William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc
The William Orr Dingwall Foundation is an independent private foundation established in 1994 by Dr. William Orr Dingwall, a professor at the University of Maryland and scholar in linguistics and neurolinguistics. Originally based in San Francisco, California, the foundation relocated to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area following Dr. Dingwall's death in January 2004. The foundation operates two primary grant programs supporting education and research.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
-47.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
102
+1.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+11.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $84K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports two distinct funding areas:
Korean Ancestry Grants (KAG): Scholarship awards to individuals of Asian ancestry, specifically those of Korean descent, to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies in any subject offered by well-established universities throughout the world.
Language Dissertation Fellowships: Grants to individuals of any national origin to pursue graduate studies devoted to the neural bases of language—reflecting Dr. Dingwall's scholarly interests in brain physiology, speech, and language.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides scholarship and fellowship support for both undergraduate and graduate students. The foundation maintains separate application guidelines and FAQs for each of its two primary programs (Korean Ancestry Grants and Language Dissertation Fellowships).
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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
- Total Assets: $3.3 million
- Annual Revenue: $159.7 thousand
- Total Giving: $1 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,132,884 | $2,150,087 | $3,264,050 |
| Revenue | $732,189 | $188,189 | $159,660 |
| Expenses | $1,749,392 | $1,302,152 | $1,341,422 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,083,000 | $963,750 | $1,042,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $610,798 | $64,620 | $50,343 |
| Distributable Amount | $83,798 | $150,810 | $219,120 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Benjamin Lang ($22,500), Jeremy Yeaton ($22,500), Joshua Adjei ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABIGAIL WONG BELMONT, CA | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $7,000 |
| ABIGAIL YOON GREENVILLE, NC | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $12,000 |
| ALISSA SMITH COLUMBUS, OH | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $12,000 |
| ALIX MACKILLOP BRISTOL, RI | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $12,000 |
| ALLISON SHEWCHUCK PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $12,000 |
| AMY RHEE NOVI, MI | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $5,000 |
| ANABEL HOWERY IRVINE, CA | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $4,000 |
| ANGELA KIM PERRY HALL, MD | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $4,000 |
| AUBREY JOON NEWPORT, OR | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $12,000 |
| AUDREY CHYUNG SAN DIEGO, CA | TO DEFRAY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE RECIPIENT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John D Ward, Esq. – President/Director
- Sheldon Steinbach, Esq. – Treasurer/Director
- Dr. Brenda Rapp – Board of Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN D WARD ESQ | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 20 | $255,000 |
| SHELDON STEINBACH ESQ | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 10 | $125,000 |
| DR BRENDA RAPP | BOARD OF DIRECTOR | 10 | $55,000 |
| DR MIMI GHIM | BOARD OF DIRECTOR | 10 | $55,000 |
| DR RANDI MARTIN | BOARD OF DIRECTOR | 10 | $55,000 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: The William Orr Dingwall Foundation PO Box 57088 Washington, DC 20037
Email:
- kag [at] dingwallfoundation [dot] org (Korean Ancestry Grants)
- nl [at] dingwallfoundation [dot] org (Language/Neurolinguistics)
Phone: 202-223-3730
Website: dingwallfoundation.org
EIN: 52-1877552
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports two distinct funding areas: **Korean Ancestry Grants (KAG):** Scholarship awards to individuals of Asian ancestry, specifically those of Korean descent, to pursue undergraduate or graduate studies in any subject offered by well-established universities throughout the world. **Language Dissertation Fellowships:** Grants to individuals of any national origin to pursue graduate studies devoted to the neural bases of language—reflecting Dr. Dingwall's scholarly interests in …
How do I apply for a grant from William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc?
The foundation provides scholarship and fellowship support for both undergraduate and graduate students. The foundation maintains separate application guidelines and FAQs for each of its two primary programs (Korean Ancestry Grants and Language Dissertation Fellowships).
What size grants does William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc awarded 102 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $84K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc's EIN?
William Orr Dingwall Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1877552. 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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