The Black Dog Foundation
The Black Dog Foundation is a private foundation based in The Plains, Virginia. It made 20 grants totaling $124,250 in filing year 2025; its 2024 filing states that it conducts no direct charitable activities.
The Black Dog Foundation at a glance
In short: The Black Dog Foundation gave $124K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state District of Columbia. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $124,250
- -12.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,213
- -16.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,250
- Total assets
- $1,720,182
- +1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (33% 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 The Black Dog Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box W, The Plains, VA 20198
Phone: (202) 361-6721
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Black Dog Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Doctors Without Borders (Medicnes Sans Frontiers) ($19K). Together the top 10 received $96K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 98 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in several states and the District of Columbia: DC accounted for 33%, Virginia 30%, Maryland 15%, Massachusetts 6%, and an unspecified state 7%. These figures describe the locations of grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Black Dog Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 20 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $101K (2019) to $152K (2021). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $124K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors Without Borders (Medicnes Sans Frontiers) Hagerstown, MD | General Use | $19,250 |
| World Resources Institute Washington, DC | General Use | $13,000 |
| Nature Conservancy of Virginia Arlington, VA | General Use | $12,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | General Use | $10,000 |
| Halo Trust | General Use | $9,000 |
| Partners in Health Boston, MA | General Use | $7,500 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Use | $7,000 |
| Wamu Washington, DC | General Use | $6,500 |
| ACLU of Virginia Richmond, VA | General Use | $6,000 |
| NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund New York, NY | General Use | $5,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Black Dog Foundation?
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 | $1,720,182 | $176,810 | $147,443 | $124,250 | 20 | $126,770 | $155,246 | $103,349 |
| 2024 | $1,690,815 | $93,278 | $161,360 | $141,500 | 19 | $141,500 | $72,778 | $113,082 |
| 2023 | $1,758,897 | $118,990 | $125,564 | $107,000 | 17 | $109,467 | $76,949 | $105,119 |
| 2022 | $1,765,471 | $324,561 | $145,117 | $126,000 | 20 | $128,170 | $104,557 | $120,718 |
| 2021 | $1,584,527 | $263,137 | $166,920 | $152,000 | 22 | — | $48,157 | $107,024 |
| 2019 | $1,534,407 | $108,810 | $120,149 | $101,000 | 19 | — | $94,182 | $91,776 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Black Dog Foundation reported a distributable amount of $103K 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 include support for organizations working in areas such as humanitarian response, environmental conservation, reproductive decision-making, legal and social services, health care, and literacy. For example, World Central Kitchen says it provides meals during humanitarian, climate, and community crises; the Nature Conservancy of Virginia received a grant for general use. These describe the grantees’ work, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $124,250. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $19,250, with a median of $5,250. All listed purposes for the largest grants were “general use.”
Among the largest 2025 grants were $19,250 to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), $13,000 to World Resources Institute, $12,000 to Nature Conservancy of Virginia, $10,000 to Environmental Defense Fund, $9,000 to HALO Trust, and $7,500 to Partners in Health. Other recipients included World Central Kitchen ($7,000), WAMU ($6,500), ACLU of Virginia ($6,000), and NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund ($5,500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Timothy P Dunn, Ellen R Stofan, Ryan Dunn, Emily C Dunn, and Sarah CG Dunn as trustees.
The Black Dog Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen R. Stofan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily C. Dunn
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Dunn
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy P. Dunn
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Cg Dunn
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Black Dog Foundation
How much does The Black Dog Foundation give each year?
The Black Dog Foundation gave $124K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $142K across 19 grants.
What is The Black Dog Foundation's typical grant size?
The Black Dog Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,250, and its average grant was $6,213, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Black Dog Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Black Dog Foundation give grants?
The Black Dog Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (30%) and Maryland (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants) and Warrenton, VA (3 grants).
Does The Black Dog Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Black Dog Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Black Dog Foundation's largest grantees?
The Black Dog Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Doctors Without Borders (Medicnes Sans Frontiers) ($19,250), World Resources Institute ($13,000) and Nature Conservancy of Virginia ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Black Dog Foundation?
The Black Dog Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $127K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $103K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Black Dog Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as humanitarian response, environmental conservation, reproductive decision-making, legal and social services, health care, and literacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Black Dog Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Black Dog Foundation's EIN?
The Black Dog Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3721096. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Black Dog 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Black Dog Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Black Dog Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
Gorlitz Foundation Ltd
Washington, DC
The Gorlitz Foundation supports a broad range of charitable work, including reproductive health, the environment, civil rights, legal aid, health, disaster relief, and education. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $7,000, with a median of $2,000, and went to organizations across the U.S.; the foundation states there are no geographic restrictions. It accepts requests by letter, with no deadline stated.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
75
Total Given
$154K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Lester Poretsky Family Foundation Inc
Potomac, MD
The Lester Poretsky Family Foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas including humanitarian aid, food assistance, environmental protection, military-family support, and education. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $8,000, with a median of $1,000, and primarily went to organizations in the District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$538K
Grants
160
Total Given
$270K
Bernard and Anne Spitzer
New York, NY
The Bernard and Anne Spitzer Foundation funds a broad range of charitable work, including environmental protection, democracy, education, health, and the arts, with 2024 grants totaling $55.6 million and a median award of $25,000. Its giving is concentrated in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, and New York. The filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to contact fund managers.
Assets
$326.7M
Grants
213
Total Given
$55.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Black Dog Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-black-dog-foundation-morg_3ad4e3ec0b554fe7af879fceff1ecfcc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043721096_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Black Dog Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-black-dog-foundation-morg_3ad4e3ec0b554fe7af879fceff1ecfcc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 The Black Dog 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.
The Black Dog Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?