Funding search · EIN 522166327 · Alexandria, VA
Donors Trust
A grantmaking public charity (files IRS Form 990, Schedule I). Charities like this often run real grant programs with application cycles.
- 2,393
- grants reported
- $871.1M
- total given
- 2022–2024
- filing years
- $50,000
- 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
historicalpreservationcenterbuildingeducationmuseumschoolhistoric
Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport 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
- General operating support for free-market and libertarian policy institutes
- Constitutional and public-interest litigation, legal centers, civil liberties
- Conservative media, journalism, and video/curriculum content production
- State-level policy networks and government accountability/transparency groups
- University centers on constitutional law and law & economics
- Election integrity, redistricting, and donor-privacy advocacy
Typical grant
Median grant is $50,000 and the middle half runs $11,000 to $190,000, so most checks are modest. The largest awards, from roughly $1 million to $35 million, go to established national institutions such as America First Legal, State Policy Network, Institute for Justice, and one $35 million hospital gift to MedStar Georgetown. Recipients recur heavily: many organizations appear multiple times in a single year and across years, often at different office locations, which reflects the donor-advised structure behind the giving.
Their words
Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.
- “for general operations”
- “for litigation efforts and general operations”
- “for a donor-advised fund”
- “In support of a specific project”
- “to fund educational resources and training”
Positioning adjacent work
- Attach adjacent research to a funded center model like GMU's Law & Economics Center or Texas A&M's Center on the Structural Constitution.
- Ask in the $50,000 to $200,000 range for a first approach; seven figures goes to known national brands.
- Frame the ask as general operating support rather than a restricted project budget; that is their dominant phrasing.
- Emphasize constitutional structure, free markets, individual liberty, or transparency; avoid framing work as neutral academic inquiry.
Worth knowing: This is a donor-advised fund, so grants follow individual donors' recommendations rather than a foundation program strategy, and cold approaches rarely work without a donor relationship. Giving concentrates sharply in the DC-Virginia corridor (643 of the grants) and among a repeat roster of established conservative and libertarian institutions.
3 grants matching “decriminalizing” · $3.6M
- $1.2M
Decriminalize Sex Work · Austin, TX · 2024
for general operations
- $1.1M
Decriminalize Sex Work · Austin, TX · 2023
for general operations
- $1.3M
Decriminalize Sex Work · Austin, TX · 2022
for general operations
Top recipients
Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.
- Dechomai Asset Trust1 grant · $100.7M
- Medstar Georgetown University Hospital2 grants · $36.0M
- State Policy Network12 grants · $29.0M
- Legion of Christ1 grant · $25.0M
- America First Legal Foundation9 grants · $24.6M
- Consumers' Research4 grants · $21.6M
- Catholic University of America16 grants · $16.8M
- Texas a&M Foundation3 grants · $15.0M
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory1 grant · $14.5M
- Real Clear Foundation6 grants · $14.4M
Giving over time
Grant history
The 100 largest of 2,393 grants.
