The Dobson Foundation Inc
The Dobson Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation incorporated in 1961 in New York and based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and has been designated as tax-exempt since December 1964.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
-15.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$235K
-6.3% YoY
Grant Count
33
-23.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+22.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dobson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $191K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributed $234,770 in total giving according to the most recent filing. The organization maintains total assets of $3,529,091.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,529,091
- Total Giving: $234,770
- Revenue: $187,000
- Expenses: $265,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,529,091 | $4,167,771 | $4,591,967 |
| Revenue | $186,653 | $92,403 | $240,729 |
| Expenses | $264,555 | $346,108 | $324,482 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $234,770 | $250,650 | $237,505 |
| Net Investment Income | $156,868 | $58,854 | $154,002 |
| Distributable Amount | $191,166 | $245,854 | $246,177 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cornell Lab of Orinthology ($20,000), The Peregrine Fund ($20,000), Seabird Institute ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AUDUBON SOCIETY NEW YORK New York, NY | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BIGELOW LABORATORY 4 OCEAN SCIENCES East Boothbay, ME | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LANCASTER Lancaster, PA | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| COASTAL RIVERS CONSERVATION TRUST Damariscotta, ME | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| EARTHJUSTICE New York, NY | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BIRDNOTE Lancaster, PA | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NYC New York, NY | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| THE NATURE STUDIES CONSERVATORY Arlington, VA | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| COASTAL MAINE BOTANICAL GARDENS INC New York, NY | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| CORNELL LAB OF ORINTHOLOGY Santa Barbara, CA | TO ACCOMPLISH 501C3 PURPOSE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH JEFFORDS ESQ | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| KENNETH TOTILO | TREASURER | 5 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported entrepreneurship initiatives, including contributions to McGill University's Dobson Centre to advance entrepreneurship programming. The foundation has also funded photojournalism endowments and supported research-driven startup initiatives through partnerships with academic institutions.
Dobson, Wooldridge and Tejemos Foundation fund photojournalism endowmentFrequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Dobson Foundation Inc?
The foundation distributed $234,770 in total giving according to the most recent filing. The organization maintains total assets of $3,529,091.
What size grants does The Dobson Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Dobson Foundation Inc awarded 33 grants totaling $235K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Dobson Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Dobson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $191K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Dobson Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Dobson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6168259. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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