Dellora A & Lester J Norris Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,018,150 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Varies widely based on project
• Geographic Focus: St. Charles, IL and Naples, FL

Contact Details

• Address: PO Box 2505, Greenwich, CT 06836-2505
• Website: None available
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Dellora A & Lester J Norris Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1979 following the death of Dellora Frances Angell Norris, an heir to the Texaco fortune. With assets exceeding $20 million, the foundation distributed $3,018,150 in grants during 2023. The foundation carries forward the Norris family's legacy of supporting their beloved communities of St. Charles, Illinois (their hometown) and Naples, Florida (their vacation home). The foundation has historically made transformative gifts to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, cultural organizations, and religious institutions in these communities, including donating land for schools and parks, and funding major capital projects like the Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

• Arts and cultural programs
• Autism services and support organizations
• Elementary and secondary education
• Healthcare organizations and hospitals
• Higher education institutions
• Protestant agencies and churches
• Community recreation facilities

Geographic Focus

• Primary focus: St. Charles, Illinois
• Secondary focus: Naples, Florida
• Foundation maintains a Greenwich, CT mailing address but grants focus on IL and FL

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available. Based on grant history, the foundation appears to focus exclusively on organizations in their target geographic areas.

Governance and Leadership

Current leadership information is not publicly available. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking. The foundation was established to continue the philanthropic legacy of Dellora and Lester Norris, who were major benefactors to St. Charles and Naples communities throughout their lives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations that align with the foundation's priorities and geographic focus areas.

Getting on Their Radar

As a private foundation without a public application process, organizations seeking funding should focus on:

• Being located in or directly serving St. Charles, IL or Naples, FL communities
• Aligning with the foundation's established priority areas
• Having a strong track record of community impact in these specific geographic areas
• Potential connection through local community networks in St. Charles or Naples

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's history and giving patterns:

• Organizations with deep roots in St. Charles, IL or Naples, FL have the strongest alignment
• The foundation has shown a pattern of supporting both large capital projects and ongoing program support
• Historical preference for established institutions with proven community impact
• Strong alignment with education, healthcare, cultural arts, and faith-based organizations
• The foundation values organizations that were important to the Norris family during their lifetimes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private foundation without a public application process - relationships and trustee connections are essential
• Geographic location in St. Charles, IL or Naples, FL is critical for consideration
• The foundation has capacity for both large transformational gifts and ongoing support
• Focus areas are consistent with traditional family foundation priorities: education, healthcare, arts, and faith-based organizations
• With over $3 million in annual grantmaking, the foundation is an active and substantial funder in its target communities
• Organizations should research the Norris family's historical connections to their communities for potential alignment

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 Data (Accessed March 2024): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/363054939
• Candid Foundation Directory Profile (Accessed March 2024): https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=NORR002
• Wikipedia - Dellora A. Norris Biography (Accessed March 2024): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dellora_A._Norris
• GrantAdvisor Foundation Profile (Accessed March 2024): https://grantadvisor.org/profile/36-3054939/dellora-a-lester-j-norris-foundation
• Charity Navigator Foundation Profile (Accessed March 2024): https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/363054939
• Instrumentl 990 Report Analysis (Accessed March 2024): https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/dellora-a-lester-j-norris-foundation