Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc
To conduct research and provide education on national security and on international terrorism. for full mission
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc at a glance
In short: Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc gave $900K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $900K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $900,000
- +80.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $900,000
- +80.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $900,000
- Total assets
- $41,304,210
- +30.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was FDD Action ($900K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 2 grants of 5 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc gives
- Giving grew 167% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2022) to $900K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $900K.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| FDD Action Washington, DC | General Operations | $900,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41,304,210 | $32,538,609 | $30,922,870 | $900,000 | 1 | $346,332 |
| 2023 | $31,722,831 | $23,924,041 | $25,394,541 | $500,000 | 1 | $395,972 |
| 2022 | $33,154,261 | $18,424,072 | $19,996,565 | $4,500 | Total only | $114,379 |
| 2021 | $31,755,415 | $16,099,025 | $17,665,987 | $337,500 | 2 | $53,401 |
| 2020 | $33,130,022 | $15,032,714 | $16,908,812 | $250,000 | 1 | $54,484 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc
Based on IRS filings
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $41.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $900K. Net investment income was $346K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc is led by Mark Dubowitz, CEO on every filing since 2020; 11 of 33 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Dubowitz
CEO
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$648K (2020) → $849K (2024)
Clifford May
President
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$619K (2020) → $794K (2024)
Timothy Gordon
Chairman
Director → Chair, 2021
Chair → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bradley L Bowman
Senior Director
Senior Director & Cmpp → Senior Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$203K (2020) → $302K (2024)
Mark Montgomery
Senior Director & Senior Fellow
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$243K (2021) → $309K (2024)
Elaine K Dezenski
Senior Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$285K (2023) → $294K (2024)
Brian Bilzin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Arditi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Naftaly
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Dezenhall
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Litinsky
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Schwartz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Hochberg
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lennert Leader
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leonard Abramson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Pelson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Cohen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natty Nashman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Kargman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tina Snider
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gil Tenzer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Pruzanksi
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Barish
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Horowitz
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Sterling
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isaac Applbaum
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Meltzer
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan J Schanzer
Senior Vice President
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$480K (2020) → $578K (2024)
Lawrence Muscant
Senior Vice President
Vice President of Development → Senior Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$447K (2020) → $512K (2024)
William McCarthy
COO
On filings since 2020
48 hrs/week
$465K (2020) → $549K (2024)
Elizabeth L Robbins
Vice President
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$311K (2023) → $316K (2024)
Eyal Hulata
Senior International Fellow
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$402K (2024)
Lesli Gillette
Vice President & Development
New on the 2024 filing
60 hrs/week
$338K (2024)
Former officers (12)
- Former: Bernard Marcus (2020–2024) — Director · Filing note: Deceased 11/2024
- Former: Toby R Dershowitz (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Georgianna Shea (2021–2023) — Chief Technologist
- Former: John Leavey (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Kathryn E Helman (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: David Jonas (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Deceased November 202
- Former: Linda Frum (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Resigned September 202
- Former: David Barish - Added June (2021) — Director
- Former: Orde F Kittrie (2021) — Senior Fellow
- Former: John Hannah (2020) — Senior Counselor
- Former: Mark Pruzanski (2020) — Chair
- Former: Reuel Marc Gerecht (2020) — Senior Fellow
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $849K, to Mark Dubowitz (CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc
How much does Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc give each year?
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc gave $900K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $500K across 1 grant.
How large is Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc?
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc reported $41.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $32.5M.
What is Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc?
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc is a public charity focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Washington, DC. It holds $41.3M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc operate?
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc has awarded grants in District of Columbia.
What is Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc's EIN?
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4174402. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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 October 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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