- $100.7M
Dechomai Asset Trust · Jacksonville, FL · 2023
for a donor-advised fund
- $35.0M
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital · Washington, DC · 2024
for the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute
- $25.0M
Legion of Christ · Roswell, GA · 2023
for general operations
- $20.7M
America First Legal Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
for general operations
- $14.5M
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · C, NY · 2022
for general operations
- $12.7M
Bradley Impact Fund · Milwaukee, WI · 2022
for a donor-advised fund account
- $9.9M
State Policy Network · Arlington, VA · 2023
for general operations
- $9.0M
Consumers' Research · Washington, DC · 2022
for general operations
- $8.5M
State Policy Network · Arlington, VA · 2022
for general operations
- $8.0M
Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine · Cave Junction, OR · 2022
for general operations
- $7.0M
State Policy Network · Arlington, VA · 2024
for general operations
- $7.0M
Institute for Justice · Arlington, VA · 2024
for general operations
- $6.8M
Human Rights Foundation · New York, NY · 2022
for general operations
- $6.5M
Consumers' Research · Washington, DC · 2023
for general operations
- $5.4M
Institute for Justice · Arlington, VA · 2023
for general operations
- $5.2M
Reason Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2023
for general operations
- $5.2M
Federalist Society · Washington, DC · 2023
for general operations
- $5.1M
Consumers' Research · Vienna, VA · 2024
for general operations
- $5.0M
Texas a&M Foundation · College Station, TX · 2024
for the Center on the Structural Constitution
- $5.0M
Texas a&M Foundation · College Station, TX · 2023
for the Center on the Structural Constitution
- $5.0M
Texas a&M Foundation · College Station, TX · 2022
for the Center on the Structural Constitution
- $5.0M
Reason Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2024
for general operations
- $4.7M
Green Light Project · New York, NY · 2022
for general operations
- $4.4M
Teneo Network · Austin, TX · 2024
for general operations
- $4.3M
Acani · New York, NY · 2022
for general operations
- $4.3M
Real Clear Foundation · Northbrook, IL · 2022
for general operations
- $4.3M
Federalist Society · Washington, DC · 2022
for general operations
- $4.3M
Teneo Network · Austin, TX · 2023
for general operations
- $4.2M
Real Clear Foundation · Northbrook, IL · 2024
for general operations
- $4.2M
Gmu Foundation · Arlington, VA · 2022
for the Law & Economics Center
- $4.1M
Catholic University of America · Washington, DC · 2022
for the Knights of Columbus Professor of Law
- $4.1M
Cato Institute · Washington, DC · 2023
for general operations
- $4.0M
Constitutional Defense Fund · Vienna, VA · 2023
for general operations
- $4.0M
Gmu Foundation · Arlington, VA · 2023
for general operations
- $3.9M
Ohio State University Foundation · Columbus, OH · 2022
for the Clark Student Support Fund
- $3.8M
Gmu Foundation · Arlington, VA · 2024
for the Law & Economics Center
- $3.7M
Acani · New York, NY · 2023
for general operations
- $3.7M
Green Light Project · New York, NY · 2023
for general operations
- $3.6M
Constitutional Defense Fund · Vienna, VA · 2022
for general operations
- $3.6M
Lucy Burns Institute · Middleton, WI · 2023
for general operations
- $3.3M
Real Clear Foundation · Northbrook, IL · 2023
for general operations
- $3.2M
Young Americans for Liberty Foundation · Austin, TX · 2022
for general operations
- $3.1M
America First Legal Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023
for general operations
- $3.1M
Lucy Burns Institute · Middleton, WI · 2024
for general operations
- $3.0M
Teneo Network · Austin, TX · 2022
for general operations
- $3.0M
Lucy Burns Institute · Middleton, WI · 2022
for general operations
- $3.0M
Foundation for Constitutional Freedom · Vienna, VA · 2024
for general operations
- $2.9M
One Generation Away · Great Falls, VA · 2022
for general operations
- $2.9M
Mackinac Center for Public Policy · Midland, MI · 2024
for general operations
- $2.8M
Informing America Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
for general operations
- $2.8M
Certell · Indianapolis, IN · 2022
for general operations
- $2.8M
Pacific Legal Foundation · Sacramento, CA · 2023
for general operations
- $2.8M
Acani · New York, NY · 2024
for general operations
- $2.8M
Pacific Legal Foundation · Sacramento, CA · 2024
for general operations
- $2.8M
Competitive Enterprise Institute · Washington, DC · 2024
for general operations
- $2.8M
Do No Harm · Glen Allen, VA · 2024
for litigation efforts and general operations
