George S and Dolores Dore
The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in 1960 by George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles, the foundation invests in communities to improve the daily lives of Utahns through strategic philanthropic support across multiple sectors.
Key facts about George S and Dolores Dore
- EIN
- 87-6118245
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,994,251
- Grants made (2024)
- 400
- Average grant
- $67,486
- Median grant
- $17,750
- Total assets
- $966,823,802
- Primary geography
- Utah (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who George S and Dolores Dore funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for George S and Dolores Dore's 400 itemized 2024 grants were Utah (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salt Lake City, UT (184 grants), Ogden, UT (26 grants), Park City, UT (17 grants) and Provo, UT (15 grants). 25% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How George S and Dolores Dore gives
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
- In 2024 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). 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 George S and Dolores Dore
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$966.8M
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$27.0M
-1.5% YoY
Grant Count
400
-5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
+4.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George S and Dolores Dore reported a distributable amount of $33.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to serving the people of the state of Utah by carrying forth the philanthropic interests and goals of its founders. It supports projects and programs with the potential to make a significant difference in bettering Utah's communities and enriching the quality of life of its citizens.
The foundation funds in five primary areas:
- Arts & Culture — Inspired by the founders' passion for the arts
- Community — Addressing the needs of individuals and families throughout Utah
- Education — Ensuring excellence in higher education in Utah, with particular emphasis on the University of Utah
- Health & Wellness — Supporting Utah's healthcare community through equipment, facilities, and program support for medical diagnosis, treatment, education, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle promotion
- Preservation & Conservation — Protecting and preserving natural lands, supporting restoration and revitalization efforts
Grantmaking
The foundation processes more than 300 funding requests annually and awards grants totaling $20-$30 million each year. Grant types include support for equipment, facilities, and program initiatives across its focus areas.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is focused exclusively on Utah, supporting both urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 400 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $966,823,802 | $892,503,036 | $663,725,578 |
| Revenue | $52,369,983 | $76,086,046 | $26,411,666 |
| Expenses | $52,841,394 | $50,206,208 | $47,063,359 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $29,681,065 | $30,325,945 | $33,628,691 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,975,696 | $44,934,280 | $18,202,451 |
| Distributable Amount | $33,621,520 | $29,595,642 | $29,706,671 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
833 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from George S and Dolores Dore
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University of Utah Health Sciences School of Medicine ($6,075,000 across 2 grants), University of Utah David Eccles School of Business ($1,228,350 across 2 grants), Southern Utah University ($1,098,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Salt Lake City, UT | FOR THE GEORGE S. AND DOLORES DOR ECCLES ENDOWMENT FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL EXCELLENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, WHICH WILL OPERATE AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS EXCLUSIVELY TO BENEFIT THE SPENCER FOX ECCLES SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | $5,575,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Salt Lake City, UT | TO ESTABLISH THE MARRINER S. ECCLES INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMICS AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS | $1,218,750 |
| SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY Cedar City, UT | TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW MUSIC CENTER ON THE SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY CAMPUS | $1,000,000 |
| UTAH ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYUTAH'S HOGLE ZOO Salt Lake City, UT | TO SUPPORT THE RECONSTRUCTED TRAIN EXPERIENCE TO BE ROUTED THROUGH THE NEW "WILD UTAH" EXHIBIT AREA, INCLUDING AN UPDATED ALL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE | $1,000,000 |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA UTAH Salt Lake City, UT | $500,000 FOR A ONE-TIME GRANT TO HELP COMPLETE THE FINAL PHASE OF THE RECOVERY ON REDWOOD CAPITAL CAMPAIGN; $100,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF THE YOUTH RESOURCE CENTER; $60,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF THE HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM | $660,000 |
| MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION Dundee, IL | TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF "SECRETS OF GREAT SALT LAKE" FILM IN THE NEW IMAX THEATER AT ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK & EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS DESIGNATED TO EDUCATE CHILDREN & VISITORS ABOUT THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF THE LAKE'S BIODIVERSITY & INDUSTRY | $500,000 |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY IN UTAH Salt Lake City, UT | TO PROVIDE A LEAD GIFT FOR "THE UTAH FUTURES CAMPAIGN," TNC UTAH'S COMPREHENSIVE, $38 MILLION PUBLIC/PRIVATE CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS UTAH'S CONSERVATION CHALLENGE | $500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT Salt Lake City, UT | TO ASSIST IN FUNDING THE NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART EXPANSION OF END-ZONE SEATING, SUITES AND TEAM FACILITIES AT RICE-ECCLES STADIUM, TO BE NAMED THE KEN GARFF PERFORMANCE ZONE. | $500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Salt Lake City, UT | FOR THE GEORGE S. AND DOLORES DOR ECCLES ENDOWMENT FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL EXCELLENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, WHICH WILL OPERATE AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS EXCLUSIVELY TO BENEFIT THE SPENCER FOX ECCLES SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | $500,000 |
| UTAH SYMPHONY UTAH OPERA Salt Lake City, UT | DESIGNATED FOR THE US|UO 2023-24 SEASON SPONSORSHIP, INCLUDING THE SYMPHONY AND OPERA SEASONS AND THE 2024 DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Spencer Fox Eccles — Chairman & CEO A native of Ogden, Utah, Eccles earned his bachelor's degree in Banking & Finance from the University of Utah (1956) and a master's degree from Columbia Business School. He led First Security Corporation as Chairman & CEO for nearly two decades before its merger with Wells Fargo in 2000. He also serves as a board member of four other Eccles family foundations.
Lisa Eccles — President & Chief Operating Officer A University of Utah graduate, Lisa Eccles directs the foundation's operations and statewide grant-making programs. She oversees the consideration of funding applications and stewardship of awarded grants, and represents the foundation's charitable activities throughout Utah and nationally.
Jennifer Napier-Pearce — Chief of Staff
Program Officers:
- Erin Armstrong — Focus Areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Health & Wellness
- Kirsten Darrington — Focus Areas: Capital Requests
- Eliot Wilcox — Focus Areas: Community, Preservation & Conservation
Heidi Hall — Director of Communications
Maggie Montague — Executive Assistant
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer F Eccles | CEO/Chairman of the Board | 20 | $424,904 |
| Robert M Graham | Secretary/Treasurer/General Counsel | 30 | $364,904 |
| Lisa E Eccles | President/COO | 40 | $364,889 |
| Katherine a Eccles | Advisory Board | 3 | $50,000 |
| C Hope Eccles | Advisory Board | 3 | $50,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several significant recent grants:
A transformational $75 million gift to the University of Utah announced in 2025
U of U Announces Transformational $75 Million Gift from ...A landmark $110 million gift from Eccles foundations to the University of Utah School of Medicine
University of Utah announces 'landmark' $110 million gift from ...Support for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine building project, for which the University of Utah broke ground on an innovative new facility
University of Utah breaks ground on innovative new ...Lisa Eccles was honored as the 46th "Giant In Our City" by the Salt Lake Chamber in 2025, recognizing her business leadership and community contributions.
Salt Lake Chamber honors business leaders at 2025 Giant ...The foundation maintains an active partnership with The Nature Conservancy in Utah, which has helped protect more than 1.2 million acres of public and private land throughout the state.
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 79 S. Main Street, 14th Floor Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Phone: 801-246-5340
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George S and Dolores Dore fund?
The foundation is dedicated to serving the people of the state of Utah by carrying forth the philanthropic interests and goals of its founders. It supports projects and programs with the potential to make a significant difference in bettering Utah's communities and enriching the quality of life of its citizens. The foundation funds in five primary areas: • **Arts & Culture** — Inspired by the founders' passion for the arts • **Community** — Addressing the needs of individuals and families throu…
How do I apply for a grant from George S and Dolores Dore?
The foundation processes more than 300 funding requests annually and awards grants totaling $20-$30 million each year. Grant types include support for equipment, facilities, and program initiatives across its focus areas. Capital requests are handled as a distinct category within the grantmaking portfolio.
Where does George S and Dolores Dore make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is focused exclusively on Utah, supporting both urban and rural areas throughout the state.
What size grants does George S and Dolores Dore award?
In 2024, George S and Dolores Dore awarded 400 grants totaling $27.0M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is George S and Dolores Dore required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, George S and Dolores Dore reported a distributable amount of $33.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George S and Dolores Dore's EIN?
George S and Dolores Dore's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-6118245. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.