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Grant funders / Nevada / Dorothy Lemelson Foundation

Dorothy Lemelson Foundation

Reno, Nevada  ·  EIN 455079187  ·  Private foundation

Based in Reno, Nevada, Dorothy Lemelson Foundation has awarded $7.9M across 152 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Smile Train. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$833K
Annual giving (FY2020)
$1.6M
Total assets
152
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What Dorothy Lemelson Foundation funds

Dorothy Lemelson Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, education, disaster relief & emergency aid, health care, higher education, and related causes.

Arts & CultureEducationDisaster Relief & Emergency AidHealth CareHigher EducationHousing & HomelessnessLibraries & LiteracyMental HealthYouth Development

Populations it has supported include black communities, children, families, foster youth, homeless population, low-income communities.

black communitieschildrenfamiliesfoster youthhomeless populationlow-income communitiesyouth pop

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Dorothy Lemelson Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Smile Train
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR PROGRAM PROVIDING CORRECTIVE SURGERY FOR CLEFT LIPS AND PALATES.
Washington, DC$1.0M2023
Bridge Meadows
CONSTRUCTION COST
Portland, OR$750K2018
The National Musuem of American History Smithsonian Institution
PROVIDED ARCHIVAL MATERIALS TO BE USED FOR STANDARD MUSEUM PURPOSES FOR EDUCATION AND NONPROIFT ACTIVITIES
Washington, DC$600K2024
Georgia Reslience and Opportunity Fund
SUPPORT FOR THE BABY BONDS PILOT PROGRAM
Atlanta, GA$500K2024
New Avenues for Youth
PROGRAMS
Portland, OR$200K2020
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$25,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE HEAD CLINICAL SUPERVISOR FOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE$175,000 IN SUPPORT OF PAYING THE TUITION, ENGINEE
Reno, NV$200K2022
New Meadows
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Portland, OR$200K2022
New Avenues for Youth
PROGRAMS
Portland, OR$200K2018
University of Nevada Reno Foundation
$25,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE HEAD CLINICAL SUPERVISOR FOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE FUND$175,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE STEM TEACHER COHOR
Reno, NV$200K2023
Washoe County School District
$146,906 SUPPORT FOR 2024-2025 STEM COORDINATOR AT THE DOROTHY LEMELSON STEM ACADEMY (ANY EXCESS IS TO BE USED IN FURTHERANCE OF EDUCATIONAL
Reno, NV$187K2024
Washoe County School District
$118,586 FOR 2023-2024 STEM COORDINATOR AT THE DOROTHY LEMELSON STEM ACADEMY (ANY EXCESS IS TO BE USED IN FURTHERANCE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Reno, NV$156K2023
Unr Foundation
SCHOLARSHIP
Reno, NV$145K2020
Unr Foundation
SCHOLARSHIP
Reno, NV$134K2018
Washoe County School District
$98,945 FOR 2022-2023 STEM COORDINATOR AT THE DOROTHY LEMELSON STEM ACADEMY$1,055 FOR THE DOROTHY LEMELSON STEM ACADEMY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVIT
Reno, NV$129K2022
Planned Parenthood Cascade Willamette
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF THE EASTERN OREGON EDUCATION EXPANSION
Portland, OR$125K2022

Dorothy Lemelson Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2018$1.4M
2020$833K
2022$1.2M
2023$2.0M
2024$2.5M

How to apply for funding from Dorothy Lemelson Foundation

Dorothy Lemelson Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal.

Is Dorothy Lemelson Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?

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Frequently asked questions about Dorothy Lemelson Foundation

Does Dorothy Lemelson Foundation accept grant applications?
Dorothy Lemelson Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does Dorothy Lemelson Foundation fund?
Dorothy Lemelson Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Smile Train, Bridge Meadows, The National Musuem of American History Smithsonian Institution. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Dorothy Lemelson Foundation give in grants?
Dorothy Lemelson Foundation reported $833K in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $7.9M over 152 grants.
Where is Dorothy Lemelson Foundation located?
Dorothy Lemelson Foundation is based in Reno, Nevada. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 455079187.
How can I find foundations similar to Dorothy Lemelson Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Dorothy Lemelson Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to Dorothy Lemelson Foundation

Other Nevada grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from Dorothy Lemelson Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Dorothy Lemelson Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.