The Denker Foundation
The Denker Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. In 2024, it reported 14 grants totaling $74,000 to charitable organizations, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to recipients in Maryland and New York.
The Denker Foundation at a glance
In short: The Denker Foundation gave $74K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Maryland. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $74,000
- +27.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,286
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,195,164
- +60.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (70% 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 Denker 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: 3838 Oak Lawn Ave Ste 1650, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 468-0100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Denker Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Resilience Authority of Charles COU ($25K). Together the top 10 received $66K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 57 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 20% to recipients in New York, 7% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 3% to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Denker Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $58K (2023) to $95K (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $74K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Resilience Authority of Charles COU La Plata, MD | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Center for Inquiry Amherst, NY | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Center for American Progress Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Wypr Baltimore, MD | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Spa Creek Conservancy Annapolis, MD | Unrestricted | $4,000 |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation Annapolis, MD | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Seeds 4 Success Annapolis, MD | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| St Marks School of Texas Dallas, TX | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Historic Annapolis Annapolis, MD | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Annapolis Maritime Museum Annapolis, MD | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Denker 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,195,164 | $536,607 | $87,287 | $74,000 | 14 | $81,595 | $30,915 | $85,676 |
| 2023 | $745,844 | $36,349 | $73,483 | $58,000 | 10 | $69,432 | $32,298 | $73,360 |
| 2022 | $782,978 | $25,647 | $107,207 | $90,000 | 10 | $97,956 | $16,846 | $75,884 |
| 2021 | $864,538 | $163,468 | $106,305 | $95,000 | 9 | $99,334 | $156,497 | $85,667 |
| 2020 | $807,375 | $52,213 | $81,365 | $69,000 | 14 | — | $47,425 | $72,645 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Denker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $86K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, the Center for Inquiry describes its mission as advancing humanism and skepticism and supporting a nonreligious life stance rooted in science and humanist ethics. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation says its mission is to “Save the Bay,” while Seeds 4 Success works with its community to support children from low-income communities in school and life. Other recipients include organizations focused on policy, arts education, maritime heritage, and historic preservation, as described in their own mission statements.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $74,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $2,500. The listed grants were designated unrestricted.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $25,000 to the Resilience Authority of Charles County, $15,000 to the Center for Inquiry, $5,000 each to the Center for American Progress and WYPR, and $4,000 to Spa Creek Conservancy. Other recipients included the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Seeds 4 Success, which each received $3,000, and St. Mark’s School of Texas, which received $2,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charron R. Denker, Patrick R. Denker, and Turtle Creek Trust Company LTA as trustees.
The Denker Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Turtle Creek Trust Company LTA
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Charron R. Denker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick R. Denker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $9K, to Turtle Creek Trust Company LTA (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Denker Foundation
How much does The Denker Foundation give each year?
The Denker Foundation gave $74K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $58K across 10 grants.
What is The Denker Foundation's typical grant size?
The Denker Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,286, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Denker Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Denker Foundation give grants?
The Denker Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (20%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Annapolis, MD (7 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does The Denker Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Denker Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Denker Foundation's largest grantees?
The Denker Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Resilience Authority of Charles COU ($25,000), Center for Inquiry ($15,000) and Center for American Progress ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Denker Foundation?
The Denker Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $82K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $86K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Denker Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, the Center for Inquiry describes its mission as advancing humanism and skepticism and supporting a nonreligious life stance rooted in science and humanist ethics. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Denker 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 Denker Foundation's EIN?
The Denker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2623836. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Denker 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
Live grants for the work The Denker Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Denker Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Denker Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-denker-foundation-morg_083dae7e025849859907e7ae27119ec7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752623836_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Denker Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-denker-foundation-morg_083dae7e025849859907e7ae27119ec7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Denker 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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