DevTo Support Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,902,245 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 103 awards (2023)
• Average Grant Size: $47,600
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $75,000 (regular grants); $100,000 - $250,000 (Special Grants Initiative)
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed annually in November; notifications in December
• Geographic Focus: Orange County and Coachella Valley, California
• Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 1400 Newport Center Dr Ste 230, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Phone: (877) 968-6328

Email: grants@devtosupportfoundation.org

Website: https://devtosupportfoundation.org/

Overview

The DevTo Support Foundation (formerly Dito Devcar Foundation) was established in 1993 and received its tax-exempt status in 2014 (EIN: 45-4575736). With assets exceeding $93 million and annual giving of approximately $4.9 million, the foundation has grown to become a significant funder for youth-focused programmes in Southern California. The foundation's mission is to empower disadvantaged youth to become independent, self-sufficient, and productive community members while enhancing the physical, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional well-being of youth, individuals, and families. The foundation operates with an invitation-only application model and awarded 103 grants in 2023. In 2016, the foundation launched a separate Special Grants Initiative to fund transformational programmes with larger, multi-year awards. The foundation has strategic relationships with the Desert Community Foundation, California Community Foundation, and Orange County Community Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Regular Grant Programme

• Grant Range: $10,000 - $75,000 (average $47,600 in 2023)
• Duration: Generally single-year awards
• Application Method: Invitation only
• Deadline: July 1

Special Grants Initiative (Launched 2016)

• Grant Range: $100,000 - $250,000
• Duration: Up to three years
• Number of Grants: 2-5 annually
• Application Method: Invitation only
• Letter of Inquiry: June 1
• Full Application: September

Priority Areas

Programme Types Funded:

• Mentoring and enrichment programmes for disadvantaged youth
• Sports-related programmes for youth
• Drug and alcohol recovery programmes
• Career development pathways
• Life skills development programmes
• Programmes fostering educational opportunities
• Programmes that build strong families and communities
• Foster care and transitional-age youth support

Special Grants Initiative Focus:

• Innovative or transformational programmes that develop character traits including grit, perseverance, empathy, and leadership
• Vocational, life, and college readiness skills programmes
• Social enterprise or non-profit business models that provide employment opportunities and career training while generating revenue for sustainability
• Programmes serving at-risk populations in Orange County or Coachella Valley

Geographic Focus:

• Orange County, California
• Coachella Valley, California
• Surrounding areas in Southern California

What They Don't Fund

• Annual campaigns
• Conference or event sponsorships
• Endowments
• Direct grants to individuals
• Re-granting programmes
• Organisational start-up expenses

Governance and Leadership

The foundation lists Joseph Moody as Principal Officer. The foundation operates with zero employees, suggesting a trustee-driven or externally managed model. The foundation has earned a Four-Star rating on Charity Navigator (Accountability & Finance beacon). Specific board member information is not publicly disclosed but can be found in the foundation's Form 990 filings available through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does NOT have a public application process. Grants are awarded by invitation only. The foundation identifies potential grantees through its networks and relationships with community foundations and other partners in Orange County and the Coachella Valley.

Regular Grant Programme:

• Invitation-only applications
• Annual deadline: July 1
• Organisations must complete applications within the authorised timeframe
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Must serve Orange County or Coachella Valley
• Must be a public 501(c)(3) charity aligned with the foundation's mission

Special Grants Initiative:

• Invitation-only for select organisations
• Letter of Inquiry due: June 1
• Full application due: September (if invited)
• Applicants must have completed minimum two full fiscal years of operation

Decision Timeline

• Grant requests reviewed once annually in November
• Notifications sent in December
• Grants awarded for the following calendar/fiscal year

Reporting Requirements

• Annual progress reports required
• Reports due August-September
• Submitted online at: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/

Success Rates

With 103 grants awarded in 2023 from an invitation-only pool, the foundation appears selective but maintains consistent grantmaking activity. The average award of $47,600 suggests the foundation balances its portfolio across many organisations rather than concentrating funds.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for previously funded or declined organisations is not publicly available. As an invitation-only funder, reapplication depends on receiving another invitation from the foundation.

