Dorsey & Whitney Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation supports arts and culture, legal aid organizations, housing and community development and education in geographic areas served by its parent law firm.
IP TAKE: While this foundation is accessible, Dorsey & Whitney’s grantmaking prioritizes organizations with which its attorneys maintain interest and involvement. The foundation accepts applications and provides guidelines and forms on its website. Network with this foundation’s affiliated attorneys to champion your work and increase funding chances. This has become a more inclusive and supportive funder over time.
PROFILE: The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation is the philanthropic arm Dorsey & Whitney, a U.S. corporate law firm with operations around the world. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the foundation was established in 1982 by the firm’s partners and is committed to supporting cultural, civic, educational and social welfare causes in the communities where Dorsey & Whitney attorneys live and work. The foundation prioritizes organizations in which its attorneys maintain interest and involvement, as well as organizations that contribute significantly to the “well-being and cultural vitality” of communities served. More than half of its grants are directed toward organizations in the state of Minnesota. This funder maintains a sparse webpage and does not outline specific goals for its grantmaking.
It is worth noting that this foundation’s parent law firm has provided pro bono legal services to people and organizations “in need” for over one hundred years. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Dorsey & Whitney ended its longstanding relationship with the city, for which it provided legal services in employee misdemeanor cases, including those involving police officers. Instead, the organization made a commitment to support organizations involved in racial justice and minority-owned businesses.
Grants for Arts and Culture
Recent tax filings suggest that arts and culture is the foundation’s largest area of grantmaking interest and that most arts and culture grants support Minnesotan nonprofits. Past grantees include the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota Institute of Art, the Minnesota Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra and Minneapolis’s Guthrie Theatre. Outside of Minnesota, the foundation has supported the Arts Fund of Seattle, New York City’s Theatre Forward and the Utah Symphony and Opera Company.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation maintains a strong interest in the legal representation of underserved individuals and families and has awarded grants to organizations that provide pro-bono or low-cost representation and advocacy services. Past grantees in this area include the Fund for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, the King County Bar Foundation, the Antidefamation League and New York City’s Center for Family Representation. Another grantee, New York’s Fund for Modern Courts, aims to improve and strengthen the independence of New York State’s judiciary system.
Grants for Housing and Community Development
The foundation has demonstrated an interest in supporting homeless shelters and affordable housing initiatives in communities served by its parent company. Past housing grantees include Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Seattle’s Social Venture Partnership, Dallas’s Family Gateway Shelters and Covenant House Alaska.
Grants for K-12 Education
This funder does not name specific goals for its K-12 grantmaking but has provided support to private schools and out-of-school learning organizations. Past grantees include Dallas Academy, St. Peter’s Preparatory School in New Jersey, College Possible, After School All Stars and New York City’s Cook Center for Learning and Development, which serves students with special needs.
Grants for Higher Education
Dorsey & Whitney’s higher education grants tend to support large public and private universities. Public university grantees include the University of Minnesota and the University of Boulder. The foundation has also given to Seattle University, a Jesuit institution.
Important Grant Details:
The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation has awarded over $2 million in grants in recent years. Grants range from a few thousand to $500,000, with an average grant size of about $7500. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings.
This funder accepts applications for funding, and board members meet each May and November to discuss requests. Guidelines and application forms are available at the foundation’s website. General inquiries may be directed to Rose Wilson via email or telephone at (612) 340-2847.
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