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Dorothy Lemelson Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,964,551 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: $900 - $1,000,000
  • Median Grant: $28,000
  • Geographic Focus: Nevada and Oregon (primarily Reno/Washoe County, NV and Portland, OR)

Contact Details

The Dorothy Lemelson Foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. The foundation is a private foundation located in Reno, NV (EIN: 45-5079187).

Overview

The Dorothy Lemelson Foundation was established in February 2013 as a private grantmaking foundation. Named for philanthropist Dorothy Ginsberg Lemelson (1926-2021), the foundation carries forward her passion for supporting at-risk youth and teachers in public schools in Nevada and Oregon, two states where she lived. With total assets of approximately $41.1 million as of 2024, the foundation makes strategic grants focused on STEM education, services for homeless and at-risk youth, and educational resources for underserved students. The foundation has generously supported institutions such as the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum since 2009. A public school for at-risk students in Nevada (Dorothy Lemelson STEM Academy) and a residential facility for girls in transition from homelessness in Portland (Dorothy Lemelson House) are named in her honor, reflecting her deep commitment to serving vulnerable young people.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not offer structured grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, it makes strategic grants by invitation or through relationships developed by foundation leadership. Recent grants demonstrate funding across several categories:

  • STEM Education Support: $900 - $175,000 (supporting teacher education programs, school coordinators, and educational materials)
  • Youth Services: $25,000 - $1,000,000 (supporting homeless youth services, crisis stabilization, and transitional housing)
  • Educational Institutions: $5,000 - $200,000 (supporting schools, universities, and science museums)
  • Medical/Social Services: Up to $1,000,000 (supporting organizations like Smile Train for cleft palate surgeries)

Grants are awarded on an invitation-only basis with no fixed deadlines or rolling application windows.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation actively funds:

  • STEM Education for At-Risk Youth: Programs, schools, and teacher training focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, particularly for underserved students
  • Support Services for Homeless and At-Risk Youth: Housing programs, crisis intervention, life skills development, and transition services for young people aging out of foster care or experiencing homelessness
  • Teacher Support and Professional Development: Scholarships for teachers pursuing advanced degrees in STEM education, salaries for specialized educational coordinators
  • Hands-On Science Education: Interactive science museums and educational programming that makes STEM accessible to young learners
  • Behavioral Health Services: Clinical supervision and collaborative programs addressing mental health needs in educational and community settings
  • Geographic Focus: Strong emphasis on Reno/Washoe County, Nevada and Portland, Oregon

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's exclusions are not publicly documented, but based on grantmaking patterns, the foundation appears to focus exclusively on:

  • Organizations serving Nevada and Oregon (primarily Reno and Portland areas)
  • Programs benefiting youth and education
  • Established institutions rather than individuals or startup organizations

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel (as of 2024)

  • Jennifer Bruml - President and Director (Compensation: $61,731)
  • Caryn Swobe - Vice President and Treasurer (Compensation: $61,731)
  • Zoe Luh Morse Lemelson - Secretary and Director (Compensation: $61,731)

Zoe Luh Morse Lemelson is Dorothy Lemelson's daughter and continues her mother's philanthropic legacy through the foundation.

About Dorothy Lemelson

Dorothy Ginsberg Lemelson (May 11, 1926 - March 10, 2021) was the wife of prolific inventor Jerome "Jerry" Lemelson, who earned more than 600 U.S. patents during his lifetime. Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey to Latvian immigrant parents, Dorothy graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1947 and established herself as a professional interior designer. For many years, she supported the family while Jerry pursued his work as an independent inventor. Together, Dorothy and Jerome established The Lemelson Foundation in 1992 to cultivate future generations of inventors.

Beyond her role in The Lemelson Foundation, Dorothy established the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation to focus specifically on supporting teachers and at-risk young people in Oregon and Nevada. She led the Lemelson Education and Assistance Program (LEAP) to help improve children's lives through support of public education. A businesswoman and passionate supporter of the Portland arts scene, Dorothy championed initiatives that helped underserved populations throughout her life.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dorothy Lemelson Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants by invitation only, based on relationships developed by foundation leadership and board members.

Grants appear to be awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion: Board members identify organizations and initiatives aligned with the foundation's mission
  • Established relationships: Multi-year support to institutions the foundation has supported historically
  • Community connections: Organizations in Reno, Nevada and Portland, Oregon where Dorothy Lemelson lived and developed relationships

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or maintain a website with application guidelines.

Getting on Their Radar

Information about how organizations might come to the attention of the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation is limited. Based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns, organizations that have received support include:

  • Named institutions: The Dorothy Lemelson STEM Academy and Dorothy Lemelson House were named in honor of the foundation's founder, indicating deep, long-term relationships
  • University of Nevada, Reno: Multi-year support for STEM teacher cohorts and behavioral health initiatives suggests institutional partnerships developed through community engagement in Reno
  • Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum: Support since 2009 demonstrates sustained relationships with major educational institutions in Nevada
  • New Avenues for Youth (Portland): Support for the Dorothy Lemelson House program indicates relationships with youth-serving organizations in Oregon

The foundation's focus on Nevada and Oregon suggests that organizations operating in these states, particularly those serving at-risk youth or advancing STEM education, would be most aligned with the foundation's geographic priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation does not operate on published decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 24 grants totaling approximately $1.96 million in 2023, but does not publish information about how many inquiries or proposals it receives.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept applications or reapplications from the public.

Application Success Factors

Since the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

  • Geographic alignment: Located in or serving communities in Nevada (particularly Reno/Washoe County) and Oregon (particularly Portland)
  • Mission alignment with Dorothy Lemelson's values: Focus on at-risk youth, STEM education, homeless youth services, or teacher support
  • Institutional stability: Grants tend to go to established schools, universities, museums, and social service organizations rather than newer nonprofits
  • Long-term relationships: Many grantees receive multi-year or repeated funding, suggesting the foundation values sustained partnerships
  • Named programs: The Dorothy Lemelson STEM Academy and Dorothy Lemelson House demonstrate the foundation's willingness to make significant investments in programs bearing Dorothy Lemelson's name
  • STEM focus: Strong preference for programs integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, particularly for underserved students
  • Direct service to youth: Programs providing hands-on support, housing, education, or crisis services to young people, especially those experiencing homelessness or at risk

Organizations in Nevada and Oregon working in these areas and connected to the communities where Dorothy Lemelson lived and worked appear most likely to come to the foundation's attention.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation operates entirely by invitation. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals.
  • Geographic focus is essential: Virtually all grants support Nevada and Oregon organizations, with particular emphasis on Reno and Portland.
  • At-risk youth and STEM education are core priorities: The foundation's two primary funding areas reflect Dorothy Lemelson's personal passions and legacy.
  • Multi-year relationships are common: Many grantees receive repeated funding, suggesting the foundation values sustained partnerships over one-time grants.
  • Grant sizes vary dramatically: From $900 to $1 million, with a median around $28,000, indicating flexibility based on project scope and relationship depth.
  • Family foundation structure: With Dorothy Lemelson's daughter serving as Secretary/Director, this foundation maintains a personal, family-driven approach to philanthropy.
  • Named programs indicate deep commitment: The Dorothy Lemelson STEM Academy and Dorothy Lemelson House demonstrate the foundation's willingness to make transformational investments in flagship programs.

References

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