Application Success Factors

While specific application tips are not provided due to the invitation-only model, analysis of the foundation's funded projects reveals clear priorities:

Evidence of Impact: The foundation values programmes that demonstrate concrete outcomes. For example, their $40,000 grant to Jamboree Housing supported after-school programmes that resulted in measurable achievements like Accelerated Reading Awards for participating children.

Character Development Focus: The Special Grants Initiative explicitly seeks programmes developing "grit, perseverance, empathy, and leadership" - indicating the foundation looks beyond basic services to transformational interventions.

Sustainability Elements: The foundation shows particular interest in social enterprise models that create employment opportunities while generating revenue for non-profit sustainability, suggesting they value long-term organisational viability.

Transitional Support: The foundation's 2023 partnership with Voices for Children to provide CASA volunteers for five transitional-age youth (16-21) in the Coachella Valley demonstrates commitment to vulnerable populations at critical life stages.

Multi-dimensional Approach: Funded programmes address multiple needs simultaneously - academic achievement, social-emotional development, leadership skills, and career pathways - rather than single-issue programming.

Major Donors Recognition: Organisations like KidWorks list the foundation in their $100,000+ donor category, suggesting the foundation provides substantial multi-year or cumulative support to aligned partners.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model: You cannot submit an unsolicited application. Focus on building visibility and relationships with the foundation's partner community foundations (Desert Community Foundation, California Community Foundation, Orange County Community Foundation).

• Two grant tiers: Regular grants ($10,000-$75,000) support ongoing programmes; Special Grants Initiative ($100,000-$250,000) funds transformational, innovative approaches. Consider which tier matches your programme scope.

• Geographic specificity required: Must serve Orange County or Coachella Valley - this is non-negotiable. Clearly demonstrate your service area alignment.

• Youth focus with character development: Programmes must go beyond basic services to develop specific character traits like grit, perseverance, empathy, and leadership. Articulate how your programme builds these qualities.

• Social enterprise interest: If your programme includes revenue-generating components that provide career training and organisational sustainability, this aligns with Special Grants Initiative priorities.

• Multi-year potential: While regular grants are typically one year, the Special Grants Initiative offers up to three years of funding, providing stability for transformational work.

• Timeline consistency: The foundation operates on a predictable annual cycle (July applications, November decisions, December notifications), allowing strategic planning if you receive an invitation.

References

1. DevTo Support Foundation official website - https://devtosupportfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
2. DevTo Support Foundation "About Us" - https://devtosupportfoundation.org/about-us/ (Accessed January 2026)
3. DevTo Support Foundation "Apply" - https://devtosupportfoundation.org/apply/ (Accessed January 2026)
4. DevTo Support Foundation "Special Initiatives" - https://devtosupportfoundation.org/special-initiatives/ (Accessed January 2026)
5. Cause IQ Profile: DevTo Support Foundation - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/devto-support-foundation,454575736/ (Accessed January 2026)
6. Instrumentl 990 Report: DevTo Support Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/devto-support-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
7. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Devto Support Foundation - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/454575736 (Accessed January 2026)
8. Jamboree Housing, "DevTo Foundation grant funds resident after-school programs" - https://www.jamboreehousing.com/blogs/affordable-housing-stories-from-partners/partners-in-youth-development (Accessed January 2026)
9. Voices for Children, "DevTo Support Foundation Champions Youth in Foster Care Transitioning to Independence" - https://www.speakupnow.org/devto-support-foundation-champions-youth-in-foster-care-transitioning-to-independence/ (Accessed January 2026)
10. KidWorks Donors Page - https://kidworksoc.org/our-donors/ (Accessed January 2026)