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Doug Pensinger Photography Fund

Private foundation · Grantmaker Vienna, VA EIN: 83-1480638 Website

The Doug Pensinger Photography Fund (DPPF) is a private foundation based in Vienna, Virginia. Founded in 2019 in memory of photojournalist Doug Pensinger, it supports emerging and early-career sports photographers through grants, mentorships, and professional development and community-building opportunities.

Key facts about Doug Pensinger Photography Fund

In short: Doug Pensinger Photography Fund gave $54K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
83-1480638
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$54,398
Grants made (2025)
12
Average grant
$4,533
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$3,121,266
Primary geography
Texas (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
DPPF’s 2025 filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Deadline
The website listed March 15 through May 1 for applications.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. 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

$3.1M

+54.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$54K

+262.7% YoY

Grant Count

12

Avg Grant Size

$5K

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Doug Pensinger Photography Fund reported a distributable amount of $109K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Doug Pensinger Photography Fund gives

  • In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

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

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

Mission & Focus Areas

DPPF’s stated mission is to support emerging sports photographers by building a community that develops and advances their skill and vision. Its programs include career-supporting grants, mentorships with professionals, seminars, educational events, webinars, and a biannual Sports Photography Gathering. The fund says it is committed to inclusivity and diversity and to merit-based access at no cost to participants.

DPPF’s website describes its Development Grants as supporting sports photographers whose portfolios show talent and technical skills and whose biographies and essays reflect significant cultural, political, or geographic challenges affecting their career advancement.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, DPPF reported 12 grants totaling $54,398. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $6,898, with a median of $5,000. The largest award was $6,898 to Kent Edwards of Bowie, Maryland, for “Mentorship - Alumni.” Other listed awards included $5,000 each to Camden Hall, Helen McGinnis, Ishika Samant, Christopher Torres, Thien-An Truong, Lorenzo Vasquez, Joe Wakefield, and Isaac Wasserman for career support, and $2,500 each to Ray Bahner, Ella Hall, and Jaiden Tripi for development.

For the 2026 program, the website describes seven $5,000 career-development grants, with up to three recipients also selected for year-long mentorships, and up to three additional $2,500 Development Grants. These program details are separate from the 2025 filing-year grants.

Review Cycle

The website listed March 15 through May 1 for applications. The stated May 1 deadline for the 2026 cycle has passed.

How to Apply

DPPF’s 2025 filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website describes a separate annual application process for its photographer programs. Applicants were asked to submit a dated résumé in English, a professional bio of up to 1,500 characters, and a portfolio of 20 sports photographs meeting the stated image-size and date requirements. An optional essay is required to be considered for mentorship or Development Grants. Applicants with more than three years of cumulative paid professional sports photography experience and previous DPPF grant recipients are ineligible. International applicants may apply, except applicants from countries under active U.S. sanctions; the fund also notes that international support must comply with U.S. law.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The listed 2025 grant recipients were based in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were Texas (18%), Maryland (13%), Tennessee (9%), North Carolina (9%), and California (9%). DPPF’s website says its program accepts international applicants, subject to restrictions related to U.S. sanctions and law.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

Baton RougeBowieBrentwoodCharlotteCollege StationColorado SpringsEugeneFort WorthGainesvilleGilroyStoneham

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60KTotal only2020 Total only2021 Total only2022 Total only2023 Total only2024 12 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $54K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $54K.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Kent Edwards: $7KKent Edwards$7KCamden Hall: $5KCamden Hall$5KHelen McGinnis: $5KHelen McGinnis$5KIshika Samant: $5KIshika Samant$5KChristopher Torres: $5KChristopher Torres$5KThien-an Truong: $5KThien-an Truong$5KLorenzo Vasquez: $5KLorenzo Vasquez$5KJoe Wakefield: $5KJoe Wakefield$5KIsaac Wasserman: $5KIsaac Wasserman$5KRay Bahner: $3KRay Bahner$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Kent Edwards ($7K). Together the top 10 received $49K.

Grant Size Distribution

12 grants across all recorded years

12<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 12 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Kent Edwards Bowie, MDMentorship - Alumni$6,898
Camden Hall Brentwood, TNCareer Support$5,000
Helen McGinnis Charlotte, NCCareer Support$5,000
Ishika Samant College Station, TXCareer Support$5,000
Christopher Torres Fort Worth, TXCareer Support$5,000
Thien-an Truong Gilroy, CACareer Support$5,000
Lorenzo Vasquez Gainesville, FLCareer Support$5,000
Joe Wakefield Career Support$5,000
Isaac Wasserman Eugene, ORCareer Support$5,000
Ray Bahner Colorado Springs, CODevelopment$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $3,121,266 $1,132,586 $142,557 $54,398; 12 grants
2024 $2,017,307 $62,952 $203,112 0 grants
2023 $2,068,399 $502,567 $83,285 0 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$3,121,266$2,017,307$2,068,399
Revenue$1,132,586$62,952$502,567
Expenses$142,557$203,112$83,285
Qualifying Distributions$121,521——
Net Investment Income$105,510$61,681$2,308
Distributable Amount$108,624——

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 17, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 13, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 1, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 29, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Ezra Shaw and Maureen Cavanagh as directors; Bettyann Heppler as president/director; Kim Pensinger Witman as treasurer/director; and Devan Pensinger as vice president, secretary, and director.

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund is led by Bettyann Heppler, President & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Bettyann Heppler

    President & Director

    President → President & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Devan Pensinger

    Vice President, Secretary & Director

    Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2024

    Vice President & Secretary → Vice President, Secretary & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    $2K (2025)

  • Ezra Shaw

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $1K (2022) → $750 (2025)

  • Maureen Cavanagh

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $650 (2025)

  • Kim Pensinger Witman

    Treasurer & Director

    Vice President & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024

    Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Simon Bruty (2020) — Director

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Devan Pensinger — Vice President/Secretary/Director: $2KDevan PensingerVice…$2KEzra Shaw — Director: $750Ezra ShawDirector$750Maureen Cavanagh — Director: $650Maureen CavanaghDirector$650

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Devan Pensinger (Vice President/Secretary/Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 8318 Colby Street, Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: (703) 403-4644
Website: https://dougpensingerphotographyfund.org

Frequently asked questions about Doug Pensinger Photography Fund

How much does Doug Pensinger Photography Fund give each year?

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund gave $54K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it reported $15K in grants paid.

What is Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's typical grant size?

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,533, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Doug Pensinger Photography Fund give grants?

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's top state is Texas, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (13%) and Tennessee (9%).

Does Doug Pensinger Photography Fund give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Career Support" (8 grants) and "Development" (3 grants).

Who are Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's largest grantees?

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Kent Edwards ($6,898), Camden Hall ($5,000) and Helen McGinnis ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Doug Pensinger Photography Fund?

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $122K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $109K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Doug Pensinger Photography Fund fund?

DPPF’s stated mission is to support emerging sports photographers by building a community that develops and advances their skill and vision. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Doug Pensinger Photography Fund?

DPPF’s 2025 filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's EIN?

Doug Pensinger Photography Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1480638. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Doug Pensinger Photography Fund accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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