Varnum-De Rose Trust
Varnum-De Rose Trust is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports 22 grants totaling $425,000, with listed awards supporting charitable organizations including educational institutions, arts organizations, health organizations, and community groups.
Varnum-De Rose Trust at a glance
In short: Varnum-De Rose Trust gave $425K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in New York. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $425,000
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,318
- -7.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $7,429,895
- +0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (5 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (52% 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 Varnum-De Rose Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 185, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0185
Phone: (212) 922-8218
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Varnum-De Rose Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Trustees of Phillips Academy ($55K). Together the top 10 received $320K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 106 grants of 120 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that recipients in New York received 52% of grant dollars, followed by Massachusetts at 13%, Connecticut at 13%, New Jersey at 11%, and Virginia at 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Varnum-De Rose Trust open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 22 grantees (23%) 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 $23K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% 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 $342K (2020) to $530K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $425K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trustees of Phillips Academy Andover, MA | General Operating | $55,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | General Operating | $55,000 |
| Jose Limon Dance Foundation New York, NY | General Operating | $55,000 |
| Dorot Inc New York, NY | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Prostate Action Inc New York, NY | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Shiloh Baptist Church of Newark Newark, NJ | General Operating | $25,000 |
| St Georges Society of New York New York, NY | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Center for Community Alternatives Syracuse, NY | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Kids in Cleats Inc Montclair, NJ | General Operating | $20,000 |
| American Diabetes Association Merrifield, VA | General Operating | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Varnum-De Rose Trust?
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 | $7,429,895 | $519,361 | $499,367 | $425,000 | 22 | $449,440 | $479,381 | $437,964 |
| 2024 | $7,410,555 | $1,176,814 | $571,535 | $500,000 | 24 | $523,405 | $1,135,823 | $413,256 |
| 2023 | $6,806,300 | $643,375 | $590,688 | $530,000 | 25 | $551,766 | $602,698 | $429,122 |
| 2022 | $6,704,525 | $538,958 | $571,827 | $489,000 | 27 | $515,012 | $497,854 | $401,301 |
| 2021 | $6,737,202 | $986,557 | $449,045 | $385,000 | 22 | $410,124 | $883,759 | $466,981 |
| 2020 | $6,189,820 | $381,799 | $413,129 | $341,500 | 21 | — | $346,968 | $385,930 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Varnum-De Rose Trust reported a distributable amount of $438K 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 trust is provided. Its 2025 grants included general operating support for organizations such as Phillips Academy, Yale University, and the José Limón Dance Foundation.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work represented in the grants. The José Limón Dance Foundation says it preserves and presents José Limón’s work and provides instruction in the Limón principles and technique. DOROT says it works to alleviate social isolation and loneliness among older adults and helps them live independently. Prostate Action says it supports prostate cancer research through travel and research awards and holds informational seminars. The Center for Community Alternatives describes its work as promoting reintegrative justice and reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy, services, and public policy development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust reported 22 grants totaling $425,000. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $55,000, with a median of $13,500. The largest awards were $55,000 each to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts; Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut; and the José Limón Dance Foundation in New York, New York. Each was listed for general operating support.
Other listed awards included $25,000 each to DOROT, Prostate Action, Shiloh Baptist Church of Newark, and St. George’s Society of New York; and $20,000 each to the Center for Community Alternatives and Kids in Cleats. The American Diabetes Association and the Arthritis Foundation each received $15,000. The grantees describe work that includes improving the lives of people affected by diabetes, pursuing a cure for arthritis, and preventing animal cruelty and providing animal care, as described by Dutchess County SPCA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jay H. McDowell, Esq., as co-trustee and BNY Mellon N.A. as trustee.
Varnum-De Rose Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
BNY Mellon N A
Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2021
Co-Trustee → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$49K (2020) → $49K (2025)
Jay H. McDowell Esq.
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$7K (2021) → $11K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $49K, to BNY Mellon N a (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Varnum-De Rose Trust
How much does Varnum-De Rose Trust give each year?
Varnum-De Rose Trust gave $425K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $500K across 24 grants.
What is Varnum-De Rose Trust's typical grant size?
Varnum-De Rose Trust's median grant in 2025 was $13,500, and its average grant was $19,318, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Varnum-De Rose Trust that year got $23K on average.
Where does Varnum-De Rose Trust give grants?
Varnum-De Rose Trust gives mostly in New York: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (13%) and Connecticut (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants) and Southampton, NY (2 grants).
Does Varnum-De Rose Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Varnum-De Rose Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Varnum-De Rose Trust's largest grantees?
Varnum-De Rose Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Trustees of Phillips Academy ($55,000), Yale University ($55,000) and Jose Limon Dance Foundation ($55,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Varnum-De Rose Trust?
Varnum-De Rose Trust reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $449K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $438K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Varnum-De Rose Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants included general operating support for organizations such as Phillips Academy, Yale University, and the José Limón Dance Foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Varnum-De Rose Trust?
The trust 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 Varnum-De Rose Trust's EIN?
Varnum-De Rose Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1214640. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Varnum-De Rose Trust 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Varnum-De Rose Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Varnum-De Rose Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/varnum-de-rose-trust-morg_008e3191950643b183e8d607f033c174
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831214640_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Varnum-De Rose Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/varnum-de-rose-trust-morg_008e3191950643b183e8d607f033c174},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Varnum-De Rose Trust'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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