Dorrance Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Dorrance Family Foundation focuses grantmaking on arts, children’s health, animal welfare, animal therapy for veterans and youth with disabilities, sustainable agriculture, organizational effectiveness and capacity, mission investing, and natural resource conservation projects in Arizona, California, and Hawaii.
IP TAKE: The Dorrance Family Foundation is a low-profile regional funder that makes modest grants for name may be most familiar for conservation, community development, and education in its giving region. It is well-known for its local first-generation scholarship program, but its education and environmental grant opportunities should be on Arizona nonprofits’ radar as well. This is not the most transparent funder, with no database or list of past grantees available on its website, but it is fairly accessible, as it accepts letters of inquiry year round. Since the foundation does not provide very detailed information about its grantmaking focuses, priorities, or strategy, it may be helpful to review its past tax filings to get a better idea of the types of organizations it supports before submitting a letter of inquiry.
PROFILE: Established in 1991, the Dorrance Family Foundation (DFF) is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is the foundation of Bennett Dorrance, a co-owner of the Campbell Soup Company, which was founded by his grandfather John T. Dorrance. Bennett Dorrance graduated from University of Arizona. Dorrance is also a founding partner of DMB Associates, a real estate development firm with projects in Arizona, Utah, California and Hawaii. Born in Caracas, Jacquie Dorrance is active in civic life in Paradise Valley, Arizona. She acquired restaurant El Chorro in 2009.
The Dorrance Family Foundation aims to support “projects that work to resolve societal, educational and environmental problems strategically and make our communities a better place.” Its grantmaking centers around Arizona, California, and Hawaii, with areas of interest including arts, children’s health, animal welfare, animal therapy for veterans and disabled youth, sustainable agriculture, organizational effectiveness and capacity, mission investing and natural resource conservation.
Grants for Marine and Freshwater
DFF’s Marine Conservation Initiative is its signature grantmaking program, providing funding for nonprofits with “demonstrated expertise in improving ocean health through the recovery, restoration, regeneration, and protection of marine habitat and biodiversity.” It focuses on forests, marine and coastal areas, rivers and streams, wetlands and watersheds, wildlife habitats, and sustainable agriculture and land management, with a priority on “coastal and nearshore ecosystems and the imperiled species they harbor; coral reefs, estuaries, and bays.”
Past grantees include Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, San Diego Coastkeeper, Kohala Center, Resources Legacy Fund, Ocean Defenders Alliance, American Bird Conservancy, Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Marine Mammal Center.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
DFF’s education grantmaking revolves around low-income and underserved students, first generation graduates, literacy, quality teacher training and recruitment, and science and technology education. The foundation also awards grants to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education organizations. To support Arizona’s first-generation college students, DFF established a scholarship program in 1999.
Dorrance Scholarship Programs supports around 150 students at Arizona’s three public universities and at South Mountain Community College. The scholarships are part of signature program at the Arizona Community Foundation.
One of DFF’s biggest beneficiaries is Arizona State University, which regularly receives over $1 million per year. Other grantees include Parker School, Brentwood School, Not My Kid, North Kohala Community Resource Center, Kawaihae Canoe Club, and Miss Foundation.
Grants for Community Development and Public Health
DFF’s Local Grantmaking program supports efforts relating to “the arts, children’s health, animal welfare, animal therapy, sustainable agriculture, organizational effectiveness and capacity, and natural resource conservation projects” in Arizona, California, and Hawaii. The foundation primarily supports locally-based nonprofits providing direct service to their communities, rather than regional branches of large, national organizations.
Past grantees include Friends of the Future, Venice Family Clinic, Kahua Paa Mua, Banner Health Foundation, Vibrant Hawaii, Csnk2a1 Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii Public Radio, and Foothill Family.
Important Grant Details:
Foundation grants often range from $25,000 to $100,000, but select long-term grantees may receive up to $1 million a year. The funder does not have an online grants database, but grantseekers may review the foundation’s tax filings for more information on the types of organizations it supports.
The Dorrance Family Foundation’s funding is limited to nonprofits based in and serving communities of California, Hawaii, and Arizona.
DFF accepts letters of inquiry for its local grantmaking year round, but full proposals are by invitation only.
The foundation staff meets two or three times each year to review applications and award grants.
Direct general questions to the staff at 480-367-7000 or via online form.
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