Dunaway Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker La Jolla, CA EIN: 27-1996754

Dunaway Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in La Jolla, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $37.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 10 grants totaling $23.1M. Net investment income was $6.0M.

Key facts about Dunaway Foundation

EIN: 27-1996754
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $23,108,907
Grants made (2024): 10
Average grant: $2,310,891
Median grant: $1,815,683
Total assets: $37,912,179
Primary geography: California (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

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

Who Dunaway Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Dunaway Foundation's 10 itemized 2024 grants were California (63%), New York (31%) and Georgia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were La Jolla, CA (4 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants). 10% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

How Dunaway Foundation gives

In 2024 it paid out 489% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

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

Next steps with Dunaway Foundation

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$37.9M

-21.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$23.1M

Grant Count

Avg Grant Size

$2.3M

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dunaway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Dunaway Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

California $14.7M (63%)

New York $7.3M (31%)

Georgia $1.2M (5%)

Share of all 10 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Georgia New York

Cities

La JollaSan DiegoAtlantaIthacaNew York CityRed Hook

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$37,912,179	$47,975,446	$47,483,380
Revenue	$13,451,107	$1,277,383	$1,378,048
Expenses	$23,514,374	$785,317	$684,096
Qualifying Distributions	$43,092,513	$557,487	$543,458
Net Investment Income	$6,033,768	$1,193,371	$1,647,450
Distributable Amount	$8,808,699	$9,367,553	$12,376,482

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

10 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include NTC Foundation ($5,500,000), Aclu ($5,000,000), San Diego Symphony ($4,186,542).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
NTC FOUNDATION San Diego, CA	PERFORMING ARTS CENTER "THE JOAN"	$5,500,000
ACLU New York City, NY	GENERAL PURPOSE	$5,000,000
SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY San Diego, CA	COPLEY HALL AT JACOBS MUSIC CENTER	$4,186,542
UCSD FOUNDATION La Jolla, CA	JACOBS CENTER FOR HEALTH INNOVATION FUND	$2,200,000
CORNELL UNIVERSITY Ithaca, NY	CENTER FOR PRECISION NUTRITION & HEALTH, COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY ENDOWMENT FUNDS	$2,000,000
SALK INSTITUTE La Jolla, CA	DESIGN COSTS FOR JACOBS CENTER	$1,631,365
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL DEMOCRACY INST Atlanta, GA	JACOBS DISTINGUISHED FELLOWSHIP	$1,200,000
SALK INSTITUTE La Jolla, CA	SALK INNOVATION & COLLABORATION GRANT	$581,000
UCSD FOUNDATION La Jolla, CA	GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION ENDOWED FUND	$560,000
TROVANOW Red Hook, NY	PANCREATIC CANCER EARLY DETECTION CONSORTIUM	$250,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Irwin M Jacobs	Director, CFO, President	1	—
Harlan Jacobs	Director, Secretary	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dunaway Foundation?

Dunaway Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in La Jolla, CA. It holds $37.9M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Dunaway Foundation?

As of 2024, Dunaway Foundation holds $37.9M in total assets with $13.5M in annual revenue. It awarded 10 grants totaling $23.1M in 2024.

Where does Dunaway Foundation operate?

Dunaway Foundation has awarded grants in California, Georgia, New York.

What size grants does Dunaway Foundation award?

In 2024, Dunaway Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $23.1M — an average of about $2.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Dunaway Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dunaway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.