Dsf Charitable Foundation Inc
Vero Beach, FL · EIN 25-1847237. Reported 106 grants totalling $18.6M to 69 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Dsf Charitable Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $75,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $40,000 and $125,000; the smallest was $5,000 and the largest $3,250,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Coast Zoological Society | Melbourne, FL | $3,750,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Saint Vincent College | Lotrobe, PA | $3,250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family House | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,000,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Pittsburgh - Va Mri Calibration Project | Pittsburgh, PA | $649,892 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Presbyterian Seniorcare | Oakmont, PA | $616,034 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens | Pittsburgh, PA | $612,581 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Shady Side Academy | Pittsburgh, PA | $600,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX | $450,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Samaritan's Purse | Boone, NC | $300,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wake Forest University | Winstonsalem, NC | $300,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg, PA | $260,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Christian Appalachian Project | Paintsville, KY | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Woodlands Foundation | Wexford, PA | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | $217,710 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Leadership Pittsburgh - Clcv | Pittsburgh, PA | $207,300 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| National World War II Museum | New Orleans, LA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard | Pittsburgh, PA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Fort Ligonier Society (fort Ligonier Museum) | Ligonier, PA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of Pittsburgh Fisher House | Pittsburgh, PA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Grove City College | Grove City, PA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ligonier Camp and Conference Center | Ligonier, PA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor of Pa | Pittsburgh, PA | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Outdoor Odyssey at Roaring Run | Boswell, PA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pittsburgh Zoo & Ppg Aquarium | Pittsburgh, PA | $150,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Verland | Sewickley, PA | $145,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pittsburgh Hires Veterans | Pittsburgh, PA | $140,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society | West Palm Beach, FL | $124,995 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hosanna Industries | Gibsonia, PA | $120,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul Council of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $120,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Leadership Pittsburgh Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $107,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chron's & Colitis Foundation of America | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Human Services Center Corp (dba Hsc Mon Valley) | Turtle Creek, PA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Life's Work of Western Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mainstay Life Services | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pa Connecting Communities | Carnegie, PA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Primary Care Health Services | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township, PA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Progeria Research Foundation | Peabody, MA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Valley Youth Network | Ligonier, PA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Volunteer Florida Foundation | Tallahassee, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Volunteer Florida Foundation (for Florida Disaster Fund) | Tallahassee, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Syracuse Univ Institute for Veterans and Military Families | Syracuse, NY | $84,425 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sarah Heinz House | Pittsburgh, PA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Anthony School Programs | Wexford, PA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Sunshine Foundation | Southhampton, PA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Westmoreland County Blind Association | Greensburg, PA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Pittsburgh Center for Military Medicine Research | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Arc of Butler County | Butler, PA | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| One Day to Remember | Pittsburgh, PA | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Hills Community Outreach | Allison Park, PA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania | Wexford, PA | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Community Living and Support Services | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mary and Alexander Laughlin Childrens Center | Sewickley, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shepherd's Heart Fellowship | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Blessing Board | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Apraxia Kids | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Blind & Vision Rehabiliation Services | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Depaul School for Hearing & Speech | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Urban Impact Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Camp Haven Inc | Vero Beach, FL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Veterans Breakfast Club | Pittsburgh, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Good Counsel Inc | Secaucus, NJ | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Food Pantry of Indian River County Inc | Vero Beach, FL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | $14,550 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Ellis School | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
28 of 69 (41%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 37%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Saint Vincent College
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM, NURSING EDUCATION BUILDING - East Coast Zoological Society
CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR NEW AQUARIUM AND CONSERVATION CENTER - Family House
FAMILY HOUSE LIBERTY AVENUE - University of Pittsburgh - Va Mri Calibration Project
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MRI CALIBRATION PROJECT - Presbyterian Seniorcare
VALIDATION AND SCALING OF DEMENTIA360 - Christian Appalachian Project
CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR FOOD PANTRY AND CLOTHING OUTLET
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 76 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28 | $3,290,125 | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 27 | $3,820,753 | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 26 | $5,154,916 | $87,500 |
| 2024 | 25 | $6,311,693 | $100,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Dsf Charitable Foundation Inc has 34 of them, worth $8,040,599. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| East Coast Zoological Society | Melbourne, FL | $2,500,000 |
| Saint Vincent College | Lotrobe, PA | $1,750,000 |
| Family House | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000,000 |
| Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens | Pittsburgh, PA | $408,388 |
| Leadership Pittsburgh Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $320,000 |
| Presbyterian Seniorcare | Oakmont, PA | $258,017 |
| Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens | Pittsburgh, PA | $204,194 |
| Friends of Pittsburgh Fisher House | Pittsburgh, PA | $150,000 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX | $150,000 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg, PA | $125,000 |
| Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh, PA | $100,000 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor of Pa | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,000 |
| Pittsburgh Hires Veterans | Pittsburgh, PA | $70,000 |
| Hosanna Industries | Gibsonia, PA | $60,000 |
Where its money goes
67% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
Get funders for your state and cause by email
We email you funders that gave to organizations in your state and cause, up to five at a time each week and never the same one twice, from their own IRS filings. Free. The weekly email has not started yet.
Unsubscribe in one click from any email. We never sell or share your address. To match on your organization and typical grant size too, keep a private profile.
Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $75,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Dsf Charitable Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 2210 Sanderling Lane, Vero Beach, FL, 32963. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 25-1847237 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.