The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family
The Lowell S and Betty L Dunn Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in March 2010 and based in Hialeah Gardens, Florida. The foundation was created by Betty Louise Dunn and her late husband Lowell Swilling Dunn, a prominent South Florida real estate developer and contractor who passed away in November 2006. The foundation represents one of South Florida's significant philanthropic entities, designed to create multi-generational impact through strategic giving with family members serving in all leadership positions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$108.9M
-65.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+1.6% YoY
Grant Count
48
+92.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-47.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family reported a distributable amount of $15.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Healthcare and community health
- Children's services and research
- Animal welfare
- Military assistance and veteran support
- Rescue missions
- Education
- Human services
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 29 grants totaling $2,325,000. Notable recent grants include:
Grant Range
$1,000 to $450,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on South Florida and Florida generally, with national giving. Recent grants have extended to Montana and Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $108,929,697
- Total revenues: $48,150,936
- Total expenses: $2,338,178
- Total giving: $2,325,000
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $312.9 million
- Annual giving: $2,287,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $108,929,697 | $312,932,398 | $48,342,695 |
| Revenue | $48,150,936 | $266,901,803 | $12,357,866 |
| Expenses | $2,338,178 | $2,312,100 | $1,412,097 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,325,000 | $2,287,500 | $1,407,530 |
| Net Investment Income | $26,150,936 | $2,073,453 | $357,866 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,885,127 | $4,080,267 | $2,100,645 |
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
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Jude Childrens Research Hospital ($300,000), Um Diabetes Research Institute ($300,000), Neighbors 4 Neighbors ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIR FORCE ENLISTED VILLAGE SHALIMAR, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| ALONZO AND TRACY MORURNING SHS NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION CORAL GABLES, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL INC MIAMI, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| BILLIE JEAN KING FOUNDATION RANDOLPH, NJ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $80,000 |
| BOYS TOWN BOYS TOWN, NE | GENERAL PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| CAMILLUS HOUSE INC MIAMI, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND INC FAYETTEVILLE, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| COCONUT GROVE CRISIS FOOD PANTRY MIAMI, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY PET RESCUE MIAMI SPRINGS, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Betty Louise Dunn served as President of the foundation until her passing in January 2025 at age 90. The foundation is led by family members in all leadership positions.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETTY L DUNN | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| LORETTA S DUNN | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| LOWELL DUNN II | SECRETARY | — | — |
| LIZBETH DUNN ARENCIBIA | TREASURER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2026:** University of Montana Athletics received a $3 million gift from the Dunn Family
Montana receives $3 million gift from Dunn Family - University of Montana**2023:** The Lowell S and Betty L Dunn Family Foundation established a $1 million endowment to support UNLV Libraries
Montana receives $3 million gift from Dunn Family - University of Montana**January 2025:** Betty L. Dunn, the foundation's President, passed away at age 90
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Healthcare and community health • Children's services and research • Animal welfare • Military assistance and veteran support • Rescue missions • Education • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family?
**Grant Structure:** • Trustee-discretionary grantmaking without formal application cycles • All grants are preselected; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds • Grant range: $1,000 to $450,000 • Median grant amount: $40,000 **Recent Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 29 grants totaling $2,325,000. Notable recent grants include: • St Jude Children's Research Hospital: $300,000 (General Purpose) • Neighbors 4 Neighbors: $125,000 (General Purpose) • Honor Flight South…
Where does The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family make grants?
Primary focus on South Florida and Florida generally, with national giving. Recent grants have extended to Montana and Nevada.
What size grants does The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family award?
In 2024, The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family awarded 48 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family reported a distributable amount of $15.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family's EIN?
The Lowell S & Betty L Dunn Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1237743. 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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