The Dods Foundation
The Dods Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It made 22 grants totaling $1,582,924 in 2024, supporting organizations in Hawaii and Missouri.
The Dods Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dods Foundation gave $1.6M across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $72K), mostly in Hawaii. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,582,924
- +4.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $71,951
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,512,089
- -9.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (6 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (87% 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 Dods Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3165 Diamond Head Road C, Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 525-6101
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Dods Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Hawaii Foundation ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 85 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii and 13% to recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Dods Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 22 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $95K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 238% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 466% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $246K (2020) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii Foundation Honolulu, HI | General Operations | $1,096,424 |
| Saint Louis School Saint Louis, MO | General Operations | $200,000 |
| Mid-Pacific Institute Honolulu, HI | General Operations | $100,000 |
| Dynamic Community Solutions Waianae, HI | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation Honolulu, HI | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Straub Foundation Honolulu, HI | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Aloha United Way Honolulu, HI | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu Honolulu, HI | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Child & Family Service EWA Beach, HI | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Donkey Mill Art Center Holualoa, HI | General Operations | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Dods 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 | $5,512,089 | $1,807,790 | $1,640,285 | $1,582,924 | 22 | $1,582,924 | $911,101 | $339,414 |
| 2023 | $6,060,669 | $1,201,626 | $1,551,260 | $1,511,000 | 20 | $1,511,000 | $1,163,825 | $311,447 |
| 2022 | $6,323,041 | $2,619,528 | $460,012 | $448,000 | 16 | $448,000 | $96,086 | $234,369 |
| 2021 | $4,174,759 | $109,035 | $476,286 | $469,000 | 13 | $469,000 | $100,184 | $253,802 |
| 2020 | $4,543,648 | $758,898 | $311,553 | $246,316 | 14 | — | $750,328 | $234,384 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dods Foundation reported a distributable amount of $339K 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 included organizations whose own missions encompass education, community services, health, and the arts. For example, the University of Hawaii Foundation says it raises philanthropic support and manages investments to benefit the University of Hawaiʻi and the people of Hawaiʻi. Dynamic Community Solutions describes its work as providing communal living solutions that address homelessness. Hawaiʻi Public Radio says it serves the people of Hawaiʻi through news, music, arts, and community conversations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $1,582,924. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,096,424, with a median of $5,000. In 2023, it made 20 grants totaling $1,511,000. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $1.6 million.
The largest 2024 grant was $1,096,424 to the University of Hawaii Foundation for general operations. Other major grants were $200,000 to Saint Louis School, $100,000 to Mid-Pacific Institute, and $50,000 each to Dynamic Community Solutions and the Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, all for general operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Walter A Dods Jr. as chairman, president, treasurer, secretary, and director. It lists Walter A Dods III, Christoper L Dods, Peter D Dods, and Lauren S Dods as vice presidents and directors.
The Dods Foundation is led by Walter A. Dods Jr., Chairman, President, Treasurer, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Walter A. Dods Jr.
Chairman, President, Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christoper L. Dods
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren S. Dods
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter D. Dods
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Walter A. Dods III
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Dods Foundation
How much does The Dods Foundation give each year?
The Dods Foundation gave $1.6M across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 20 grants.
What is The Dods Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dods Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $71,951, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Dods Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does The Dods Foundation give grants?
The Dods Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Missouri (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (18 grants).
Does The Dods Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Dods Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Dods Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dods Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Hawaii Foundation ($1,096,424), Saint Louis School ($200,000) and Mid-Pacific Institute ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Dods Foundation?
The Dods Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $339K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Dods Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions encompass education, community services, health, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dods Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Dods Foundation's EIN?
The Dods Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5440930. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Dods 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
Live grants for the work The Dods Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dods Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Dods Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dods-foundation-morg_ad8e1b47278f4610a9ffb15e36621068
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_475440930_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dods Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dods-foundation-morg_ad8e1b47278f4610a9ffb15e36621068},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Dods 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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