Linden Root Dickinson Foundation
The Linden Root Dickinson Foundation is a private foundation based in Jamul, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including education, children’s learning, human services, food access, health care, arts, and historic-preservation organizations.
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation at a glance
In short: Linden Root Dickinson Foundation gave $2.1M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $105K), mostly in California. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,099,785
- +5.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $104,989
- +5.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $62,500
- Total assets
- $30,833,033
- -1.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Linden Root Dickinson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3245 Indian Mills Lane, Jamul, CA 91935
Phone: (619) 441-7600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Linden Root Dickinson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Negro College Fund Inc ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 81 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (67%) and the District of Columbia (30%), with 2% going to New York and 1% to Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Linden Root Dickinson Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 20 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $107K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $65K repeat.
- 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 159% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 146% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $809K (2021) to $2.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Negro College Fund Inc Washington, DC | General Purpose | $500,000 |
| San Diego Children's Discovery Museum Escondido, CA | General Purpose | $370,720 |
| Interfaith Community Services Inc Escondido, CA | General Purpose | $150,000 |
| Second Harvest of Silicon Valley San Jose, CA | General Purpose | $140,000 |
| American National Red Cross Washington, DC | General Purpose | $125,000 |
| KPBS San Diego, CA | General Purpose | $118,750 |
| California Center for the Arts Escondido Foundation Escondido, CA | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Rady Children's Hospital Foundation - San Diego San Diego, CA | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| California Labrador Retrievers & More Rescue Valley Center, CA | General Purpose | $80,000 |
| California Missions Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | General Purpose | $65,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,833,033 | $1,279,836 | $2,273,502 | $2,099,785 | 20 | $2,229,330 | $1,260,664 | $1,526,174 |
| 2023 | $31,326,010 | $1,242,895 | $2,121,712 | $1,990,565 | 20 | $2,105,856 | $1,227,039 | $1,525,335 |
| 2022 | $30,884,804 | $412,218 | $1,191,895 | $1,039,126 | 14 | $1,174,073 | $394,432 | $1,568,942 |
| 2021 | $33,268,650 | $10,241,305 | $1,284,404 | $809,301 | 12 | $950,781 | $22,326,637 | $1,288,679 |
| 2020 | $23,387,019 | $296,838 | $1,234,509 | $1,083,759 | 15 | — | $276,238 | $945,043 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Linden Root Dickinson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — 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 foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations whose own missions include building a pipeline of underrepresented college graduates, as described by the United Negro College Fund, and sparking children’s love of learning through hands-on play, as described by the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum.
Other supported organizations describe work that includes helping people stabilize and improve their lives (Interfaith Community Services), providing food and improving food access (Second Harvest of Silicon Valley), alleviating suffering in emergencies (the American Red Cross), enriching the community through the arts (California Center for the Arts), fundraising for Rady Children’s Hospital and related institutions, and preserving California historic sites (California Missions Foundation).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $2,099,785. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $62,500. All listed grants were reported for general purpose.
The largest awards included $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund, $370,720 to the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, $150,000 to Interfaith Community Services, $140,000 to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, and $125,000 to the American National Red Cross. Other notable grants included $118,750 to KPBS, $100,000 each to the California Center for the Arts Escondido Foundation and Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation – San Diego, and $80,000 to California Labrador Retrievers & More Rescue.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert W. Sanders as president and director; Kevin R. Sanders as vice president, secretary, and director; Derek A. Sanders as vice president and director; Catherine A. Sanders as director; and John R. Henkel as treasurer and director.
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation is led by Robert W. Sanders, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert W. Sanders
President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Henkel
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $90K (2024)
Catherine A. Sanders
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek A. Sanders
V.p. & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin R. Sanders
V.p., Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $90K, to John R Henkel (Treasurer/Director).
Frequently asked questions about Linden Root Dickinson Foundation
How much does Linden Root Dickinson Foundation give each year?
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation gave $2.1M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 20 grants.
What is Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's typical grant size?
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $62,500, and its average grant was $104,989, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Linden Root Dickinson Foundation that year got $60K on average.
Where does Linden Root Dickinson Foundation give grants?
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation gives mostly in California: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (6 grants), Escondido, CA (4 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Linden Root Dickinson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's largest grantees?
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include United Negro College Fund Inc ($500,000), San Diego Children's Discovery Museum ($370,720) and Interfaith Community Services Inc ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Linden Root Dickinson Foundation?
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation reported $30.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Linden Root Dickinson Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Linden Root Dickinson Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's EIN?
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0440808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Linden Root Dickinson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Linden Root Dickinson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 31, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/linden-root-dickinson-foundation-morg_20f600bd86854152b1677cf65e697578
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330440808_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Linden Root Dickinson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/linden-root-dickinson-foundation-morg_20f600bd86854152b1677cf65e697578},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-31. 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 Linden Root Dickinson Foundation'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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