Dunbar Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. Established in May 1968, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is classified as a family foundation.
Key facts about Dunbar Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 61-6052957
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $300,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- Average grant
- $7,895
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (5 of 36, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,221,669
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Dunbar Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Dunbar Foundation Inc's 38 itemized 2025 grants were Kentucky (76%) and Ohio (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (28 grants), Granville, OH (2 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants). None of its 38 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (30 grants) and "Educational" (8 grants).
Is Dunbar Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 36 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 78% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Dunbar Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
-8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$300K
+7.1% YoY
Grant Count
38
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-4.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dunbar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $324K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation maintains a particular focus on supporting educational initiatives and organizations within its geographic service area.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in:
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Ohio
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 38 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $2,221,669
Total Giving: $300,000
Revenue (2024): $194,739
Expenses (2024): $302,000
Total Assets (2024): $2.42 million
Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has maintained stable financial operations with no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,221,669 | $2,422,978 | $2,530,225 |
| Revenue | $131,319 | $194,739 | $143,448 |
| Expenses | $332,628 | $301,986 | $286,155 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $303,831 | $283,816 | $264,085 |
| Net Investment Income | $112,805 | $178,621 | $128,377 |
| Distributable Amount | $324,489 | $297,863 | $283,146 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
156 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Denison University ($40,000 across 2 grants), Kentucky Humane Society ($30,000), Louisville Collegiate School ($30,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY Louisville, KY | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
| DENISON UNIVERSITY Granville, OH | EDUCATIONAL | $25,000 |
| LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Louisville, KY | EDUCATIONAL | $22,000 |
| HOME OF THE INNOCENTS Louisville, KY | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION Louisville, KY | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| DENISON UNIVERSITY Granville, OH | EDUCATIONAL | $15,000 |
| LOUISVILLE LIBRARY FOUNDATION Louisville, KY | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| TREES LOUISVILLE Louisville, KY | CHARITABLE | $13,500 |
| ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITA New Albany, IN | CHARITABLE | $13,000 |
| WEST END SCHOOL Louisville, KY | EDUCATIONAL | $11,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christopher Nunelley serves as a key contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Dunbar | President | 2 | $7,000 |
| Sarah Dunbar Parker | Vice-Preside | 2 | — |
| Martha D Hall | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Wallace H Dunbar Jr | Treasurer | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3901 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40207-3120
Phone: 502-581-1776
EIN: 61-6052957
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dunbar Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation maintains a particular focus on supporting educational initiatives and organizations within its geographic service area.
How do I apply for a grant from Dunbar Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $46,500. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $300,000 in total giving based on recent IRS filings. **Grant Activity:** The foundation does not currently maintain live grant opportunities listed publicly.
Where does Dunbar Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in: • Kentucky • Tennessee • Ohio
What size grants does Dunbar Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Dunbar Foundation Inc awarded 38 grants totaling $300K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dunbar Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Dunbar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $324K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.