HG HF & LT Dornette Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts no unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organisations, and its filing gives no steps for becoming preselected, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered and you will need to find out how preselection works.
- Your work fits if it sits in nature conservation or children's organisations, its two stated themes, though its preference for organisations identified by the donor during her lifetime, as reported in other published sources, may narrow the field.
- Its typical grants fall between $20,000 and $75,000, about 8 in 10 of its 36 grants, with a median of $35,000 and a largest grant of $125,000, so a modest request near the middle of that band suits its recorded pattern.
- Organisations it has funded before are a meaningful share of its giving, since 32% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it also funded in earlier filings.
- No geographic focus is stated, although its filings show grants mainly in Ohio and District of Columbia, so location should be weighed as a pattern rather than a rule.
Overview
HG HF & LT Dornette Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA, in Cincinnati, OH.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (53.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports nature and the conservation of nature’s beauty, as well as organisations beneficial to children. It gives preference to organisations Miss Dornette identified during her lifetime. Its grant record also shows support for a varied range of organisations, including wildlife and conservation bodies, children’s organisations, arts and cultural institutions, community charities, educational organisations and organisations serving people with disabilities. Project or programme support is the dominant stated purpose of the recorded grants. Its approach therefore combines the stated conservation and children priorities with a preference reflecting Miss Dornette’s lifetime identifications.
Themes
- Nature conservation
- Children’s organisations
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The filing says that contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations and that unsolicited requests are not accepted. It gives no further steps for organisations seeking to be preselected.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 32% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 36 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation prefers organisations Miss Dornette identified during her lifetime. (as reported in other published sources)
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 32% of grant dollars went to organisations HG HF & LT Dornette Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 15% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $47,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden · Project/program support$125,0002024 tax year
- Cincinnati Children's · Project/program support$75,0002024 tax year
- American National Red Cross · General program support$50,0002024 tax year
- United Way of Greater Cincinnati · Project/program support$50,0002024 tax year
- World Wildlife Fund · Project/program support$50,0002024 tax year
- Salvation Army · Project/program support$50,0002024 tax year
- Boone Conservancy · Project/program support$50,0002024 tax year
- Bethesda Foundation · Project/program support$45,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
Administered by its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA.
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $585,021 | $435,000 | $13,364,242 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $575,166 | $415,000 | $15,028,671 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $820,601 | $620,000 | $15,028,056 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to HG HF & LT Dornette Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cincinnati, OH (office of its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA)
Applying to HG HF & LT Dornette Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cincinnati, OH (office of its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA)