Dunard Fund Usa Ltd
Dunard Fund USA Ltd is a corporate foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois, established around 1993. The organization operates as the United States arm of the Dunard Fund, a major arts and education benefactor with roots in Scotland. The foundation supports organizations involved with arts and culture and education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$231.8M
+42.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$65.1M
+466.1% YoY
Grant Count
24
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.7M
+371.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dunard Fund Usa Ltd reported a distributable amount of $13.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Dunard Fund USA focuses on:
- Classical music at the highest standard
- Visual arts education and exhibition at international level
- Architectural preservation and creation
- General support for arts and cultural organizations
- Education initiatives
The fund's strategic approach emphasizes long-term relationships and transformative projects over one-off donations, reflecting a philanthropic philosophy described through the historical concept of the "almoner"—emphasizing quiet duty and obligation rather than public recognition.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$100,000 to $35,000,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on Scotland with United States operations supporting classical music and visual arts. Recent grantmaking activity shows significant support for organizations in California and New York, with additional activity in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $231,781,666
- Total revenues: $68,876,679
- Total expenses: $11,807,129
- Total grants, contributions: $62,625,000
- Investment income and dividends: $6,105,487
- Number of employees: 0
As of 2022:
- Total assets: $162,522,357
- Total revenues: $68,876,679 (2023 comparison)
- Total expenses: $11,807,129 (2023 comparison)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $231,781,666 | $162,522,357 | $105,447,835 |
| Revenue | $135,006,531 | $68,876,679 | $70,889,532 |
| Expenses | $65,747,222 | $11,807,129 | $49,738,319 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $65,148,459 | $11,526,230 | $11,963,613 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,398,801 | $6,536,959 | $800,337 |
| Distributable Amount | $13,474,531 | $9,022,426 | $5,482,927 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colburn School ($52,500,000), Myriad Usa ($2,760,000), The King's Foundation America Inc ($2,600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LES ARTS FLORRISANTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA INC LAWRENCE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $184,600 |
| CATO INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $110,000 |
| CHAPEL & YORK FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,750,400 |
| COLBURN SCHOOL LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $52,500,000 |
| DANCE DOWNTOWN LA INC LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE HILLSDALE, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| LENNOX LIBRARY LENNOX, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Dunard Fund was established by the Colburn family. Carol Colburn Grigor is a key figure in the fund's operations, having donated more than £100 million to the UK arts sector. The fund's name derives from a house owned by Carol Colburn Grigor and her then-husband in Aberfeldy, Scotland.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL GRIGOR | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DAVID BRADFORD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ANDREA MAYES | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| KEITH COLBURN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE HOGEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FORREST COLBURN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
US Office:
- Address: 555 Skokie Blvd Ste 555, Northbrook, IL 60062-2854
- Telephone: 847-480-4690
- EIN: 98-0087034
UK Office:
- Address: c/o J&H Mitchell, 51 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BU, Scotland
- Phone: 0131 556 4043
- Email: [email protected]
- Scottish Charity Number: SC046889
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dunard Fund Usa Ltd fund?
The Dunard Fund USA focuses on: • Classical music at the highest standard • Visual arts education and exhibition at international level • Architectural preservation and creation • General support for arts and cultural organizations • Education initiatives The fund's strategic approach emphasizes long-term relationships and transformative projects over one-off donations, reflecting a philanthropic philosophy described through the historical concept of the "almoner"—emphasizing quiet duty and obl…
How do I apply for a grant from Dunard Fund Usa Ltd?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $65,122,000 • Total giving in 2022: $11,946,000 • Grant range: $100,000 to $35,000,000 • Typical awards: $1,000 to $52,500,000 • Number of grants (2023): 18 awards **Recent Grants (2023):** • Los Angeles Philharmonic Association: $3,575,000 (General Support) • Colburn School: $2,550,000 (General Support) • Los Angeles Opera Company: $1,300,000 (General Support) **Application Process:** • May annual window • Restricted to prior relationships • Decision…
Where does Dunard Fund Usa Ltd make grants?
Primary focus on Scotland with United States operations supporting classical music and visual arts. Recent grantmaking activity shows significant support for organizations in California and New York, with additional activity in Michigan.
What size grants does Dunard Fund Usa Ltd award?
In 2024, Dunard Fund Usa Ltd awarded 24 grants totaling $65.1M — an average of about $2.7M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dunard Fund Usa Ltd required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dunard Fund Usa Ltd reported a distributable amount of $13.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dunard Fund Usa Ltd's EIN?
Dunard Fund Usa Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 98-0087034. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dunard Fund Usa Ltd's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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