Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $793,528 (2024)
• Success Rate: 12-30% (estimated from institutional nominations)
• Decision Time: 5-6 months
• Grant Range: $18,000 stipend + full tuition (approximately $36,000-$80,000+ total annual value)
• Geographic Focus: United States (60 designated universities)

Contact Details

Administrative Contact:

• Cory Whitlock, Grants Manager
• JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Trustee)
• PO Box 227237, Dallas, TX 75222-7237
• Website: https://www.jpmorgan.com/private-bank/foundations/liebmann
• Publications Officer: Lindsey Crane (lindsey.s.crane@jpmorgan.com)

Important Note: DO NOT contact JPMorgan or selection committee members directly - all inquiries must go through designated university fellowship offices.

Overview

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund, established in 1991 through the will of Dolores Zohrab Liebmann, is a perpetual charitable trust that awards prestigious graduate fellowships to U.S. citizen students at approximately 60 designated American universities. With annual giving of approximately $800,000, the fund supports 22-37 fellows each year with full tuition and $18,000 living stipends. Founded by the daughter of prominent Armenian intellectual Krikor Zohrab who was killed during the Armenian Genocide, the fund reflects Mrs. Liebmann's deep commitment to education and supporting students of outstanding character and academic promise across all fields of study.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship: Full tuition + $18,000 annual stipend
  • Initial one-year award, renewable for up to 3 years total
  • Application through designated university nomination only
  • Awards announced mid-June annually

Priority Areas

• All recognized academic fields including:
  • Humanities
  • Social sciences
  • Natural sciences
  • Professional programs (law, medicine, engineering, architecture)
• Strong preference for scholarly endeavors
• Emphasis on character and promise for achievement

What They Don't Fund

• International students (U.S. citizens only)
• Undergraduate students or prospective students
• Students at non-designated institutions
• Study conducted outside the United States
• University fees (tuition only, not fees)
• Direct applications from individuals (must be nominated by institution)

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Selection Committee: External committee reviews all institutional nominations (members not publicly disclosed)

The fund operates according to Mrs. Liebmann's Will, which emphasizes supporting students of "outstanding character" with "promise for achievement and distinction in their chosen fields of study."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This fund does not accept direct applications. Students must:

1. Be enrolled at one of 60 designated universities
2. Apply through their university's fellowship office
3. Be selected as one of 2-3 institutional nominees
4. Have nomination forwarded to external selection committee

Decision Timeline

• October: Application materials distributed to universities
• Early January (typically January 5): Internal campus deadlines
• January-May: External selection committee review
• Mid-June: Recipients notified
• March 31: Annual renewal applications due (no reminder sent)

Success Rates

• Approximately 120-180 total nominations annually (60 institutions × 2-3 nominees each)
• 22-37 fellowships awarded annually
• Estimated success rate: 12-30%

Reapplication Policy

• Students not selected may be re-nominated by their institution in subsequent years
• Current fellows must apply for renewal by March 31 annually (maximum 3 years total funding)

Application Success Factors

Based on the fund's stated criteria and Mrs. Liebmann's Will:

• Outstanding undergraduate record is paramount - The fund explicitly requires "outstanding undergraduate record"
• Demonstrate genuine financial need - Must show clear need for financial assistance
• Character matters significantly - Mrs. Liebmann specifically emphasized "outstanding character" in her Will
• Scholarly endeavors are strongly preferred - The selection committee has stated preference for academic/research pursuits
• Strong institutional support essential - Since only 2-3 students per institution are nominated, internal selection is highly competitive
• Clear academic and professional goals - Statement of Purpose must articulate relationship between graduate study and future goals
• U.S. citizenship is mandatory - International students are ineligible regardless of other qualifications

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Individual fellowship program only - organizations cannot apply for grants
• Students cannot apply directly - must be nominated by one of 60 designated universities
• Extremely competitive with estimated 12-30% success rate from institutional nominations
• Renewable for up to 3 years but fellows must remember to apply for renewal by March 31 (no reminder sent)
• Full tuition coverage plus $18,000 stipend makes this one of the most generous graduate fellowships
• Strong emphasis on character assessment alongside academic excellence
• All study must be conducted within the United States for duration of fellowship

References

• JPMorgan Private Bank Foundations - Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund. https://www.jpmorgan.com/private-bank/foundations/liebmann (Accessed February 2026)
• IRS 990 Report via Instrumentl. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/dolores-zohrab-liebmann-fund-xxxxx6001 (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ Nonprofit Database. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/dolores-zohrab-liebmann-fund,133682433/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Wikipedia - Dolores Zohrab Liebmann. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Zohrab_Liebmann (Accessed February 2026)
• Zohrab Center - Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Biography. https://zohrabcenter.org/dolores-zohrab-liebmann/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Multiple university fellowship office websites including Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, University of Chicago, Yale, Georgetown, University of Pennsylvania (Accessed February 2026)