Education

Private foundation · Grantmaker Scottsdale, AZ EIN: 82-3330439

The Dorrance Foundation for Education is a private foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It supports the Dorrance Scholarship Programs, which help Arizona students who would be the first in their families to graduate from college through financial support, academic guidance, and enrichment experiences.

Dorrance Foundation for Education at a glance

In short: Dorrance Foundation for Education gave $2.7M across 35 grants in 2024 (avg $78K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$2,730,685
+30.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
35
+3400.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$78,020
-96.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$4,000
Total assets
$64,982,565
+29.9% vs 2023
Primary geography
Arizona (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Dorrance Foundation for Education

How to Apply

The filing describes an online scholarship application with a FAFSA Student Aid Report, transcript, ACT or SAT scores, writing samples, and recommendations from a high school teacher and counselor. It also lists eligibility and participation requirements, including Arizona residency, first-generation status, financial need, attendance at one of the three universities, and on-campus housing during the first two years. The foundation’s homepage states that the program is no longer accepting applications and that the current freshman class will be the last selected; the filing’s application information nevertheless lists 2026 deadlines.

Contact

Application contact: Dorrance Scholarship Program
Mailing address: 6263 North Scottsdale Rd Ste 330, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Phone: (480) 367-7000

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Dorrance Foundation for Education funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

University of Arizona: $890K across 4 grantsUniversity of Arizona$890K · 4 grantsArizona State University: $879K across 4 grantsArizona State University$879K · 4 grantsNorthern Arizona University: $866K across 3 grantsNorthern Arizona University$866K · 3 grantsUniversity of Arizona Foundation: $33K across 3 grantsUniversity of ArizonaFoundation$33K · 3 grantsThe University of Chicago: $12KThe University of Chicago$12KNAU Foundation: $10KNAU Foundation$10KUniversity of Arkansas: $6KUniversity of Arkansas$6KTuscon Crusaders: $6KTuscon Crusaders$6KPhoenix Public Library Foundation: $5KPhoenix Public LibraryFoundation$5KBoys and Girls Club of Tuscon: $5KBoys and Girls Club of Tuscon$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of Arizona ($890K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.

Grant Size Distribution

127 grants across all recorded years

101<$50K1$50–100K14$100–250K10$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 127 (80%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were reported as 99% in Arizona. Its scholarship program serves students attending Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.

Cities

TucsonFlagstaffPhoenixTempeTusconCharlottesvilleMount VernonNew YorkAnkenyBostonBrewerChicagoCoolidgeDouglasDurhamFayettevilleMaranaNorthfieldOrangePearce

How Dorrance Foundation for Education gives

  • Giving grew 90% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2021 it paid out 208% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M34 grants2020 25 grants2021 32 grants2022 1 grant2023 35 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $2.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 35 grants totaling $2.7M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZFall 2024 first generation scholarships for 73 current scholars at nau$438,000
University of Arizona Tuscon, AZFall 2024 first generation scholarships for 73 current scholars at ua$438,000
University of Arizona Tuscon, AZSpring 2025 first generation scholarships for 73 current scholars at ua$438,000
Arizona State University Tempe, AZSpring 2025 first generation scholarships for 73 current scholars at asu$438,000
Arizona State University Tempe, AZFall 2024 first generation scholarships for 72 current scholars at asu$431,870
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZSpring 2025 first generation scholarships for 71 current scholars at nau$426,000
University of Arizona Foundation Tucson, AZGrant to ua foundatoin, for the study abroad department$20,000
University of Arizona Tuscon, AZFall 2024 first generation scholarships for 2 current scholars at ua$12,000
The University of Chicago Chicago, ILFall 2024 Scholarship Award for DSP UA Alumni$12,000
University of Arizona Foundation Tuscon, AZFor the Department of Religious Studies and Classics$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$64,982,565$23,916,989$8,844,132$2,730,68535$8,367,408$16,356,847—
2023$50,038,126$18,634,701$7,357,681$2,086,8091$7,063,572$8,749,118—
2022$41,418,425$25,239,462$7,437,611$1,792,92832$6,154,640$14,671,690—
2021$44,041,517$12,130,413$4,949,804$1,434,62425$4,268,026$6,647,029$2,048,420
2020$40,862,652$4,742,533$3,447,051$1,119,81234—$4,525,799$1,801,646

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Dorrance Scholarship is intended to help motivated Arizona students become the first in their families to graduate from college. Program support includes scholarships and academic and enrichment activities. The foundation’s filing describes eligibility criteria centered on low-income, first-generation students graduating from Arizona high schools and attending one of the state’s three public universities.

