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Dinan Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,000,000 (approximately)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $11 - $2,050,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, Massachusetts, and Florida; focused on Northeast United States

Contact Details

Address: 520 Island Drive, Palm Beach, FL 33480

Note: The foundation does not have publicly listed contact information and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

Founded in 1997 and tax-exempt since March 1999, the Dinan Family Foundation is a private independent foundation with assets of approximately $63 million and annual giving of around $5 million. The foundation is led by James G. Dinan, founder of York Capital Management, and his wife Elizabeth Miller. Their philanthropic approach focuses on supporting preselected organizations primarily in education, human services, health, arts and culture, and athletics. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, with grants typically ranging from small contributions to major gifts exceeding $2 million. The foundation has maintained steady grantmaking activity, awarding 56 grants in 2024, 68 grants in 2023, and 55 grants in 2022.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations. Grant amounts range widely from $11 to $2,050,000 depending on the organization and initiative.

Priority Areas

Education

  • K-12 schools, particularly independent schools with family connections (Bancroft School)
  • College access programs for underserved students (Prep for Prep, Breakthrough Collaborative, Harlem Village Academies)
  • Higher education institutions (Smith College, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School)
  • Arts education institutions (Juilliard School, School of American Ballet)

Human Services

  • Poverty alleviation and community development (Robin Hood Foundation)
  • Senior services (Carter Burden Center for the Aging)
  • Public safety (New York City Police Foundation)

Health

  • Cancer research and treatment (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dubin Breast Center, Lynne Cohen Cancer Foundation)
  • Disease-specific research (Parkinson's Disease Foundation)

Arts & Culture

  • Museums (Museum of the City of New York, International Center of Photography, Perez Art Museum Miami)
  • Performing arts (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts)
  • Urban parks and public spaces (Central Park Conservancy)

Athletics

  • Wrestling programs (USA Wrestling, Hawkeye Wrestling Club)
  • Equestrian sports (United States Equestrian Team)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only supports preselected charitable organizations. There is no public information about specific exclusions, but all funding decisions are made by trustees based on their personal interests and connections.

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

  • James G. Dinan - Director and Founder. Finance professional who founded York Capital Management in 1991, which grew to manage over $20 billion in assets. Graduate of Wharton School (Economics, 1981) and Harvard Business School (MBA, 1985). Serves as chair of the Museum of the City of New York and sits on the board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In 2024, the University of Pennsylvania renamed a Wharton building "Dinan Hall" in recognition of his major donation to his alma mater.

  • Elizabeth Miller - Director. Smith College alumna with strong connections to arts and education institutions.

  • Zachary M. Dinan - Board Member

  • Katherine A. Dinan - Board Member

The foundation is family-managed, with decisions made by family members who serve as trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified through their personal networks, board service, alumni connections, and philanthropic interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive funding typically have one or more of the following characteristics:

  • Direct connection to family members: Schools attended by the Dinan family (Bancroft School, Smith College, Harvard, Wharton)
  • Board service connections: Organizations where James Dinan or Elizabeth Miller serve on boards (Museum of the City of New York, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts)
  • Shared philanthropic networks: Organizations supported by other prominent New York philanthropists (Robin Hood Foundation, Central Park Conservancy)
  • Geographic alignment: Based in or serving the Northeast, particularly New York City, with some Florida connections
  • Mission alignment: Focus on education access, health research, arts accessibility, and community development

The foundation's giving reflects the personal interests of the Dinan family, including athletics (particularly wrestling and equestrian sports), arts and culture institutions, and organizations working to expand educational opportunities for underserved students.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and only funds preselected organizations
  • Relationship-driven: Grants flow to organizations with direct connections to family members through education, board service, or philanthropic networks
  • Geographic focus: Strong emphasis on New York City and the Northeast, with some Florida connections
  • Wide grant range: Capable of both small donations and major gifts exceeding $2 million
  • Education priority: Particularly interested in college access programs for underserved students and institutions with family alumni connections
  • Sustained support: The foundation has maintained consistent grantmaking with 50-70 grants annually in recent years
  • Family foundation structure: All decisions made by family trustees, reflecting personal philanthropic interests rather than institutional program guidelines

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Dinan Family Foundation Inc (EIN 133976827). Form 990-PF data for 2024. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133976827

  2. Inside Philanthropy - "James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller." Profile of major donors. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/james-g-dinan-html

  3. Instrumentl - "The Dinan Family Foundation | Palm Beach, FL | 990 Report." Nonprofit profile and grant data. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/dinan-family-foundation-inc

  4. Wikipedia - "Jamie Dinan." Biography and career information. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Dinan

  5. Candid Foundation Directory Online - "The Dinan Family Foundation." Grantmaker profile. Accessed January 12, 2026.

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