Marion and Richard Graham Foundation
The Marion and Richard Graham Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Founded in 2022, it supports animal-welfare organizations with the stated goal of preventing cruelty to animals and enhancing their lives.
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation at a glance
In short: Marion and Richard Graham Foundation gave $1.2M across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), top state California. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,185,000
- +49.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 54
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,944
- +33.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $38,347,165
- +4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (21 of 54, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Marion and Richard Graham Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation offers applications only to preselected invitees and does not accept unsolicited requests. It requires eligible organizations to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on animal welfare, have an operating budget under $1.5 million, and provide a recent IRS Form 990. Newly formed organizations are ineligible because they must provide a recent Form 990.
- Contact
Mailing address: 707 Se Third Avenue 400, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316-1147
Phone: (619) 736-4493
Website: https://the-graham-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marion and Richard Graham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Diety Animal Rescue & Foundation ($40K). Together the top 10 received $335K.
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 188 grants of 189 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, California received 43% of grant dollars. North Carolina received 7%, while Illinois, New York, and Washington each received 5%. The listed 2025 grants also included recipients in Missouri and Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Marion and Richard Graham Foundation open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 54 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 15% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 356% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $260K (2022) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diety Animal Rescue & Foundation Woodland Hills, CA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $40,000 |
| Road Dogs & Rescue Lomita, CA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $40,000 |
| Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary Hermitage, MO | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $40,000 |
| Animal Wonders Inc Potomac, MT | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $35,000 |
| California Bully Rescue Oakdale, CA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $30,000 |
| Dog Gone Seattle Bothell, WA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $30,000 |
| Downtown Dog Rescue South Gate, CA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $30,000 |
| Forgotten Dog Rescue Seattle, WA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $30,000 |
| Foxy and the Hounds Woodland Hills, CA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $30,000 |
| Grand-Paws Senior Sanctuary Santa Clarita, CA | To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts | $30,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,347,165 | $3,459,710 | $1,645,597 | $1,185,000 | 54 | $1,475,000 | $1,146,147 | $1,496,019 |
| 2024 | $36,628,058 | $1,777,588 | $1,220,881 | $791,000 | 48 | $1,066,000 | $1,582,994 | $1,076,273 |
| 2023 | $36,071,351 | $1,019,013 | $1,032,828 | $584,100 | 60 | $864,887 | $731,880 | $56,405 |
| 2022 | $35,486,189 | $35,910,575 | $424,386 | $260,081 | 27 | $529,580 | $159,507 | $118,932 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marion and Richard Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated goal is to prevent cruelty to animals and enhance their lives. Its website says it currently has no restrictions on animal species and seeks to support small nonprofits that already have infrastructure in place.
Allowable programs include adoption, foster care, hospice or home care, efforts to keep pets in their homes, community outreach and education, food pantries, and low-cost medical care. Allowable expenses include medical and preventive care, equipment, transportation and relocation due to overcrowding, promotion, food, and emergency assistance. Costs must be incurred and paid during the one-year grant period.
Examples of grantee missions illustrate the range of organizations it has supported. Road Dogs & Rescue says it rescues and rehabilitates medical bulldogs and puppies with birth defects. Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary describes its work as providing lifetime shelter, medical care, and care for senior dogs. Animal Wonders says it rescues displaced wild animals and provides public education. Muddy Paws Rescue says it works to end unnecessary euthanasia of companion dogs through education and direct lifesaving.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 54 grants totaling $1,185,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $40,000, with a median of $20,000. The listed grants were for animal-rescue efforts.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $40,000 each to Diety Animal Rescue & Foundation, Road Dogs & Rescue, and Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary; $35,000 to Animal Wonders; and $30,000 each to Dog Gone Seattle, Downtown Dog Rescue, Forgotten Dog Rescue, Foxy and the Hounds, Grand-Paws Senior Sanctuary, Mission Compassion Paw, and Muddy Paws Rescue.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sandra D. Allen, Melissa C. Disque, and Philip E. Disque as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Richard and Marion Graham as founders, Melissa Disque as Manager of Charitable Services and Grants, Sandra Allen as Foundation Manager, and Philip Disque as Finance Manager.
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa C. Disque
Trustee
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip E. Disque
Trustee
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra D. Allen
Trustee
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Marion and Richard Graham Foundation
How much does Marion and Richard Graham Foundation give each year?
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation gave $1.2M across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $791K across 48 grants.
What is Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's typical grant size?
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $21,944, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Marion and Richard Graham Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Marion and Richard Graham Foundation give grants?
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's top state is California, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (7%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Woodland Hills, CA (2 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants), Waynesville, NC (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Marion and Richard Graham Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 54 grants with a stated purpose on Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Fund Animal Rescue Efforts" (54 grants).
Who are Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's largest grantees?
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Diety Animal Rescue & Foundation ($40,000), Road Dogs & Rescue ($40,000) and Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Marion and Richard Graham Foundation?
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation reported $38.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Marion and Richard Graham Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated goal is to prevent cruelty to animals and enhance their lives. Its website says it currently has no restrictions on animal species and seeks to support small nonprofits that already have infrastructure in place. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marion and Richard Graham Foundation?
The foundation offers applications only to preselected invitees and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's EIN?
Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-1181893. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Does Marion and Richard Graham 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work Marion and Richard Graham Foundation funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Marion and Richard Graham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Marion and Richard Graham Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/marion-and-richard-graham-foundation-morg_e72666c08b8a4ed787c33547c0ecf83a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_881181893_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Marion and Richard Graham Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/marion-and-richard-graham-foundation-morg_e72666c08b8a4ed787c33547c0ecf83a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Marion and Richard Graham 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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