Among the 2024 grantees, Arizona State University describes its mission as advancing the university and enriching the lives of its alumni, students, and friends. The University of Arizona Foundation says it supports and enhances the University of Arizona’s vision, mission, and values through private support. Other 2024 grantees include the Phoenix Public Library Foundation, which says it secures funding for literacy, education, and lifelong-learning programs, and Patronato San Xavier, which says it funds conservation, conducts research, and interprets the significance of Mission San Xavier del Bac.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 35 grants totaling $2,730,685. Grants ranged from $250 to $438,000, with a median of $4,000. The largest awards primarily supported first-generation scholarships at Arizona’s public universities. For example, Northern Arizona University received $438,000 for fall 2024 scholarships for 73 current scholars, and the University of Arizona received $438,000 for the same purpose and number of scholars. Arizona State University received $438,000 for spring 2025 scholarships for 73 current scholars and $431,870 for fall 2024 scholarships for 72 current scholars. Other listed awards included $20,000 to the University of Arizona Foundation for its study-abroad department and $5,000 to the Phoenix Public Library Foundation.

The foundation’s filing says it awards up to 60 scholarships annually to incoming freshmen at Arizona’s public universities. Each scholarship is estimated to have a total educational programmatic value of more than $100,000 and is renewed annually based on academic standing and participation in program activities and volunteer service. The program describes its scholarship award as $12,000 per academic year for up to four years. These scholarships support the program’s participants rather than constituting a grant program for outside applicants.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are Bennett Dorrance, president; Jaquelynn Dorrance, vice president; James Hensley, executive director; Kara Trullinger, secretary; and Jason Stiles, treasurer.

Dorrance Foundation for Education is led by James Hensley, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • James Hensley

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $397K (2020) → $467K (2024)

  • Bennett Dorrance

    President

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jaquelynn Dorrance

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jason Stiles

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kara Trullinger

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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

James Hensley — Executive Director: $467KJames HensleyExecutive Director$467K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $467K, to James Hensley (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Dorrance Foundation for Education

How much does Dorrance Foundation for Education give each year?

Dorrance Foundation for Education gave $2.7M across 35 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 1 grant.

What is Dorrance Foundation for Education's typical grant size?

Dorrance Foundation for Education's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $78,020, across 35 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Dorrance Foundation for Education give grants?

Dorrance Foundation for Education gives mostly in Arizona: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (7 grants), Tuscon, AZ (6 grants), Flagstaff, AZ (6 grants) and Tempe, AZ (5 grants).

Does Dorrance Foundation for Education give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on Dorrance Foundation for Education's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Dorrance Foundation for Education's largest grantees?

Dorrance Foundation for Education's largest 2024 grantees include University of Arizona ($890,250 across 4 grants), Arizona State University ($879,120 across 4 grants) and Northern Arizona University ($865,500 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Dorrance Foundation for Education?

Dorrance Foundation for Education reported $65.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $23.9M.

What does Dorrance Foundation for Education fund?

The Dorrance Scholarship is intended to help motivated Arizona students become the first in their families to graduate from college. Program support includes scholarships and academic and enrichment activities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Dorrance Foundation for Education?

The filing describes an online scholarship application with a FAFSA Student Aid Report, transcript, ACT or SAT scores, writing samples, and recommendations from a high school teacher and counselor. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Dorrance Foundation for Education's EIN?

Dorrance Foundation for Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3330439. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Dorrance Foundation for Education funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dorrance-foundation-for-education-morg_db0ac01632bd417cb2ecf22511a2102b

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823330439_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Dorrance Foundation for Education funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/dorrance-foundation-for-education-morg_db0ac01632bd417cb2ecf22511a2102b},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Dorrance Foundation for Education'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.

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