Doug Pensinger Photography Fund
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.
Doug Pensinger Photography Fund at a glance
In short: Doug Pensinger Photography Fund gave $54K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $54,398
- +262.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $4,533
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,121,266
- +54.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Doug Pensinger Photography Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- 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.
- Review Cycle
- The website listed March 15 through May 1 for applications. The stated May 1 deadline for the 2026 cycle has passed.
- Deadline
- The website listed March 15 through May 1 for applications.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8318 Colby Street, Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: (703) 403-4644
Website: https://dougpensingerphotographyfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Doug Pensinger Photography Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kent Edwards ($7K). Together the top 10 received $49K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 12 (100%).
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
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
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.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kent Edwards Bowie, MD | Mentorship - Alumni | $6,898 |
| Camden Hall Brentwood, TN | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Helen McGinnis Charlotte, NC | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Ishika Samant College Station, TX | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Christopher Torres Fort Worth, TX | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Thien-an Truong Gilroy, CA | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Lorenzo Vasquez Gainesville, FL | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Joe Wakefield | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Isaac Wasserman Eugene, OR | Career Support | $5,000 |
| Ray Bahner Colorado Springs, CO | Development | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,121,266 | $1,132,586 | $142,557 | $54,398 | 12 | $121,521 | $105,510 | $108,624 |
| 2024 | $2,017,307 | $62,952 | $203,112 | $15,000 | Total only | — | $61,681 | — |
| 2023 | $2,068,399 | $502,567 | $83,285 | $27,500 | Total only | — | $2,308 | — |
| 2022 | $1,500,539 | $500,237 | $125,129 | $17,674 | Total only | — | $87 | — |
| 2021 | $1,242,038 | $52,776 | $66,607 | $5,000 | Total only | — | $52,235 | — |
| 2020 | $1,255,869 | $182,917 | $44,283 | $10,000 | Total only | — | $180,852 | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 29, 2026)
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