Clarence And Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,590,000
• Number of Grants: 62 grants annually
• Grant Range: Median $10,000
• Total Assets: $28.9 million (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York and New Jersey
• Application Process: No unsolicited applications accepted
• EIN: 23-7043773

Contact Details

Address: C/O Keswick Management, 99 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10016

Phone: (212) 315-8300

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Clarence And Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust was established in 1969 as a private family foundation honoring Clarence Dillon (1882-1979), the prominent American financier and namesake of Dillon, Read & Co., and his wife Anne McEldin Douglass (1881-1961). The trust is named after the family's historic Dunwalke estate in Far Hills/Bedminster, New Jersey, which was founded by Clarence Dillon in 1928 and named after his ancestral Scottish families, the Duns and the Walkes. With total assets of $28.9 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes approximately $1.59 million annually through 62 grants. The foundation is managed through Keswick Management, the Dillon family office that has served 67 family members since its establishment in 1924. The trust emphasizes support for hospitals, education, public affairs, the arts, and community funds, continuing the Dillon family's long legacy of philanthropy in the New York and New Jersey regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single private grantmaking program:

• General Grantmaking Program: Awards 62 grants annually totaling $1,590,000
  • Median grant amount: $10,000
  • Grants are made by trustee discretion only
  • Focus on pre-selected beneficiary organizations
  • Special proposals developed by trustees

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on five primary areas:

1. Hospitals and Healthcare: Support for hospital care and in-patient medical facilities
2. Education: Educational institutions and programs
3. Public Affairs: Organizations engaged in public policy and civic engagement
4. Arts and Culture: Arts organizations and cultural institutions
5. Community Funds: Community foundations and local charitable organizations

Geographic Focus

While the trust is based in New York, there is a strong historical connection to New Jersey, particularly:

• Somerset County, New Jersey (where the family's Dunwalke estate is located)
• Bedminster and Far Hills areas (site of the Clarence Dillon Public Library, a known beneficiary)
• New York City and New York State

What They Don't Fund

Based on the trust's stated priorities, they do not fund:

• Individual applicants
• Organizations outside their five priority areas
• Organizations not pre-selected by trustees
• Unsolicited grant requests

Governance and Leadership

The Clarence And Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust is managed by a board of trustees consisting primarily of descendants of Clarence and Anne Dillon.

Current Trustees (as of 2024):

• Christopher D. Allen - Chairman/Trustee
• Eileen B. Kane - Secretary
• Marcus Siezing - Treasurer
• Alexandra F. Allen - Trustee
• Andrew D. Allen - Trustee
• Additional family member trustees

Family Connection:

The trustees are descendants of Clarence Dillon through his daughter Dorothy Anne Dillon, who married Philip Elsworth Allen in 1934. The Allen family maintains the historic Dunwalke estate in New Jersey, now operated as Dunwalke Preserve by Andrew Allen, Clarence Dillon's great-grandson. The family's philanthropic activities extend beyond this trust to include other foundations established by Clarence Dillon and his descendants, demonstrating a multi-generational commitment to giving.

Administration:

The trust is administered through Keswick Management, the Dillon family office founded in 1993, which oversees asset allocation, accounting, tax, and financial reporting for the entire Dillon family's philanthropic and financial interests.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Clarence And Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are made primarily to present beneficiary organizations and for special proposals developed by the trustees themselves.

This is a common structure for family foundations where:

• Trustees identify organizations aligned with their mission
• Grants support long-term relationships with existing beneficiaries
• The family develops specific initiatives through trustee proposals
• The foundation exercises discretion over all grantmaking decisions

Organizations seeking funding from this trust cannot submit applications through any public process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees on their own timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as the foundation only supports preselected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand the foundation's priorities should note:

The Foundation's Stated Approach:

• Grants are made "primarily to present beneficiary organizations" - indicating strong preference for ongoing relationships
• Special proposals are "developed by the trustees" - indicating trustee-driven grantmaking
• The foundation's emphasis areas are clearly defined: hospitals, education, public affairs, the arts, and community funds

Historical Beneficiaries: Based on available information, the trust has supported:

• The Clarence Dillon Public Library in Bedminster, New Jersey (the library was named after the family's benefactor, and the trust helped pay off the library's mortgage in 1979 through Dorothy Dillon Eweson, Mr. Dillon's daughter)
• Organizations in the New York and New Jersey region aligned with the five priority areas

Family Connections: The trust appears to support organizations with:

• Historical connections to the Dillon family
• Geographic ties to areas significant to the family (Far Hills, Bedminster, New York)
• Alignment with the family's longstanding interests in education, healthcare, and the arts

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Public Applications: This foundation does not and will not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Do not attempt to submit applications.

2. Preselected Organizations Only: The foundation works exclusively with organizations pre-selected by its trustees, primarily continuing relationships with present beneficiary organizations.

3. Trustee-Driven Grantmaking: Special proposals are developed by the trustees themselves, not by external organizations.

4. Family Foundation: This is a private family foundation managed by descendants of Clarence and Anne Dillon, primarily the Allen family, administered through their family office.

5. Clear Focus Areas: The foundation's five priority areas (hospitals, education, public affairs, arts, and community funds) are well-established and unlikely to change.

6. Regional Connections: Organizations with ties to New York and New Jersey, particularly the Somerset County area where the family's historic estate is located, appear to be favored.

7. Small to Medium Grants: With a median grant of $10,000 and 62 grants awarded annually from $1.59 million, most grants are likely in the $5,000-$25,000 range.

References

1. Cause IQ - Clarence & Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/clarence-anne-dillon-dunwalke-trust,237043773/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)

2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Clarence And Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237043773 (Accessed February 9, 2026)

3. Candid Foundation Directory - Clarence & Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=DILL001 (Accessed February 9, 2026)

4. Charity Navigator - Clarence and Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust Profile. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/237043773 (Accessed February 9, 2026)

5. Wikipedia - Clarence Dillon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Dillon (Accessed February 9, 2026)

6. Dunwalke Preserve - Picture-Perfect Preserve in Far Hills, NJ. https://dunwalkepreserve.com/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)

7. Altss - Keswick Management Dillon Family Office. https://altss.com/profile/keswick-management-dillon-family-office (Accessed February 9, 2026)

8. Friends of Clarence Dillon Public Library - Who was Clarence Dillon? https://friendscdpl.org/who-was-clarence-dillon/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)

9. Yahoo News - "This Somerset County hunting preserve hidden gem traces its history back four generations." https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/somerset-county-hunting-preserve-hidden-090446159.html (Accessed February 9, 2026)

10. GuideStar - Clarence and Anne Dillon Dunwalke Trust Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7043773 (Accessed February 9, 2026)