Old Dominion University Research is a public charity based in Norfolk, Virginia. It serves as the administrative and fiscal agent for sponsored research, training grants, and other sponsored programs for Old Dominion University, a Commonwealth of Virginia institution of higher education.
Key facts about Old Dominion University Research Foundation
In short: Old Dominion University Research Foundation gave $13.5M across 126 grants in 2025 (avg $107K), top state Virginia. 57% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 54-6068198
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $13,542,232
- Grants made (2025)
- 126
- Average grant
- $107,478
- Median grant
- $32,323
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (69 of 120, 2025)
- Total assets
- $57,258,519
- Primary geography
- Virginia (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$57.3M
+50.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.5M
+101.1% YoY
Grant Count
126
+77.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$107K
+13.3% YoY
Is Old Dominion University Research Foundation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 69 of 120 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $123K; repeat grants $99K. How we count
Medians: $24K first-time, $50K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to serve as the administrative and fiscal agent for sponsored research, training grants, and other sponsored programs for Old Dominion University.
Its 2025 grants include research subcontracts and graduate student and participant support. Recipients include universities, research organizations, and businesses. For example, Norfolk State University received $385,071; its stated mission is to promote applied research and technological innovation that contribute to the Hampton Roads region and Virginia. Tidewater Community College received $85,596; its supporting organization says it provides resources for the college and educational loans, scholarships, or grants to its students. These are the recipient organizations’ stated missions, not the funder’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 126 grants totaling $13,542,232. Grant amounts ranged from $5,457 to $2,154,634, with a median of $32,322.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 49% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 18% to recipients in Florida. Smaller reported shares went to Georgia (5%), Illinois (3%), and California (3%). These figures describe recipient locations for that filing year.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 126 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.9M (2019) to $13.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 126 grants totaling $13.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wilbur Engineering Consultants LLC ($2.2M). Together the top 10 received $7.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($268,149), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
382 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 243 grants of 382 (64%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Engineering Consultants LLC Port Orange, FL | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $2,154,634 |
| Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA | Graduate Student and Participant Support from Sponsored Programs. | $1,735,044 |
| Evms Academic Physicians & Surgeons Health Services Foundati Norfolk, VA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $1,242,480 |
| Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $385,071 |
| University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $373,823 |
| Ruffa's Consulting Solution LLC Evansville, IN | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $350,000 |
| Tympanogen Inc Richmond, VA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $326,232 |
| UGA Research Foundation Inc Athens, GA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $319,729 |
| Salter's Creek Consulting Inc Hampton, VA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $286,743 |
| Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA | Subcontract for Sponsored Research Classified as Program Services. | $266,709 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,258,519 | $97,665,864 | $95,485,145 | $13,542,232 |
| 2024 | $38,182,820 | $63,306,336 | $64,261,601 | $6,732,443 |
| 2023 | $39,975,576 | $62,362,675 | $63,173,789 | $7,354,827 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $57,258,519 | $38,182,820 | $39,975,576 |
| Revenue | $97,665,864 | $63,306,336 | $62,362,675 |
| Expenses | $95,485,145 | $64,261,601 | $63,173,789 |
| Net Investment Income | $480,189 | $455,527 | $237,903 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 7, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David K. Edwards as president; Karen Dzupinka as vice president/treasurer; and Betsy Reilly as secretary. Trustees listed are Brian Hemphill, Alfred Abuhamad, Chad Reed, Kenneth Fridley, Brian Payne, and James Black Jr. Larry Kittelberger is also listed as treasurer.
Old Dominion University Research Foundation is led by David K. Edwards, President on every filing since 2019; 5 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David K. Edwards
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Robinson
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremiah Cronin
Program Director
Program Manager → Research Associate, 2022
Research Associate → Program Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$132K (2019) → $160K (2025)
Paul Olsen
Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$165K (2025)
James Black Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Funari
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Donovan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Roomsburg
Trustee
Trustee → Treasurer, 2020
Treasurer → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hemphill
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Reed
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Sturgis
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Fridley
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert King
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Walker
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alfred Abuhamad
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Payne
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Flanagan
Field Operations
Director of Field Operations → Field Operations, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$142K (2019) → $206K (2025)
Robert A. Baker
Research Associate
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$172K (2021) → $184K (2025)
Ulf Jinnestrand
Research Associate
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$178K (2025)
Betsy Reilly
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Kittelberger
Treasurer
Vice President → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Dzupinka
Vice President & Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Augustine Agho (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Sandy (2019–2024) — Director of Field Program
- Former: Scott E. Singor (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Barbara Geraghty (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Hope Fowler (2023–2024) — Director of Human Resource
- Former: Casey Golliher (2024) — Director of Finance
- Former: Dawn L. Merkle (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Gail Dodge (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Morris Foster (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Steve Kauder (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Tracy Gregorio (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Weatherly (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Brian Long (2021–2022) — Research Associate
- Former: John Nunnery (2021–2022) — Acting Executive Director
- Former: Todd Johnson (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Francis Badavi (2019–2021) — Research Associate
- Former: Gregory Dubois (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: John Broderick (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Julian Facenda (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Charles T. Southall (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Gloria Dana (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mark A. Nelson (2019–2020) — Trustee & Treasurer
- Former: Patricia Pulliam (2020) — Director of Field Program
- Former: Paritica Pulliam (2019) — Director of Field Program
- Former: Stephanie Adams (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $206K, to Sheila Flanagan (Field Operations). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 4111 Monarch Way 204, Norfolk, VA 23508
Phone: (757) 683-4293
Website: https://odu.edu
Frequently asked questions about Old Dominion University Research Foundation
How much does Old Dominion University Research Foundation give each year?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation gave $13.5M across 126 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.7M across 71 grants.
What is Old Dominion University Research Foundation's typical grant size?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $32,323, and its average grant was $107,478, across 126 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Old Dominion University Research Foundation that year got $123K on average.
Where does Old Dominion University Research Foundation give grants?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation's top state is Virginia, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest state was Florida (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, VA (11 grants), Hampton, VA (6 grants), Richmond, VA (4 grants) and Chicago, IL (4 grants).
Does Old Dominion University Research Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 126 grants with a stated purpose on Old Dominion University Research Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Old Dominion University Research Foundation's largest grantees?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Wilbur Engineering Consultants LLC ($2,154,634), Old Dominion University ($1,735,044) and Evms Academic Physicians & Surgeons Health Services Foundati ($1,242,480), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 7 grants to individuals ($268,149), which are not listed by name. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Old Dominion University Research Foundation?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation reported $57.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $97.7M.
What does Old Dominion University Research Foundation fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to serve as the administrative and fiscal agent for sponsored research, training grants, and other sponsored programs for Old Dominion University. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Old Dominion University Research Foundation?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check odu.edu for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Old Dominion University Research Foundation's EIN?
Old Dominion University Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6068198. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Old Dominion University Research Foundation by hand.
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