The Denovo Initiative

PORTLAND, OR EIN: 87-3930773

The Denovo Initiative is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PORTLAND, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $18.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $911K. Net investment income was $1.3M.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$18.6M

-2.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$911K

+50.8% YoY

Grant Count

21

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$43K

+0.5% YoY

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.

About The Denovo Initiative

Based on IRS filings

The Denovo Initiative is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PORTLAND, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $18.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $911K. Net investment income was $1.3M.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

12states
+4 more states

Cities

Bad AxeBostonBoulderBronxCambridgeCamdenChicagoGreenwichHartsdaleHillsboroKings ParkLong BeachLos AngelesNew OrleansNew YorkNew York CityOaklandPark CityPortlandSalt Lake City

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$6M$12M$18M$23M2021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$18,586,234$18,992,139$18,404,113
Revenue$1,030,264$305,421$-316,208
Expenses$2,241,903$1,939,026$1,675,545
Qualifying Distributions$2,290,297$2,020,121$1,443,762
Net Investment Income$1,294,786$349,885$186,379
Distributable Amount$895,908$1,037,200$947,972

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$228K$456K$684K$911K0 grants202113 grants202214 grants202321 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

INCITE PRODUCTIONS INC$125KCINEMA TROPICAL INC$100KWOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC$77KTHE FILM COLLABORATIVE INC$77KCENTER FOR INDEPENDENT D…$74KINTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTAR…$53KMEDIA COLLECTIVE INC$53KPOINTS NORTH INSTITUTE$50KTHE VII FOUNDATION INC$50KADVANCE GENDER EQUITY IN…$35K

Grant Size Distribution

48 grants across all recorded years

29<$50K14$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Incite Productions Inc ($125,000), Cinema Tropical Inc ($100,000), Women Make Movies Inc ($77,106).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ADVANCE GENDER EQUITY IN THE ARTS PORTLAND, ORPROJECT FUNDING$35,000
ALTERNATIVE NEWSWEEKLY FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DCPROJECT FUNDING$15,000
BAG AND BAGGAGE PRODUCTIONS HILLSBORO, ORPROJECT FUNDING$22
BROWN GIRLS DOC MAFIA INC BRONX, NYOPERATING GRANT$10,000
C ME GROW INC WASHINGTON, DCOPERATING GRANT$25,000
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY INC BOSTON, MAPROJECT FUNDING$73,685
CINEMA TROPICAL INC NEW YORK, NYPROJECT FUNDING$100,000
ENTERTAINMENT 2 AFFECT CHANGE LOS ANGELES, CAPROJECT FUNDING$26,316
FRACTURED ATLAS HARTSDALE, NYPROJECT FUNDING$17,421
FULL SPECTRUM FEATURES CHICAGO, ILPROJECT FUNDING$26,316

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JANICE FINLEYCFO$181KDAWN BONDERPRESIDENT & CEO$176KSUSAN POTTERHEAD OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS & GC$176K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DAWN BONDERPRESIDENT & CEO40$175,712
JANICE FINLEYCFO40$180,712
SUSAN POTTERHEAD OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS & GC40$175,712

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Denovo Initiative?

The Denovo Initiative is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PORTLAND, OR. It holds $18.6M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Denovo Initiative?

As of 2024, The Denovo Initiative holds $18.6M in total assets with $1.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 21 grants totaling $911K in 2024.

Where does The Denovo Initiative operate?

The Denovo Initiative has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Utah.

What size grants does The Denovo Initiative award?

In 2024, The Denovo Initiative awarded 21 grants totaling $911K — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Denovo Initiative required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Denovo Initiative reported a distributable amount of $896K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Denovo Initiative's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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