Funding search · EIN 203672969 · Bethesda, MD

Diana Davis Spencer Foundation

Name: Diana Davis Spencer Foundation grants, 2022–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

424
grants reported: $215.6M
total given: 2022–2024
filing years: $187,500
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2022–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

educational education public research outreach policy youth

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Conservative and libertarian policy institutes, mostly Washington DC
Campus free speech and higher education reform projects
Civics, constitutional and classical education programs
Military families, veterans, and 9/11 memorial support
Vision research, nursing, and hospital capital campaigns
Maine coastal community services and food security

Typical grant

Median grant is $187,500, with the middle half between $50,000 and $400,000. The seven-figure checks go to national conservative institutions and named capital projects like Hillsdale's graduate school, Heritage, the Federalist Society, and Texas A&M's Bush School, plus donor advised fund transfers to Donors Trust that exceed $11 million. Repeat giving is common, with Chapel Haven, Gloucester Institute, Institute for Responsible Citizenship, and the National Center for Public Policy Research each receiving multiple grants in a single year.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING”
“GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT”
“PROJECT”
“FREE SPEECH”
“RESEARCH AND EDUCATION”

Positioning adjacent work

Frame work as a named 'Project' with a defined outcome, the phrasing used across nearly every grant line.
Ask $200,000 to $400,000 for a first approach; seven figures follows established relationships.
Connect health research to their vision, nursing, and caregiver interests rather than generic biomedical framing.
Emphasize liberty, constitutional principles, or national security competition with China, Russia, and Iran.

Worth knowing: Giving is heavily concentrated in the DC-Virginia-Maryland corridor plus a distinct Maine cluster around Bar Harbor tied to family ties, and the ideological screen is strong: most policy money goes to established conservative organizations. Over $11 million flowed through Donors Trust donor advised funds in 2024, meaning a portion of the giving never appears as a direct grant and is not reachable by outside solicitation.

4 grants matching “bullying” · $1.3M

$1.0M
Bullis School · Potomac, MD · 2024
Scholarships and technology inverstments
$100,000
Bullis School · Potomac, MD · 2024
Financial aid
$100,000
Bullis School · Potomac, MD · 2023
Financial aid scholarship program
$100,000
Bullis School · Potomac, MD · 2022
Financial aid program

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Donors Trust11 grants · $35.6M
Masters School3 grants · $20.1M
Texas a&M University3 grants · $14.0M
Hillsdale College3 grants · $12.0M
Heritage Foundation4 grants · $11.5M
Media Research Center4 grants · $5.0M
Tim Tebow Foundation2 grants · $5.0M
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation2 grants · $4.0M
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies2 grants · $4.0M
Caring for Military Families the Elizabeth Dole Foundation5 grants · $3.0M

Giving over time

$81.9M

2022

$67.3M

2023

$66.3M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 424 grants.

