The Dearborn Foundation
The Dearborn Foundation is a private foundation based in Conway, New Hampshire. It supports students pursuing education in engineering and precision machining through scholarships for U.S. citizens.
The Dearborn Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dearborn Foundation gave $178K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), top state Maine. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $177,500
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- -9.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,339
- +17.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $5,049,586
- +10.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Maine (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Dearborn Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It lists a written proposal or an email request for information as the application materials and names Susanne Cullinan as the contact. The website describes a scholarship application process for eligible students.
- Review Cycle
- The website says applications open August 15; the initial application and, for engineering applicants, Mechanical Aptitude Test are due February 1. The full application package is due March 15.
- Deadline
- The website says applications open August 15; the initial application and, for engineering applicants, Mechanical…
- Contact
Application contact: Susanne Cullinan
Mailing address: 113 Hillside Avenue, Conway, NH 03818
Phone: (603) 374-7895
Website: https://www.dearbornfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Dearborn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 169 grants of 169 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest share of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine (43%), followed by New Hampshire (34%), Massachusetts (8%), Vermont (8%), and Pennsylvania (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Dearborn Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2021) to $184K (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $178K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 28 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $177,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,049,586 | $841,035 | $383,870 | $177,500 | 28 | $188,276 | $775,230 |
| 2023 | $4,578,843 | $1,040,288 | $332,562 | $168,000 | 31 | $181,747 | $989,005 |
| 2022 | $3,876,829 | $183,673 | $337,650 | $184,000 | 36 | $188,911 | $111,293 |
| 2021 | $4,035,400 | $448,969 | $280,307 | $154,500 | 34 | $154,500 | $241,982 |
| 2020 | $3,844,928 | $-52,179 | $318,067 | $178,500 | 40 | — | $43,877 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it seeks to empower future U.S. inventors, engineers, and innovators, with a focus on engineering and precision machining. Its website lists mechanical, electrical, nuclear, and chemical engineering, physics, and precision machining among eligible fields. It states that it does not fund graduate-level study.
The foundation’s website describes annual engineering scholarships of $10,000, potentially renewable for up to four years of undergraduate education, and precision machining scholarships of $3,000 per year. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and full-time students; the website also lists a minimum 3.0 GPA and excludes computer programming and civil engineering majors.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $177,500. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $7,000, with a median of $7,000. The largest listed awards were $7,000 scholarships to individual students, including two individual recipients, for UME scholarships; an individual recipient, for a UME scholarship; and two individual recipients, for WPI scholarships.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It describes its direct charitable activity as receiving written student proposals for scholarships and educational grants, and says applicants may request information by email or submit a written proposal. Its website separately provides an online scholarship application process. For engineering applicants, the stated steps include an application and a proctored Mechanical Aptitude Test; precision machining applicants complete an application and, after initial screening, a WOWI Career Assessment Survey.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Edgerton as President; Deborah Kelly as Treasurer; John Berg as Assistant Treasurer; and Anne Moura, Elbridge Russell, Donald Wescott, and David Richardson as directors.
The Dearborn Foundation is led by John Edgerton, President on every filing since 2020; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Edgerton
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$375 (2020) → $1K (2024)
Anne Moura
Director
Program Administrator → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $750 (2024)
Donald Wescott
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$375 (2020) → $750 (2024)
Elbridge Russell
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $750 (2024)
David Richardson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$250 (2024)
Deborah Kelly
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $2K (2024)
John Berg
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $750 (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Kenneth Carr (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Suzanne Tolleson (2021) — Program Administrator
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2K, to Deborah Kelly (Treasurer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Dearborn Foundation
How much does The Dearborn Foundation give each year?
The Dearborn Foundation gave $178K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $168K across 31 grants.
What is The Dearborn Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dearborn Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,000, and its average grant was $6,339, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Dearborn Foundation give grants?
The Dearborn Foundation's top state is Maine, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (34%) and Massachusetts (8%).
Does The Dearborn Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on The Dearborn Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship-Ume" (11 grants), "Scholarship-UNH" (3 grants) and "Scholarship-PM" (3 grants).
How large is The Dearborn Foundation?
The Dearborn Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $841K.
What does The Dearborn Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to empower future U.S. inventors, engineers, and innovators, with a focus on engineering and precision machining. Its website lists mechanical, electrical, nuclear, and chemical engineering, physics, and precision machining among eligible fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dearborn Foundation?
The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dearborn Foundation's EIN?
The Dearborn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0477840. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Dearborn 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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