- $2.7M
Competitive Enterprise Institute · Washington, DC · 2023
for general operations
- $2.6M
Green Light Project · New York, NY · 2024
for general operations
- $2.5M
Discovery Institute · Seattle, WA · 2022
for general operations
- $2.5M
Discovery Institute · Seattle, WA · 2023
for general operations
- $2.5M
Foundation for Government Accountability · Naples, FL · 2022
for general operations
- $2.5M
Passages America Israel · Allen, TX · 2024
for general operations
- $2.5M
Passages America Israel · Allen, TX · 2023
for general operations
- $2.5M
Real Clear Foundation · Northbrook, IL · 2023
for Real Clear Politics
- $2.5M
Passages America Israel · Allen, TX · 2022
for general operations, plus one trip to Israel for Teneo each year
- $2.5M
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (Fire) · Philadelphia, PA · 2024
for general operations
- $2.4M
Perc · Bozeman, MT · 2024
for general operations
- $2.4M
State Policy Network · Washington, DC · 2024
for general operations
- $2.4M
Middle East Forum · New York, NY · 2023
for general operations
- $2.4M
With Angels Foundation · Hallendale Beach, FL · 2022
for Ukraine Operation Sunflower
- $2.3M
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (Fire) · Philadelphia, PA · 2023
for general operations
- $2.3M
Fdrlst Media Foundation · Northbrook, IL · 2022
for general operations
- $2.3M
Foundation for Government Accountability · Naples, FL · 2023
for general operations
- $2.3M
Schwab Charitable Gift Fund · Orlando, FL · 2024
for a donor-advised fund
- $2.3M
Middle East Forum · Philadelphia, PA · 2022
for general operations
- $2.2M
Perc · Bozeman, MT · 2023
for general operations
- $2.2M
Mackinac Center for Public Policy · Midland, MI · 2023
for general operations
- $2.2M
Club for Growth Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022
for general operations
- $2.1M
With Angels Foundation · Hallendale Beach, FL · 2023
for Ukraine humanitarian aid
- $2.1M
Success Academy Charter Schools · New York, NY · 2022
for general operations
- $2.0M
Mackinac Center for Public Policy · Midland, MI · 2022
for general operations
- $2.0M
Foundation for Government Accountability · Naples, FL · 2024
for general operations
- $2.0M
Aging With Dignity · Tallahassee, FL · 2024
for general operations
- $2.0M
Missionaries of Charity · Bronx, NY · 2024
for general operations
- $2.0M
One Generation Away · Great Falls, VA · 2024
for general operations
- $2.0M
Susan B Anthony List Education Fund · Arlington, VA · 2024
for the Her PLAN program
- $2.0M
Aging With Dignity · Tallahassee, FL · 2023
for general operations
- $2.0M
Catholic University of America · Washington, DC · 2023
for the Bellarmine Professorship
- $2.0M
Informing America Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023
for general operations
- $2.0M
Catholic University of America · Washington, DC · 2022
for the Institute for Human Ecology
- $1.9M
Americans for Public Trust · Alexandria, VA · 2024
for general operations
- $1.9M
Discovery Institute · Seattle, WA · 2024
for general operations
- $1.8M
Daily Caller News Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024
for general operations
- $1.8M
Human Rights Foundation · New York, NY · 2023
for Ukraine Solidarity
- $1.7M
People United for Privacy Foundation · Glendale, AZ · 2022
for general operations
- $1.7M
Do No Harm · Glen Allen, VA · 2023
for general operations
- $1.7M
Informing America Foundation · Rockville, MD · 2024
for general operations
- $1.7M
Acton Institute · Grand Rapids, MI · 2023
for general operations
- $1.6M
Moving Picture Institute · New York, NY · 2024
for general operations
- $1.6M
Certell · Indianapolis, IN · 2023
for general operations
Who else funds this kind of work
Same state
- US Committee for Refugees and429 grants · $685.5M
- The Nature Conservancy2,825 grants · $306.1M
- George Mason University Foundation46 grants · $399.9M
Similar purposes
- The William G Pomeroy Foundation878 grants · $14.7M
- Jay and Jean Schottenstein Foundation202 grants · $47.1M
- Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust509 grants · $58.5M
Similar grant size
- Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral16,278 grants · $1.08B
- Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund19,135 grants · $6.79B
- The Chicago Community Trust14,939 grants · $5.82B
Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.
Search funders like this oneSource: IRS Form 990, Schedule I, as filed by this organization. These are grants already paid. Grants paid directly to individuals are reported to the IRS only as totals, so they do not appear as named lines here.

