The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations including a medical center, museums, a university, advocacy organizations, and animal and wildlife organizations.
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc gave $638K across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), top state Maryland. 49% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $637,599
- +9.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 54
- +14.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,807
- -4.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $6,542,872
- +5.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (25 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Requests should be submitted in writing with a copy of the applicant’s IRS exemption letter. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Grace M Bender
Mailing address: 2838 Mcgill Terrace Nw, Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 234-8010
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Medstar-Georgetown Medical Center Inc ($200K). Together the top 10 received $468K.
Grant Size Distribution
233 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 220 grants of 233 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 47% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland and 32% to recipients in Washington, DC. Other leading recipient states were Florida (6%), Virginia (4%), and New York (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 25 of 51 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 159% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $457K (2020) to $638K (2025). In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $638K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Medstar-Georgetown Medical Center Inc Columbia, MD | General & Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| National Gallery of Art Landover, MD | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| George Washington University Washington, DC | Grace and Morton Bender Scholarship Fund | $25,000 |
| George Washington University Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Inc Montgomery, AL | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| The Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Do Rockville, MD | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Crossed Paws Pet Rescue Inc Auburndale, FL | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC | the National Portrait Gallery's Portrait of a National Gala program | $15,000 |
| South Florida Wildlife Center Inc Ft Lauderdale, FL | General & Unrestricted | $13,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,542,872 | $1,062,963 | $734,114 | $637,599 | 54 | $673,822 | $1,017,463 | $422,714 |
| 2024 | $6,214,023 | $468,948 | $667,377 | $580,200 | 47 | $613,201 | $427,678 | $410,821 |
| 2023 | $7,793,228 | $1,323,601 | $579,096 | $521,434 | 36 | $528,639 | $1,268,432 | $308,015 |
| 2022 | $5,671,264 | $489,966 | $579,723 | $538,900 | 45 | $538,900 | $446,107 | $458,408 |
| 2021 | $5,771,347 | $1,058,123 | $511,911 | $470,035 | 51 | $470,035 | $1,016,247 | $527,524 |
| 2020 | $5,178,107 | $426,226 | $491,659 | $456,500 | 57 | — | $391,067 | $475,027 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $423K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the National Gallery of Art says it serves the nation by welcoming people to explore and experience art, while the Smithsonian Institution describes its mission as increasing and diffusing knowledge. Crossed Paws Pet Rescue says it provides care and adoption services for domestic animals, and the South Florida Wildlife Center describes its work as wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, release, and education. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes its work as advancing racial justice and human rights.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 54 grants totaling $637,599. Grants ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest reported grants included $200,000 to MedStar-Georgetown Medical Center, $75,000 to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, $50,000 to the National Gallery of Art, and $25,000 to George Washington University for the Grace and Morton Bender Scholarship Fund. Other notable grants included $20,000 each to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Do, and $15,000 each to Crossed Paws Pet Rescue and the Smithsonian Institution.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Grace Bender as president and director; Jack Bender as director, secretary, and treasurer; Jay Bender as director and vice president; and Kenneth Bender, Scott Bender, and Lisa Bender Feldman as directors.
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc is led by Grace M. Bender, President & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Grace M. Bender
President & Director
Dir-Secretar → Dir-Presiden, 2022
Dir-Presiden → Director & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jack B. Bender
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Director, Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay S. Bender
Director & Vice President
Dir-Treasure → Director & Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth H. Bender
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott M. Bender
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Bender Feldman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Lisa Ann Bender-Feldman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Morton A. Bender (2020–2021) — Dir-Presiden
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc
How much does The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc give each year?
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc gave $638K across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $580K across 47 grants.
What is The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,807, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc give grants?
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's top state is Maryland, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (32%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (22 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Vienna, VA (2 grants) and Silver Spring, MD (2 grants).
Does The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (48 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Medstar-Georgetown Medical Center Inc ($200,000), United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ($75,000) and National Gallery of Art ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc?
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc reported $6.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $674K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $423K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1406566. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
Other open foundation grants in Delaware
Delaware Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Greater Washington Community Foundation
Washington, DC
The Greater Washington Community Foundation supports nonprofits working across areas such as economic opportunity, education, health, arts, and human services, with an emphasis on equity and economic justice. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, and it generally funds organizations serving DC, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and specified Northern Virginia communities; it offers scheduled open competitive grant rounds as well as invite-only opportunities.
Assets
$518.3M
Grants
1,417
Total Given
$116.9M
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Inc
North Bethesda, MD
The Federation funds Jewish communal organizations and programs, including services for people in need, Jewish learning and engagement, youth and family programs, inclusion, community security, and work connecting the region with Israel and Jewish communities abroad. In 2025 it made 360 grants, with a median award of $20,000; grants ranged from $5,001 to $3.3 million, primarily supporting organizations in Greater Washington as well as national and international partners. It issues requests for proposals when opportunities are available; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$388.5M
Grants
360
Total Given
$34.1M
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz
Washington, DC
The foundation funds arts and humanities, community services, education, environment, and health initiatives serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including DC and specified counties and cities in Maryland and Virginia. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $1.2 million, with a median of $35,000; it prefers general operating support when possible. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online portal.
Assets
$636.1M
Grants
451
Total Given
$23.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dorothy-g-bender-foundation-inc-morg_c4933fe3bb904d5bb674945673da8bdd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521406566_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dorothy-g-bender-foundation-inc-morg_c4933fe3bb904d5bb674945673da8bdd},
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 Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc'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.
The Dorothy G Bender Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?