The Dobbins Foundation
The Dobbins Foundation is a private foundation based in Worthington, Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations, including cultural and historic-preservation institutions, arts organizations, and animal-welfare and human-services organizations.
The Dobbins Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dobbins Foundation gave $106K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $105,700
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,203
- -3.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $439,755
- +1.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 33, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (94% 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 Dobbins 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: 311 River Road, Worthington, MA 01098
Phone: (413) 238-5372
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Dobbins Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ventfort Hall Association Inc ($15K). Together the top 10 received $72K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 94% of grant dollars, New York recipients received 4%, and New Hampshire recipients received 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Dobbins Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 33 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $750; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% 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 $83K (2020) to $112K (2022). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $106K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ventfort Hall Association Inc Lenox, MA | Program | $15,000 |
| Berkshire Humane Society Pittsfield, MA | Program | $10,000 |
| Christian Center of Pittsfield Pittsfield, MA | Program | $10,000 |
| Barrington Stage Company Pittsfield, MA | Program | $8,000 |
| Hancock Shaker Village Pittsfield, MA | Program | $7,500 |
| YMCA Pittsfield, MA | Program | $7,000 |
| Berkshire Theatre Group Stockbridge, MA | Program | $5,000 |
| Mass Moca North Adams, MA | Program | $3,500 |
| Michael J Fox Fdn New York, NY | Program | $3,000 |
| Trustees of Reservations Stockbridge, MA | Program | $2,500 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $439,755 | $176,512 | $170,862 | $105,700 | 33 | $105,700 | $147,350 | $120,742 |
| 2023 | $434,105 | $72,634 | $159,608 | $106,000 | 32 | $106,000 | $49,026 | $102,423 |
| 2022 | $521,079 | $32,233 | $172,114 | $112,220 | 29 | $112,268 | $2,387 | $105,568 |
| 2021 | $662,075 | $60,524 | $135,141 | $83,650 | 28 | $83,650 | $37,033 | $114,020 |
| 2020 | $736,692 | $20,992 | $127,496 | $82,650 | 30 | — | $3,200 | $84,184 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dobbins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $121K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as historic preservation, arts and culture, animal welfare, and community services. For example, Ventfort Hall Association says its mission is to preserve a Gilded Age mansion on the National Register of Historic Places. Barrington Stage Company describes its work as producing theatre, developing new plays and musicals, and bringing new audiences into the theatre, especially young people. Berkshire Humane Society says it provides animal care and placement and promotes animal welfare through education and outreach.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $105,700 through 33 grants. Grants ranged from $200 to $15,000, with a median of $2,000. Among the largest were $15,000 to Ventfort Hall Association, $10,000 each to Berkshire Humane Society and Christian Center of Pittsfield, and $8,000 to Barrington Stage Company.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Holly Dobbins and Michele Dobbins Dodge as directors.
The Dobbins Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Holly Dobbins
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $18K (2024)
Michele Dobbins Dodge
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $18K (2024)
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 $18K, to Holly Dobbins (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Dobbins Foundation
How much does The Dobbins Foundation give each year?
The Dobbins Foundation gave $106K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $106K across 32 grants.
What is The Dobbins Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dobbins Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,203, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Dobbins Foundation that year got $750 on average.
Where does The Dobbins Foundation give grants?
The Dobbins Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsfield, MA (9 grants), Lenox, MA (5 grants), Stockbridge, MA (4 grants) and Great Barrington, MA (2 grants).
Does The Dobbins Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on The Dobbins Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program" (33 grants).
Who are The Dobbins Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dobbins Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ventfort Hall Association Inc ($15,000), Berkshire Humane Society ($10,000) and Christian Center of Pittsfield ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Dobbins Foundation?
The Dobbins Foundation reported $440K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $106K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $121K (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 Dobbins Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as historic preservation, arts and culture, animal welfare, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dobbins 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 Dobbins Foundation's EIN?
The Dobbins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4078241. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Dobbins 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Dobbins Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dobbins-foundation-morg_9a9a586d5d5843f1a02ac305720efd81
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134078241_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dobbins Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dobbins-foundation-morg_9a9a586d5d5843f1a02ac305720efd81},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Dobbins 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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