The Denovo Initiative
The deNovo Initiative is a private foundation based in Portland, Oregon, that supports storytellers and storytelling projects. It says its grants and investments help storytellers bring new perspectives to audiences and build understanding, empathy, and acceptance of shared humanity.
The Denovo Initiative at a glance
In short: The Denovo Initiative gave $911K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $43K), top state New York. 57% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $911,393
- +50.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,400
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $18,586,234
- -2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (12 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (38% 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 Denovo Initiative
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website also says it does not accept unsolicited project submissions.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4804 Nw Bethany Blvd Ste I-2 246, Portland, OR 97229
Phone: (360) 607-1247
Website: https://www.denovoinitiative.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Denovo Initiative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Incite Productions Inc ($125K). Together the top 10 received $693K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 48 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, New York accounted for 38%, California 17%, Colorado 14%, Massachusetts 8%, and Maine 5%. These figures describe the locations of grant recipients, not a stated geographic restriction.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Denovo Initiative open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 21 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $61K. How we count
Medians: $26K first-time, $53K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 256% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $568K (2022) to $911K (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $911K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Incite Productions Inc Boulder, CO | Project Funding | $125,000 |
| Cinema Tropical Inc New York, NY | Project Funding | $100,000 |
| Women Make Movies Inc New York, NY | Project Funding | $77,106 |
| The Film Collaborative Inc Los Angeles, CA | Project Funding | $77,105 |
| Center for Independent Documentary Inc Boston, MA | Project Funding | $73,685 |
| International Documentary Association Los Angeles, CA | Project Funding | $52,632 |
| Media Collective Inc New York, NY | Project Funding | $52,632 |
| Points North Institute Camden, ME | Project Funding | $50,000 |
| The VII Foundation Inc New York, NY | Project Funding | $50,000 |
| Advance Gender Equity in the Arts Portland, OR | Project Funding | $35,000 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,586,234 | $1,030,264 | $2,241,903 | $911,393 | 21 | $2,290,297 | $1,294,786 | $895,908 |
| 2023 | $18,992,139 | $305,421 | $1,939,026 | $604,531 | 14 | $2,020,121 | $349,885 | $1,037,200 |
| 2022 | $18,404,113 | $-316,208 | $1,675,545 | $568,305 | 13 | $1,443,762 | $186,379 | $947,972 |
| 2021 | $21,293,307 | $21,293,307 | — | — | — | — | — | $1,486 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Denovo Initiative reported a distributable amount of $896K 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 stated mission is to catalyze understanding and acceptance for shared humanity and encourage greater empathy. It supports storytelling intended to challenge values, opinions, and beliefs and to help audiences move beyond political polarization, racism, anti-immigrant anger, ageism, ableism, and cultural divisions.
Its work includes films, impact campaigns, and live theater. The 2024 filing describes contributions supporting storytellers’ projects through documentaries and stage productions. The organizations it supported include groups with varied missions: Cinema Tropical says it promotes Latin American cinema through exhibition; Women Make Movies says it facilitates the production, promotion, distribution, and exhibition of independent films by and about women; and The Film Collaborative describes its work as providing independent filmmakers with educational materials and services including fiscal sponsorship, distribution, and impact marketing. Points North Institute says it inspires and supports documentary-media creators and audiences, while The VII Foundation says it works to transform visual journalism by empowering new voices and creating stories that advocate change.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $911,393. Grant amounts ranged from $22 to $125,000, with a median of $35,000. The filing lists all grants as project funding. Larger awards included $125,000 to Incite Productions Inc., $100,000 to Cinema Tropical Inc., $77,106 to Women Make Movies Inc., $77,105 to The Film Collaborative Inc., and $73,685 to Center for Independent Documentary Inc.
Other reported 2024 grants included $52,632 each to International Documentary Association and Media Collective Inc.; $50,000 each to Points North Institute and The VII Foundation Inc.; and $35,000 each to Advance Gender Equity in the Arts and Sundance Institute. The filing also describes contributions to The Boy Next Door Documentary LLC, Oration Nation LLC, and We Are Pat LLC in support of storytellers’ projects through documentaries and stage productions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dawn Bonder as President & CEO, Janice Finley as CFO, and Susan Potter as Head of Business Affairs & General Counsel. The foundation’s website identifies Dawn H. Bonder as its founder and President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Denovo Initiative is led by Dawn Bonder, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dawn Bonder
President & CEO
Director President CEO → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$155K (2022) → $176K (2024)
Janice Finley
CFO
Director Chief Financial Officer → CFO, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$155K (2022) → $181K (2024)
Susan Potter
Head of Business Affairs
Director Chief Administrator Officer → Head of Business Affairs & General C, 2022
Head of Business Affairs & General C → Head of Business Affairs, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$155K (2022) → $176K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 $181K, to Janice Finley (CFO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Denovo Initiative
How much does The Denovo Initiative give each year?
The Denovo Initiative gave $911K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $605K across 14 grants.
What is The Denovo Initiative's typical grant size?
The Denovo Initiative's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $43,400, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Denovo Initiative that year got $30K on average.
Where does The Denovo Initiative give grants?
The Denovo Initiative's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (17%) and Colorado (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Denovo Initiative give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of The Denovo Initiative's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project Funding" (19 grants).
Who are The Denovo Initiative's largest grantees?
The Denovo Initiative's largest 2024 grantees include Incite Productions Inc ($125,000), Cinema Tropical Inc ($100,000) and Women Make Movies Inc ($77,106), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Denovo Initiative?
The Denovo Initiative reported $18.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $896K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Denovo Initiative fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to catalyze understanding and acceptance for shared humanity and encourage greater empathy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Denovo Initiative?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; 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 Denovo Initiative's EIN?
The Denovo Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3930773. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Denovo Initiative 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 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Denovo Initiative funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-denovo-initiative-morg_6acda215a20243f394c58363d5108238
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873930773_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Denovo Initiative funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-denovo-initiative-morg_6acda215a20243f394c58363d5108238},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Denovo Initiative'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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