John & Clara Dolan Foundation
The John & Clara Dolan Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 and based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on philanthropic giving primarily to Roman Catholic agencies and related charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$130K
+29.6% YoY
Grant Count
34
+36.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Clara Dolan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to Roman Catholic agencies. According to recent grant history, the foundation's giving is distributed across multiple sectors:
- Religion: 53% of grants
- Social & Human Services: 23% of grants
- Education: 12% of grants
Recent grants have supported organizations including Catholic Relief Services, Diocese, International Rescue Committee, Catholic Eldercare, and Elevate Life.
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes continuations to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applicants must contact the foundation directly for the application process. There are no deadlines.
Grant Range
$17 (based on 5,993 total grants in previous year)
Average Grant
$17 (based on 5,993 total grants in previous year)
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 75% of grants remain in Minnesota. Four other states receive a significant number of grants: Michigan, Maryland, Arizona, and California. The foundation also supports organizations in additional states including New York, Texas, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $1,686,677 (2024)
- Total Revenue: $641,375 (most recent fiscal year)
- Total Expenses: $109,572 (most recent fiscal year)
- Total Liabilities: $0
Assets increased 2.6% from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,649,704 | $1,686,677 | $1,154,874 |
| Revenue | $99,502 | $641,375 | $68,132 |
| Expenses | $136,475 | $109,572 | $104,857 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $129,700 | $100,100 | $98,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $97,288 | $78,585 | $63,393 |
| Distributable Amount | $80,806 | $101,400 | $90,274 |
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
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Elevate Life ($13,700), American Red Cross Society Hurrican ($10,000), St Judes Children Research Hospital ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAGERSTOWN, MD | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS SOCIETY HURRICAN BOONE, IA | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $10,000 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF ST PAUL AND MINNEAPO ST PAUL, MN | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| BENILDE-ST MARGARETS ST LOUIS PARK, MN | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| CARING AND SHARING HANDS MINNEAPOLIS, MN | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $1,000 |
| CATHOLIC ELDERCARE MINNEAPOLIS, MN | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $3,000 |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BALTIMORE, MD | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $3,000 |
| COLLEGE OF ST CATHERINE ST PAUL, MN | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| COLLEGE OF ST BENEDICTS ST JOSEPH, MN | HIGHER EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| CONVOY OF HOPE SPRINGFIELD, MO | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mary Lou Thue - President
- Dan Thue - Secretary/Treasurer
- Ann Jensen - Director
- Teresa Dolan - Director
- Dean Dolan - Director
- John F. Dolan - Founder/Donor
The foundation is managed by a small team with minimal hours and modest compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAN THUE | SECRETARY/TR | 2 | $600 |
| MARY LOU THUE | PRESIDENT | 3 | $800 |
| ANN JENSEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $600 |
| TERESA DOLAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $600 |
| DEAN DOLAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John & Clara Dolan Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily to Roman Catholic agencies. According to recent grant history, the foundation's giving is distributed across multiple sectors: • **Religion**: 53% of grants • **Social & Human Services**: 23% of grants • **Education**: 12% of grants Recent grants have supported organizations including Catholic Relief Services, Diocese, International Rescue Committee, Catholic Eldercare, and Elevate Life.
How do I apply for a grant from John & Clara Dolan Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in recent fiscal year: approximately $100,100 • Average grant size: $17 (based on 5,993 total grants in previous year) • Recent grant examples: $3,000 to Catholic Relief Services; $2,000 to Diocese; $5,000 to International Rescue Committee; $3,000 to Catholic Eldercare; $18,100 to Elevate Life **Application Process:** The foundation only makes continuations to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applicants m…
Where does John & Clara Dolan Foundation make grants?
Approximately 75% of grants remain in Minnesota. Four other states receive a significant number of grants: Michigan, Maryland, Arizona, and California. The foundation also supports organizations in additional states including New York, Texas, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does John & Clara Dolan Foundation award?
In 2024, John & Clara Dolan Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $130K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John & Clara Dolan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John & Clara Dolan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $81K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John & Clara Dolan Foundation's EIN?
John & Clara Dolan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3321532. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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