Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc
The Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Established in 1965, it supports U.S. community-based nonprofit organizations through grants intended to make a significant difference with relatively modest funding.
Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $63,493,091
- +5.1% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $4,781,495
- +129.3% vs 2023
- Qualifying distributions (2024)
- $2,546,167
- +1.2% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $3,404,670
- +1.1% vs 2023
- 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 Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts requests through its application process. Applicants provide organization and contact information, nonprofit-status and prior-request information, summaries of the organization’s purpose and programs and the proposed use of funds, a letter or proposal, the organization’s most recent Form 990, and an itemized program budget when seeking program support. The Foundation also requests a copy of the IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and that the applicant is not a private foundation. Its filing describes the submission materials as a three-page proposal, a 200-word summary, a budget copy, and an IRS determination letter. Requests must be from eligible U.S. organizations; the Foundation does not make grants to individuals. Requests should not exceed $20,000 or one-quarter of the applicant’s average income over the past three years. Applicants may not submit multiple requests in one round or apply in consecutive rounds.
- Review Cycle
- Requests received May 11 through November 10 are considered for the Spring Award Round; requests received November 11 through May 10 are considered for the Fall Award Round. Applicants are advised to submit at least one week before the deadline. The Foundation’s website says requests submitted by November 10, 2026, will be considered for its Spring 2027 round.
- Deadline
- Requests received May 11 through November 10 are considered for the Spring Award Round; requests received November 11…
- Next open deadline
- November 10, 2026 (Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant)
- Contact
Application contact: Mary P Surey President
Mailing address: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
Phone: (202) 337-3300
Website: https://mvdreyfusfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc
Who Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
911 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 911 grants of 911 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation considers applications from organizations based in the United States, including U.S. territories. It does not set geographic preferences within the United States. It may consider U.S.-based organizations whose programming takes place abroad, but not organizations based outside the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 129 of 269 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 41% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. 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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2022) to $3.0M (2021). In 2022 it made 269 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre Washington Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| The News Literacy Project Inc Washington, DC | To provide essential underwriting to keep nlps signature offering, the checkology virtual classroom digital learning platform, free and available to educators and students during the 2022-23 school year. | $25,000 |
| A Wider Circle Kensington, MD | General Program Support | $20,000 |
| Asheville Symphony Society Inc Asheville, NC | General Program Support | $20,000 |
| Beats Rhymes and Life Oakland, CA | Hip Hop Therapy Mobile Studio Bus Program | $20,000 |
| Beaver Creek Wetlands Association Inc Alpha, OH | Wetlands Restoration | $20,000 |
| Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society Berkeley, CA | Paws Safety Net Services and Hope Medical Fund | $20,000 |
| Center for Nonprofit Advancement Washington, DC | Upper Georgia avenue main street covid-19 small business recovery | $20,000 |
| Chase Brexton Health Services Inc Baltimore, MD | Support for Medical Translation Services for Low-Income Populations | $20,000 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Williamsburg, VA | Restoration of the Powder Magazine (Phase One) | $20,000 |
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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 | $63,493,091 | $4,781,495 | $3,404,670 | — | — | $2,546,167 | $3,922,992 | $2,890,945 |
| 2023 | $60,402,786 | $2,085,413 | $3,369,203 | — | — | $2,515,198 | $2,607,424 | $2,829,529 |
| 2022 | $55,973,757 | $2,660,917 | $4,038,138 | $2,428,400 | 269 | $3,081,447 | $1,604,563 | $2,893,909 |
| 2021 | $68,250,920 | $6,150,915 | $4,797,309 | $3,023,300 | 345 | $3,729,836 | $5,181,058 | $3,244,831 |
| 2020 | $64,309,588 | $4,392,162 | $4,195,935 | $2,493,400 | 297 | — | $3,531,546 | $2,829,355 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — 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 says it aims to support organizations and programs for which a relatively small amount of funding might make a large difference. It considers requests for museums and cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training, and other programs for youth, seniors, and people with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs. It does not set annual funding priorities and may support operating costs as well as specific projects or activities.
Examples of 2022 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The News Literacy Project described its mission as advancing news literacy across American society. A Wider Circle said it works to advance equity in the Greater Washington, DC region through exchanges of goods, skills, and connections and advocacy addressing poverty. The Asheville Symphony Society said it performs and promotes symphonic music for the benefit, enjoyment, and education of people in Western North Carolina. Reef Check Foundation described its work as leading citizen scientists to promote stewardship of sustainable reef communities worldwide.
Grantmaking
The Foundation reports typical awards of $1,000 to $20,000. In 2022, its filing data records $2,428,400 in grants across 269 grants. The 2023 and 2024 filing data each records a grant count of 0.
Among the 2022 grants listed were $25,000 to The News Literacy Project Inc.; $20,000 each to A Wider Circle Inc., Center for Nonprofit Advancement, William & Mary Foundation, Asheville Symphony Society Inc., Beats Rhymes and Life, Sibley Memorial Hospital Foundation, and Reef Check Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary P. Surrey as President, Elizabeth Brown as Vice President, Sara S. Surrey as Secretary/Treasurer, and John H. Hager as Chief Operating Officer.
Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc is led by Mary P. Surrey, President on every filing since 2020; all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary P. Surrey
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$140K (2020) → $165K (2024)
Elizabeth Brown
Vice President
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $57K (2024)
John H. Hager
COO
Director & COO → Chief Operating Officer, 2022
Chief Operating Officer → COO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $126K (2024)
Sara S. Surrey
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $57K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Winifred R. Portenoy (2020–2021) — Chairman
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 $165K, to Mary P Surrey (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc
How large is Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc?
Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc reported $63.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (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 Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation says it aims to support organizations and programs for which a relatively small amount of funding might make a large difference. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc?
The Foundation accepts requests through its application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation considers applications from organizations based in the United States, including U.S. territories. It does not set geographic preferences within the United States. It may consider U.S.-based organizations whose programming takes place abroad, but not organizations based outside the United States.
What is Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc's EIN?
Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1687573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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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