The Dimmer Family Foundation
The Dimmer Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in Tacoma in 1993 by John C. and Marilyn J. Dimmer, it supports qualified charities primarily in Tacoma-Pierce County. The foundation’s website says it has granted more than $15 million since its inception and makes grants to more than 100 charitable organizations annually.
The Dimmer Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dimmer Family Foundation gave $305K across 82 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Washington. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $305,280
- -57.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 82
- -6.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,723
- -54.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $14,486,375
- +3.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (6 of 82, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (77% 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 Dimmer Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests as a general practice; requests without an invitation from the Executive Director or a Board member are generally not considered. The website says the application process is closed and interested organizations should inquire by email.
- Review Cycle
- None listed on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None listed on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Diane C Dimmer
Mailing address: 950 Pacific Avenue Suite 710, Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 572-4607
Website: https://dimmerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Dimmer Family Foundation
Who The Dimmer Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Oregon ($25K). Together the top 10 received $115K.
Grant Size Distribution
464 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 458 grants of 464 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it gives primarily to charities in Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington, and generally considers organizations serving that area. In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington and 16% to recipients in Oregon; smaller shares went to Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Dimmer Family Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 82 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 46% 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 $294K (2022) to $721K (2023). In 2024 it made 82 grants totaling $305K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon Eugene, OR | General | $25,000 |
| Lewis & Clark Law School Portland, OR | General | $15,000 |
| Greentrike Tacoma, WA | General | $13,830 |
| Mary Bridge Children's Foundation Tacoma, WA | General | $10,100 |
| Boys and Girls Club of South Puget Sound Tacoma, WA | General | $10,000 |
| College Success Foundation Tacoma, WA | General | $10,000 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Coe Tacoma, WA | General | $10,000 |
| YMCA of Pierce & Kitsap Counties Tacoma, WA | General | $9,200 |
| Humane Society of Pierce County Tacoma, WA | General | $6,000 |
| Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 Tacoma, WA | General | $5,900 |
Ready to take the next step with The Dimmer Family 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 | $14,486,375 | $1,876,771 | $573,147 | $305,280 | 82 | $368,880 | $495,205 | $801,540 |
| 2023 | $14,049,671 | $9,519,790 | $947,216 | $721,119 | 88 | $790,143 | $74,403 | $317,252 |
| 2022 | $5,162,643 | $91,139 | $423,669 | $293,809 | 84 | $355,189 | $72,381 | $212,045 |
| 2021 | $5,495,142 | $197,367 | $534,999 | $385,055 | 104 | $444,643 | $100,660 | $309,636 |
| 2020 | $5,831,912 | $2,533,121 | $872,429 | $487,788 | 106 | — | $1,186,247 | $389,377 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dimmer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $802K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a single mission in the supplied information. Its website describes grants to organizations working in a range of fields, including education, healthcare, social services, the arts, and animal welfare.
Examples of grantees illustrate that range. Greentrike describes its mission as honoring children and youth and championing play. Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation says it partners for healing and a healthy future through philanthropy. College Success Foundation says it provides support and scholarships to help underserved, low-income students complete high school and college. Kindred Souls Foundation says it provides sanctuary and care for abandoned, abused, and neglected cats and dogs. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 82 grants totaling $305,280. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. Among the largest awards were $25,000 to the University of Oregon, $15,000 to Lewis & Clark Law School, $13,830 to Greentrike, $10,100 to Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation, and $10,000 each to Boys and Girls Club of South Puget Sound, College Success Foundation, and University of Washington-Tacoma COE. The listed purposes for these grants were “GENERAL.”
The foundation’s website says the application process is closed. The Board meets at least twice a year, with most grants decided at its spring meeting in the second quarter and another meeting in the fourth quarter. It considers a few new requests each year and generally focuses on organizations serving Tacoma-Pierce County. Organizations that meet its geographic criteria may inquire by email; if there is interest, they may be invited to meet with the Executive Director or submit an application without a meeting. Requests submitted without an invitation from the Executive Director or a Board member are generally not considered.
For invited applications, the website requests a 1–2 page cover letter identifying the organization, stating the specific request and its dollar value, and naming the person who invited the organization to apply, if applicable; a Board of Directors list; an IRS tax-exempt letter for organizations that are not prior grant recipients; and an organizational budget plus a project or improvement budget, where applicable. Applications should be mailed, with an additional copy optionally sent by email. The website says past giving, a Board member’s personal relationship with the organization or someone associated with it, and relevance of the organization’s mission are considered. Previously supported organizations are not asked to apply annually, but are encouraged to provide updates or meet with the Executive Director. The foundation’s 2024 filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Diane C. Dimmer as Executive Director and Secretary, John B. Dimmer as President and Treasurer, and Carolyn Dimmer as Vice-President.
The Dimmer Family Foundation is led by Diane C. Dimmer, Executive Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diane C. Dimmer
Executive Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $0 (2024)
John B. Dimmer
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Dimmer
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marilyn Dimmer (2020–2022) — Vice President
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 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $50K, to Diane C Dimmer (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Dimmer Family Foundation
How much does The Dimmer Family Foundation give each year?
The Dimmer Family Foundation gave $305K across 82 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $721K across 88 grants.
What is The Dimmer Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dimmer Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,723, across 82 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Dimmer Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Dimmer Family Foundation give grants?
The Dimmer Family Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tacoma, WA (51 grants), Lakewood, WA (4 grants), Portland, OR (3 grants) and Seattle, WA (3 grants).
Does The Dimmer Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Dimmer Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (82 of 82) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Dimmer Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dimmer Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Oregon ($25,000), Lewis & Clark Law School ($15,000) and Greentrike ($13,830), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Dimmer Family Foundation?
The Dimmer Family Foundation reported $14.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $369K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $802K (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 Dimmer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a single mission in the supplied information. Its website describes grants to organizations working in a range of fields, including education, healthcare, social services, the arts, and animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dimmer Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests as a general practice; requests without an invitation from the Executive Director or a Board member are generally not considered. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dimmer Family Foundation's EIN?
The Dimmer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1622059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Dimmer Family 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 October 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Dimmer Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dimmer-family-foundation-morg_73ec5ac1706540e1b5cbec569b7e1d81
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911622059_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dimmer Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dimmer-family-foundation-morg_73ec5ac1706540e1b5cbec569b7e1d81},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Dimmer Family 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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