Dunbar Foundation Inc
Dunbar Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Its 2026 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including animal welfare, education, human services, libraries, health, parks, and the environment.
Dunbar Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Dunbar Foundation Inc gave $320K across 42 grants in 2026 (avg $8K), mostly in Kentucky. 13% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $320,000
- +6.7% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 42
- +10.5% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $7,619
- -3.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,282,596
- +2.7% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (5 of 40, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (77% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dunbar Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists no formal application process or required materials. It names Dunbar Foundation Inc as the contact and states that awards have no restrictions or limitations.
- Contact
Application contact: Dunbar Foundation Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 7668, Louisville, KY 40257
Phone: (502) 815-2838
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dunbar Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Denison University ($34K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $199K.
Grant Size Distribution
170 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 170 grants of 170 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky, 11% to Ohio, 3% each to Tennessee and Indiana, and 2% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Dunbar Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 5 of 40 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 85% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $225K (2021) to $320K (2026). In 2026 it made 42 grants totaling $320K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Humane Society Louisville, KY | Charitable | $29,000 |
| Louisville Collegiate School Louisville, KY | Educational | $27,000 |
| Denison University Granville, OH | Educational | $24,000 |
| Louisville Library Foundation Louisville, KY | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Home of the Innocents Louisville, KY | Charitable | $17,000 |
| Baptist Health Foundation Louisville, KY | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Catholic Education Foundation Louisville, KY | Charitable | $15,000 |
| 21ST Century Parks Louisville, KY | Charitable | $12,500 |
| Trees Louisville Louisville, KY | Charitable | $12,500 |
| Second Presbyterian Church Louisville, KY | Charitable | $12,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $2,282,596 | $411,996 | $351,069 | $320,000 | 42 | $331,908 | $400,085 | $378,738 |
| 2025 | $2,221,669 | $131,319 | $332,628 | $300,000 | 38 | $303,831 | $112,805 | $324,489 |
| 2024 | $2,422,978 | $194,739 | $301,986 | $280,000 | 34 | $283,816 | $178,621 | $297,863 |
| 2023 | $2,530,225 | $143,448 | $286,155 | $260,000 | 29 | $264,085 | $128,377 | $283,146 |
| 2022 | $2,672,932 | $129,392 | $290,751 | $250,000 | 27 | $260,969 | $112,781 | $291,455 |
| 2021 | $2,834,291 | $892,762 | $256,573 | $225,000 | 28 | — | $878,846 | $248,282 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dunbar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $379K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Kentucky Humane Society describes its work as championing companion animals, while Louisville Collegiate School says it inspires academic excellence, character, and global citizenship. The Home of the Innocents describes serving children and families in crisis, and the Catholic Education Foundation says it advances Catholic education primarily through tuition assistance grants.
Other 2026 recipients include organizations focused on parks and urban green space. 21st Century Parks describes its work as preserving and sustaining parkland, and Waterfront Botanical Gardens says it is developing an urban botanical garden.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $320,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $29,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants included $29,000 to the Kentucky Humane Society, $27,000 to Louisville Collegiate School, $24,000 to Denison University, $20,000 to Louisville Library Foundation, and $17,000 to the Home of the Innocents.
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no formal application process, no deadlines, and no restrictions or limitations on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Laura Dunbar as president, Sarah Dunbar Parker as vice-president, Martha D Hall as secretary, and Wallace H Dunbar Jr as treasurer.
Dunbar Foundation Inc is led by Laura Dunbar, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Laura Dunbar
President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$12K (2021) → $7K (2026)
Martha D. Hall
Secretary
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Dunbar Parker
Vice President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wallace H. Dunbar Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thomas E. Dunbar (2021–2022) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $7K, to Laura Dunbar (President).
Frequently asked questions about Dunbar Foundation Inc
How much does Dunbar Foundation Inc give each year?
Dunbar Foundation Inc gave $320K across 42 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $300K across 38 grants.
What is Dunbar Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Dunbar Foundation Inc's median grant in 2026 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,619, across 42 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dunbar Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does Dunbar Foundation Inc give grants?
Dunbar Foundation Inc gives mostly in Kentucky: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (30 grants), Granville, OH (2 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants).
Does Dunbar Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on Dunbar Foundation Inc's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (34 grants) and "Educational" (8 grants).
Who are Dunbar Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Dunbar Foundation Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Denison University ($34,000 across 2 grants), Louisville Collegiate School ($32,000 across 2 grants) and Kentucky Humane Society ($29,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Dunbar Foundation Inc?
Dunbar Foundation Inc reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $332K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $379K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Dunbar Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dunbar Foundation Inc?
The filing lists no formal application process or required materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dunbar Foundation Inc's EIN?
Dunbar Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6052957. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Dunbar Foundation Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dunbar Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dunbar Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dunbar-foundation-inc-morg_1cc81132e1b641fe9223187c80805b93
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_616052957_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dunbar Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dunbar-foundation-inc-morg_1cc81132e1b641fe9223187c80805b93},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Dunbar Foundation Inc'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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