The Dean Witter Foundation
The Dean Witter Foundation is a private foundation based in San Rafael, California, incorporated in 1952 and endowed by Dean Witter, founder of the Witter Brokerage House. The foundation makes grants to launch and expand innovative conservation and K-12 education programs across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.2M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$301K
+0.8% YoY
Grant Count
13
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+8.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dean Witter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $426K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations working in two primary areas:
Conservation Priorities:
- Conserve, restore, and revitalize natural landscapes
- Improve stewardship of water resources
- Inspire young people to get outdoors and connect with the environment
- Support specific wildlife conservation projects in Northern California
Education Priorities:
- Launch and expand innovative K-12 public education initiatives
- Improve and extend environmental education
- Stimulate learning opportunities
Grantmaking
The foundation made 13 grants in fiscal year 2024, with total giving of $300,500. Recent grantees include SR3 Sealife Response Rehabilitation and Research ($30,000), The Thacher School ($30,000), and NatureBridge ($30,000).
Grant Range
$25,000
Average Grant
amount: $21,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- California
- Washington
- Colorado
These three states account for approximately 96% of all grants made by the foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,238,188
- Total Giving: $300,500
- Annual Income: $2.3M
- Total Revenues: $365,457
- Total Expenses: $404,861
Historical Context: Total assets have decreased from $17.7M in 2011 to $7.2M in 2022, with annual giving fluctuating from $315,000 in 2020 to $678,000 in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,238,188 | $7,277,592 | $7,485,214 |
| Revenue | $365,457 | $185,971 | $1,085,854 |
| Expenses | $404,861 | $393,593 | $476,423 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $340,684 | $333,514 | $379,763 |
| Net Investment Income | $301,280 | $125,892 | $1,019,194 |
| Distributable Amount | $426,279 | $404,991 | $438,773 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bellevue Schools Foundation ($30,000), Naturebridge ($30,000), Sealife Response Rehabilitation & Research ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION BELLEVUE, WA | FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPANSION PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| CAL WOOD JAMESTOWN, CO | FOR THE LATINO FAMILY CAMP | $20,000 |
| EAT HAPPY NOW YARROW POINT, WA | FOR THE FOOD INSECURITY PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| FRIENDS OF KEXP SEATTLE, WA | FOR THE YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| HIVE (GRANT PAYABLE TO FISCAL AGENT OPEN COLLECTIVE FOUNDATION) BOULDER, CO | TO PROTOTYPE AN ONLINE MAP OF THE BOULDER COUNTY CLIMATE JUSTICE LANDSCAPE | $10,000 |
| NATUREBRIDGE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT NATUREBRIDGE'S WEST COAST CAMPUSES (MATCHING) | $30,000 |
| IN HARMONY FARM EARLHAM, IA | FOR THE EDUCATION HUB | $25,000 |
| PATHFINDER RANCH MOUNTAIN CENTER, CA | FOR THE FAMILY OUTDOOR EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING PROGRAM | $5,500 |
| PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER SEATTLE, WA | FOR THE DISCOVERY CORPS PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | FOR LEARNING LANDSCAPES PROGRAM | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Allison Witter Frey – President
- Dean Witter III – CFO/Treasurer & Director
- Brooks Witter – Secretary & Director
- Malcolm G Witter – Director
- Kenneth J. Blum – Consultant
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEAN WITTER III | CFO & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ALLISON WITTER FREY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| BROOKS WITTER | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MALCOLM G WITTER | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: The Dean Witter Foundation c/o Kramer, Blum and Associates P.O. Box 6106 San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (415) 981-2966
Email: admin@deanwitterfoundation.org
Website: www.deanwitterfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Dean Witter Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations working in two primary areas: **Conservation Priorities:** • Conserve, restore, and revitalize natural landscapes • Improve stewardship of water resources • Inspire young people to get outdoors and connect with the environment • Support specific wildlife conservation projects in Northern California **Education Priorities:** • Launch and expand innovative K-12 public education initiatives • Improve and extend environmental education • Stimulate learning oppo…
How do I apply for a grant from The Dean Witter Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $3,000 to $50,000 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Average grant amount: $21,000 **Recent Activity:** The foundation made 13 grants in fiscal year 2024, with total giving of $300,500. Recent grantees include SR3 Sealife Response Rehabilitation and Research ($30,000), The Thacher School ($30,000), and NatureBridge ($30,000). The foundation frequently makes matching grants to support fundraising efforts by grantee organizations.
Where does The Dean Witter Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • California • Washington • Colorado These three states account for approximately 96% of all grants made by the foundation.
What size grants does The Dean Witter Foundation award?
In 2024, The Dean Witter Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $301K — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Dean Witter Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Dean Witter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $426K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Dean Witter Foundation's EIN?
The Dean Witter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6065150. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dean Witter 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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