The Rumsfeld Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation established in 2007 by Donald and Joyce Rumsfeld. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the foundation encourages leadership, public service, and free political and economic systems at home and abroad. The foundation operates as a corporate foundation with a dedicated staff and board.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$420K
-72.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$604K
+0.4% YoY
Grant Count
28
-17.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+21.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rumsfeld Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Rumsfeld Foundation encourages leadership, public service and free political and economic systems at home and abroad. Across its focus areas, the foundation is committed to providing opportunities for rising leaders, honoring service to nation, and promoting liberty.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Public Service: Supporting rising leaders and those who serve the nation
- Greater Central Asia: Supporting rising leaders and the growth of free systems in Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Mongolia
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two primary fellowship programs:
Grant Range
$4,500
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates with a dual geographic focus:
- Domestic: United States, with emphasis on public service leadership
- International: Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Mongolia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $325,692
- Total Expenses: $1,619,286
- Total Assets: $1,515,771
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation's assets have fluctuated over time. A predecessor entity, the D.H.R. Foundation, had assets of $6.2 million at the end of 1998.
Additional Revenue Sources: Profits from Donald Rumsfeld's book sales contribute to the foundation. Profits from "Known and Unknown" and the Churchill Solitaire app have contributed over $1 million to military charities supported by the foundation. Ongoing profits from "When the Center Held" are donated to support the Graduate Fellowship Program.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $419,598 | $1,515,771 | $2,809,399 |
| Revenue | $464,988 | $325,692 | $1,149,672 |
| Expenses | $1,561,147 | $1,619,286 | $1,854,429 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,320,828 | $1,394,461 | $1,559,639 |
| Net Investment Income | $123,706 | — | $1,681,961 |
| Distributable Amount | $56,034 | $116,183 | $166,616 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY Council ($355,085), Camca Group Inc ($127,000), Heath Dowers ($10,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY Council WAshington, DC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $355,085 |
| The Institute of World Politics WASHINGTON, DC | Education tuition | $10,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University BALTIMORE, MD | Education tuition | $10,000 |
| Georgetown University WASHINGTON, DC | Education tuition | $5,536 |
| Texas A&M University AUSTIN, TX | Education tuition | $1,433 |
| Alexa Watson olorado Springs, CO | EDUCATION STIPEND | $500 |
| Heath Dowers Grapevine, TX | EDUCATION STIPEND | $10,500 |
| Austin Hillebrandt College Station, TX | EDUCATION STIPEND | $500 |
| Cole Howerton Alexandria, VA | EDUCATION STIPEND | $500 |
| Gracia Luo Allen, TX | EDUCATION STIPEND | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Donald Rumsfeld
- Joyce Rumsfeld
Board:
- Victoria Clarke, President
- Steve Cambone, Vice President & Treasurer
- Lawrence Di Rita, Secretary
- Edward G. Biester, Jr., Director
Staff:
- Sarah Tonucci, Executive Director
- Bridget Sedlacek, Director of Programs
- Evelyn Heck, Program Manager
- Thomas O Mortimer, Program Assistant
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Di Rita | SECRETARY | — | — |
| EDWARD G BIESTER JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STEPHEN A CAMBONE | VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER | — | — |
| VICTORIA CLARKE | PRESIDENT | — | $25,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
2025 Graduate Fellows have been announced
2025 Graduate Fellows Announced \xBB Blog \xBB - Rumsfeld FoundationThe foundation hosts an annual Graduate Fellowship Conference (13th annual conference noted in recent activity)
2025 Graduate Fellows Announced \xBB Blog \xBB - Rumsfeld FoundationKiley Pittman was awarded a Rumsfeld Graduate Fellowship
2025 Graduate Fellows Announced \xBB Blog \xBB - Rumsfeld FoundationThe foundation maintains year-round programming and events to support fellowship alumni networks
Rumsfeld Foundation Hosts 13th Annual Graduate Fellowship ...The foundation continues active grantmaking with recent grants to educational institutions and policy organizations
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rumsfeld Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Rumsfeld Foundation encourages leadership, public service and free political and economic systems at home and abroad. Across its focus areas, the foundation is committed to providing opportunities for rising leaders, honoring service to nation, and promoting liberty. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Public Service:** Supporting rising leaders and those who serve the nation • **Greater Central Asia:** Supporting rising leaders and the growth of free systems in Central Asia, the Cauc…
How do I apply for a grant from Rumsfeld Foundation?
The foundation operates two primary fellowship programs: **Graduate Fellowship Program:** Provides financial assistance to exceptional graduate-level scholars with demonstrated leadership and moral character who aspire to careers in public service. The program includes year-round programming designed to connect alumni and support professional development. **Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program (CAMCA):** Brings exceptional rising leaders from Central Asia, Mongolia, the Caucasus, and Afghan…
Where does Rumsfeld Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates with a dual geographic focus: • **Domestic:** United States, with emphasis on public service leadership • **International:** Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Mongolia
What size grants does Rumsfeld Foundation award?
In 2024, Rumsfeld Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $604K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rumsfeld Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rumsfeld Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rumsfeld Foundation's EIN?
Rumsfeld Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0580915. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rumsfeld Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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