Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation
The Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation is a private foundation based in Teaneck, New Jersey. It reported 18 grants totaling $51,600 in 2025, supporting charitable organizations including a natural history museum, a children’s wish-granting organization, and animal and wildlife organizations.
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation at a glance
In short: Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation gave $52K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state New York. 72% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $51,600
- +48.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,867
- -25.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,250
- Total assets
- $804,258
- +2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 72% first-time grantees (13 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (32% 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 Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 265 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: (201) 692-9411
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Museum of Natural History ($15K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 79 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The reported shares of grant dollars were 32% each for New York and New Jersey, 19% for the District of Columbia, and 5% each for Virginia and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation open to new grantees?
72%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 18 grantees (72%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 11% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $23K (2023) to $52K (2022). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $52K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Elle Foundation Bridgewater, NJ | Charitable | $7,500 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Washington, DC | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Hackensack Highschool Hackensack, NJ | Charitable | $4,000 |
| Humane World for Animals Washington, DC | Charitable | $2,500 |
| National Wildlife Federation Reston, VA | Charitable | $2,500 |
| World Wildlife Fund Washington, DC | Charitable | $2,500 |
| St Jude's Childrens Hospital Memphis, TN | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Shriners Children's Hospital Doylestown, PA | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Nourish NJ Dover, NJ | Charitable | $2,000 |
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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 | $804,258 | $83,033 | $66,578 | $51,600 | 18 | $51,600 | $68,055 | $48,308 |
| 2024 | $787,924 | $70,009 | $48,380 | $34,807 | 9 | $34,807 | $16,436 | $45,761 |
| 2023 | $766,295 | $-33,647 | $33,765 | $22,775 | 7 | $22,775 | $19,232 | $41,198 |
| 2022 | $833,707 | $32,897 | $63,560 | $52,255 | 21 | $52,255 | $16,271 | $43,968 |
| 2021 | $865,053 | $42,995 | $60,908 | $46,440 | 24 | $46,440 | $28,840 | $47,575 |
| 2020 | $880,587 | $34,608 | $59,470 | $48,406 | 28 | — | $23,088 | $45,285 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied fields. For example, the American Museum of Natural History describes its mission as sharing knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through scientific research and education. The ELLE Foundation says it grants final wishes for children battling a recurrence of cancer. Humane World for Animals says it tackles the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering, while the World Wildlife Fund describes its mission as conserving nature and reducing threats to life on Earth.
Other 2025 recipients included the New York Botanical Garden, which describes itself as a plant museum and scientific research center, and Homeless Solutions, which says it helps people experiencing or at risk of homelessness attain housing stability.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $51,600. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $15,000, with a median grant of $2,250.
Among the largest reported grants were $15,000 to the American Museum of Natural History, $7,500 to the ELLE Foundation, $5,000 to the Wildlife Conservation Society, and $4,000 to Hackensack Highschool. Other grants included $2,500 each to Humane World for Animals, the National Wildlife Federation, the World Wildlife Fund, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Frank M. Durso was listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation is led by Frank M. Durso, Trustee on every filing since 2024 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frank M. Durso
Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Christopher Durso (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation
How much does Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation give each year?
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation gave $52K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 9 grants.
What is Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's typical grant size?
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,250, and its average grant was $2,867, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation give grants?
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's top state is New York, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Jersey (32%) and District of Columbia (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (18 grants).
Who are Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's largest grantees?
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Museum of Natural History ($15,000), Elle Foundation ($7,500) and Wildlife Conservation Society ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation?
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation reported $804K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $52K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's EIN?
Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6662103. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ralph and Laura Durso 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ralph-and-laura-durso-foundation-morg_1b79e557612342dfabbddba8963b3001
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226662103_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ralph and Laura Durso Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ralph-and-laura-durso-foundation-morg_1b79e557612342dfabbddba8963b3001},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Ralph and Laura Durso 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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