$20.0M
Masters School · Dobbs Ferry, NY · 2022
Faculty support
$14.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2022
Donor advised fund contribution
$7.0M
Texas a&M University · College Station, TX · 2022
Graduate national security programs
$5.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2024
Donor advised fund contribution
$5.0M
Heritage Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
Education and research
$5.0M
Hillsdale College · Hillsdale, MI · 2024
Construction of the graduate school of classical education and endowment
$5.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2023
Donor advised fund contribution
$5.0M
Heritage Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023
Public policy and research programs
$5.0M
Hillsdale College · Hillsdale, MI · 2023
Higher education initiatives
$3.5M
Texas a&M University · College Station, TX · 2024
Bush school of government and public service graduate program
$3.5M
Texas a&M University · College Station, TX · 2023
Graduate national security programs
$3.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2024
Donor advised fund contribution
$3.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2023
Donor advised fund contribution
$2.5M
Independent Women'S Forum · Winchester, VA · 2024
The winning women program
$2.5M
Tim Tebow Foundation · Jacksonville, FL · 2023
Disability services and family support
$2.5M
Tim Tebow Foundation · Jacksonville, FL · 2022
Youth education and social services
$2.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2024
Donor advised fund contribution
$2.0M
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation · Center City, MN · 2024
Family and children's programs
$2.0M
Mayo Clinic · Rochester, MN · 2024
Support of integrated clinical practice, education and research
$2.0M
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies · Washington, DC · 2024
Educational programs
$2.0M
The Jackson Laboratory · Farmington, CT · 2024
Vision research
$2.0M
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation · Center City, MN · 2023
Family and children's health programs
$2.0M
Media Research Center · Reston, VA · 2023
Public educational outreach
$2.0M
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies · Washington, DC · 2023
Graduate national security programs
$2.0M
Hillsdale College · Hillsdale, MI · 2022
Scholarship endowments
$2.0M
Media Research Center · Reston, VA · 2022
Public educational outreach
$1.9M
Independent Womens Forum (Iwf) · Winchester, VA · 2022
Public policy education and research
$1.5M
Heritage Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022
Public policy research and education
$1.5M
Informing America · Washington, DC · 2022
Public interest journalism and educational outreach
$1.3M
Pentagon Memorial Fund · Arlington, VA · 2024
9/11 pentagon memorial visitor education center and general operating funds
$1.3M
Pentagon Memorial Fund · Arlington, VA · 2023
Towards the 9/11 pentagon memorial visitor education center
$1.2M
Independent Women'S Forum (Iwf) · Winchester, VA · 2023
Public policy education and research
$1.0M
Caring for Military Families the Elizabeth Dole Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022
Veteran families programs
$1.0M
American Council of Trustees and Alumni · Washington, DC · 2024
Reclaiming america's heritage of free speech in higher education program
$1.0M
Bullis School · Potomac, MD · 2024
Scholarships and technology inverstments
$1.0M
Caring for Military Families the Elizabeth Dole Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
Towards heroes & history makers celebration
$1.0M
Chapel Haven · New Haven, CT · 2024
General operating support
$1.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2024
Donor advised fund contribution
$1.0M
Foundation Fighting Blindness · Columbia, MD · 2024
Research and career development award program
$1.0M
Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education · Princeton, NJ · 2024
Renew universities from within project
$1.0M
Intercollegiate Studies Institute · Wilmington, DE · 2024
Campus conference center construction support
$1.0M
Media Research Center · Herndon, VA · 2024
Unleash free speech project
$1.0M
American Council of Trustees and Alumni · Washington, DC · 2023
Higher education programs
$1.0M
Caring for Military Families the Elizabeth Dole Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023
Military caregiver support
$1.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2023
Donor advised fund contribution
$1.0M
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2023
Donor advised fund contribution
$1.0M
Foundation Fighting Blindness · Columbia, MD · 2023
Medical research
$1.0M
Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education · Princeton, NJ · 2023
Campus educational initiatives
$1.0M
Intercollegiate Studies Institute · Wilmington, DE · 2023
Higher education initiatives
$1.0M
American Council of Trustees and Alumni · Washington, DC · 2022
Higher education programs
$1.0M
Charlotte Lozier Institute Aka Susan B Anthony List · Arlington, VA · 2022
Public educational outreach
$1.0M
Foundation Fighting Blindness · Columbia, MD · 2022
Medical research
$1.0M
Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education · Princeton, NJ · 2022
Campus educational initiatives
$1.0M
Middle East Media and Research Institute · Washington, DC · 2022
Public educational outreach
$900,000
Middle East Media Research Institute · Washington, DC · 2023
Public educational outreach
$900,000
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022
Public educational programs
$800,000
Mysa School · Washington, DC · 2024
Model expansion project
$800,000
Donors Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2023
Donor advised fund contribution
$800,000
Mysa School · Washington, DC · 2023
Youth educational initiatives
$800,000
Free To Choose Network · Erie, PA · 2022
Educational publications and media
$750,000
Iron Star Foundation Corp · Stevensville, MD · 2024
General operating support
$700,000
Fund for American Studies · Washington, DC · 2024
Developing courageous leaders for liberty project
$700,000
Our Community Salutes-USA · New Jersey, NJ · 2024
Military enlistee and family programs
$700,000
Our Community Salutes-USA · Cherry Hill, NJ · 2023
High school programs
$700,000
The Fund for American Studies · Washington, DC · 2023
Higher education initiatives
$700,000
Our Community Salutes - USA · Cherry Hill, NJ · 2022
High school programs
$600,000
American Private Radio · Oxford, MS · 2024
Educational programming
$600,000
American Strategy Group (the Claremont Strategy Group Inc) · Claremont, CA · 2024
Educational programming
$600,000
Gloucester Institute · Gloucester, VA · 2024
Programs and capacity building
$600,000
Middle East Media Research Institute · Washington, DC · 2024
Russia-china-iran new alliance/china project
$600,000
Teneo Network · Austin, TX · 2024
Education programs
$600,000
American Private Radio · Oxford, MS · 2023
Educational programs
$600,000
Free To Choose Network · Erie, PA · 2023
Educational publications and media
$600,000
National Center for Public Policy Research · Washington, DC · 2023
Disabilities research and education
$600,000
Teneo Network · Austin, TX · 2023
Public education and leadership training programs
$600,000
Best Friends Foundation · Chevy Chase, MD · 2022
Social-emotional learning programs
$560,000
Best Friends Foundation · Chevy Chase, MD · 2023
Youth social-emotional learning programs
$500,000
American Swiss Foundation · New York, NY · 2024
Strengthening operations, existing programs, and activating the alumni network of the young leaders conference
$500,000
Chapel Haven Endowment · New Haven, CT · 2024
Staff investment fund
$500,000
Chapel Haven · New Haven, CT · 2024
Fund for staff salaries and benefits
$500,000
Culture Wise Studies · Camarillo, CA · 2024
General operating support
$500,000
United Service Organizations · Arlington, VA · 2024
European expansion & family support campaign
$500,000
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
Countering communist influence through public education, research, and policy studies projects
$500,000
American Strategy Group · Claremont, CA · 2023
Research and education
$500,000
Capital Research Center · Washington, DC · 2023
Core programs
$500,000
Chapel Haven Endowment · New Haven, CT · 2023
Disabilities education and social services
$500,000
Chapel Haven · New Haven, CT · 2023
Disabilities education and social services
$500,000
Crossxreach · Delray Beach, FL · 2023
Alcohol and drug prevention
$500,000
Donors Trust · Alexandria, DC · 2023
Donor advised fund contribution
$500,000
Gloucester Institute · Gloucester, VA · 2023
Youth leadership programs
$500,000
Moving Picture Institute · New York, NY · 2023
General operating support
$500,000
United Service Organizations · Arlington, VA · 2023
Military family support
$500,000
Darrow School · New Lebanon, NY · 2022
Environmental center
$500,000
Gloucester Institute · Tysons Corner, VA · 2022
Youth leadership programs
$500,000
Institute for Responsible Citizenship · Washington, DC · 2022
Towards summer programs in washington, d.c.
$500,000
Job Creators Network Foundation · Addison, TX · 2022
Public educational outreach
$500,000
Moving Picture Institute · New York, NY · 2022
Educational media production
$500,000
Teneo Network · Austin, TX · 2022
Public education and leadership training programs
$475,000
Culture Wise Studies · Camarillo, CA · 2023
Public educational outreach
$475,000
Consumer Action Network · Washington, DC · 2022
Social services

View all 424 grants →

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.