The DAU Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Cambridge, MA EIN: 46-0673275

The Dau Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 grants included education, arts, historical preservation, religious, and health-care purposes.

The DAU Family Foundation at a glance

In short: The DAU Family Foundation gave $90K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in New York. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$89,750
-45.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
27
-10.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$3,324
-39.1% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$1,292,603
-2.2% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
11% first-time grantees (3 of 27, 2024)
Primary geography
New York (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
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 The DAU Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing lists Barbara E Dau as the contact, says there are no restrictions on format, and states there are no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Barbara E Dau
Mailing address: 845 Gaylord Street, Denver, CO 80206
Phone: (617) 852-1454

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The DAU Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Piping Rock Scholarship Fund Inc: $25KPiping Rock Scholarship FundInc$25KThe Frick Collection: $10KThe Frick Collection$10KBayView Association of United Methodist: $7KBayView Association of UnitedMethodist$7KThe Shipley School: $6KThe Shipley School$6KGreen Vale School: $5KGreen Vale School$5KNew York Yacht Club Foundation: $5KNew York Yacht Club Foundation$5KNew York City Center: $5KNew York City Center$5KPlanting Fields Foundation: $3KPlanting Fields Foundation$3KBreak Through New York: $3KBreak Through New York$3KWings for Kids: $3KWings for Kids$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was Piping Rock Scholarship Fund Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $70K.

Grant Size Distribution

136 grants across all recorded years

134<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 134 grants of 136 (99%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, recipients in New York received 66% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Michigan (10%), Pennsylvania (8%), Massachusetts (3%), and South Carolina (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkPetoskeyHarbor SpringsBryn MawrChicagoSalt Lake CityTrappeCambridgeFarmingtonGrotonHanoverHoustonNewportOld BrookvilleOyster BayPottstownCold Spring HarborEvanstonTiburonConcord

Is The DAU Family Foundation open to new grantees?

11%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 27 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K30 grants2020 21 grants2021 28 grants2022 30 grants2023 27 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2024) to $164K (2023). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $90K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Piping Rock Scholarship Fund Inc Locust Valley, NYEducational$25,000
The Frick Collection New york, NYEducational/Arts$10,000
BayView Association of United Methodist Petoskey, MIEducational/Religious$6,500
The Shipley School Bryn Mawr, PAEducational Purposes$5,500
Green Vale School Old Brookville, NYEducational Purposes$5,000
New York Yacht Club Foundation New york, NYHistorical Preservation$5,000
New York City Center New York, NYEducational/Arts$5,000
Planting Fields Foundation Oyster Bay, NYEducational/Preservational Purposes$2,500
Break Through New York New York, NYEducational Purposes$2,500
Wings for Kids Charleston, SCAcademic Support,Enrichment Activities, Social Emotional Learning$2,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment Income
2024$1,292,603$158,248$127,841$89,75027$89,750$135,157
2023$1,321,291$122,227$200,674$163,75030$163,750$100,302
2022$1,399,738$24,342$154,277$111,35028$111,350$6,987
2021$1,524,209$155,495$184,833$141,74721$141,747$127,409
2020$1,553,547$9,360$144,643$106,23530—$20,889

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for educational organizations and programs, arts, historical preservation, religious purposes, and health-care services. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: the Frick Collection operates an art museum and library for public enjoyment and the study of fine arts; New York City Center presents dance and musical theater and aims to make the arts accessible; and Shipley School describes itself as a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school focused on educational excellence.

The Piping Rock Scholarship Fund, which received a grant, says its program provides scholarships to eligible employees and family members pursuing education, and may also provide hardship assistance. This describes the grantee’s program, not an application program offered by the foundation.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $89,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $25,000, with a median of $2,000. Notable awards included $25,000 to Piping Rock Scholarship Fund, $10,000 to The Frick Collection, $6,500 to BayView Association of United Methodist, $5,500 to The Shipley School, and $5,000 each to Green Vale School, New York Yacht Club Foundation, and New York City Center.

The foundation made 30 grants totaling $163,750 in 2023 and 28 grants totaling $111,350 in 2022.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Barbara E Dau as President, Ann Dau Conway as Vice President, and Melinda Kassen Esq as Secretary.

The DAU Family Foundation is led by Barbara E. Dau, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Barbara E. Dau

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    $5K (2020) → $5K (2024)

  • Ann Dau Conway

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $5K (2020) → $5K (2024)

  • Melinda Kassen Esq.

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $5K (2020) → $5K (2024)

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

Barbara E DAU — President: $5KBarbara E DAUPresident$5KAnn DAU Conway — Vice President: $5KAnn DAU ConwayVice President$5KMelinda Kassen ESQ — Secretary: $5KMelinda Kassen ESQSecretary$5K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Barbara E DAU (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The DAU Family Foundation

How much does The DAU Family Foundation give each year?

The DAU Family Foundation gave $90K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $164K across 30 grants.

What is The DAU Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The DAU Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,324, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The DAU Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.

Where does The DAU Family Foundation give grants?

The DAU Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (10%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Petoskey, MI (3 grants) and Harbor Springs, MI (2 grants).

Does The DAU Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on The DAU Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Purposes" (10 grants), "Educational/Arts" (4 grants) and "Educational" (3 grants).

Who are The DAU Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The DAU Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Piping Rock Scholarship Fund Inc ($25,000), The Frick Collection ($10,000) and BayView Association of United Methodist ($6,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The DAU Family Foundation?

The DAU Family Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $158K.

What does The DAU Family Foundation fund?

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for educational organizations and programs, arts, historical preservation, religious purposes, and health-care services. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The DAU Family Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it 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 The DAU Family Foundation's EIN?

The DAU Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0673275. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The DAU Family 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

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The DAU Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dau-family-foundation-morg_363c23ef7a6b45bdb30cd5239c6db48b

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460673275_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The DAU Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dau-family-foundation-morg_363c23ef7a6b45bdb30cd5239c6db48b},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 DAU Family 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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