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Dagmar Dolby Fund

Annual Giving
$7.1M

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Dagmar Dolby Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.1 million (FY 2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable
  • Grant Range: Information not available from public filings
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with focus on neuroscience research and community foundation support
  • Total Assets: $89.2 million (2023)

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
5 Hamilton Landing, Suite 200
Novato, CA 94949-8263

EIN: 47-5332690

Note: The Dagmar Dolby Fund operates as a supporting organisation of Marin Community Foundation and does not maintain a separate website or public contact information for grant applications.

Overview

The Dagmar Dolby Fund was established in 2015 as a California non-profit public benefit corporation organised as a supporting organisation of the Marin Community Foundation. With total assets of $89.2 million as of 2023, the fund awarded $7.1 million in grants during fiscal year 2023. The fund's mission focuses on "mobilising the power of community and the resources of philanthropy to advance equity for people, places and the planet." Led by Dagmar Dolby, widow of audio pioneer Ray Dolby, the fund represents a strategic approach to philanthropy that builds on the Dolby family's longstanding commitment to scientific research, particularly in neuroscience and Alzheimer's disease, while expanding into climate equity and community-based solutions. The fund operates under the umbrella of Marin Community Foundation alongside other major family funds including the Buck Family Fund, Margaret E. Haas Fund, and Peter E. Haas Jr Family Fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Dagmar Dolby Fund does not operate traditional grant programmes with public applications. Instead, it makes strategic grants aligned with its mission.

Priority Areas

Based on grant-making patterns and the Dolby family's philanthropic history, priority areas include:

  • Neuroscience and Brain Health Research: Particularly Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions
  • Climate Equity and Environmental Justice: Supporting research teams and symposia addressing climate impacts on vulnerable communities
  • Stem Cell Research: Continuation of Ray and Dagmar Dolby's historic support for regenerative medicine
  • Community-Based Solutions: Supporting the work of Marin Community Foundation in addressing equity for people, places, and planet
  • Scientific Education and Research Infrastructure: Building on the Dolby family's support for institutions like UCSF, Cambridge University, and the Salk Institute

The fund's mission statement emphasises equity across three dimensions: people, places, and the planet, suggesting a holistic approach to grant-making that connects social justice, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment.

What They Don't Fund

As a supporting organisation making strategic grants, the fund does not appear to support:

  • General operating support for organisations outside their strategic focus areas
  • Individual scholarships or fellowships (handled by other Dolby family vehicles)
  • Arts and culture programmes (primarily supported through the separate Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund)
  • International organisations (focus is primarily California-based)

Governance and Leadership

The Dagmar Dolby Fund operates with a lean governance structure appropriate for a supporting organisation:

Board Chair: Dagmar Dolby - Billionaire philanthropist (net worth $5.1 billion as of January 2025) and widow of audio pioneer Ray Dolby. Dagmar became a signatory of The Giving Pledge in 2017, committing to devote the major part of her estate to charitable causes with particular focus on reproductive rights, stem cell research, and research on mood disorders and Alzheimer's disease. She was appointed an Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2024 for her services to philanthropy and British higher education.

President & CEO: Rhea Suh - Also serves as President and CEO of Marin Community Foundation (since 2021). Previously led the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she expanded social justice and environmental justice work and championed a $600 million settlement for Flint, Michigan residents affected by the water crisis. Suh is a leading voice on community-based approaches to climate equity and co-founded the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative.

Chief Financial Officer: Lauren McClelland (started January 2024) - Brings 40 years of experience in finance and accounting across private industry, public accounting, non-profit organisations, and private foundations. Previously served as Finance Director for the Zellerbach Family Foundation.

Organisational Structure: The fund operates with no full-time employees, leveraging Marin Community Foundation's infrastructure and expertise.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dagmar Dolby Fund does not have a public application process. As a supporting organisation of the Marin Community Foundation, the fund makes strategic grants determined by its board and leadership rather than responding to unsolicited applications.

Grant decisions appear to be made through:

  • Strategic initiatives identified by fund leadership
  • Partnerships with Marin Community Foundation on major initiatives
  • Continued support for institutions with longstanding relationships to the Dolby family (such as Salk Institute, UCSF)
  • Board-directed grants aligned with the fund's mission to advance equity

Organisations seeking support should note that this fund operates differently from traditional foundations with open application processes.

Getting on Their Radar

The Dagmar Dolby Fund's grant-making appears highly strategic and relationship-based. While there is no public application process, organisations working in the fund's priority areas might increase visibility through:

Marin Community Foundation Partnership: Since the Dagmar Dolby Fund is a supporting organisation of MCF, organisations already in relationship with Marin Community Foundation may be best positioned to benefit indirectly from the fund's support. MCF does accept grant applications for its own programmes.

Climate Equity Research Networks: The fund's support for climate equity research suggests involvement in climate equity research collaboratives. Organisations participating in climate justice research, particularly those connected to Rhea Suh's Community Foundation Climate Collaborative, may align with current priorities.

Neuroscience Research Community: The fund's continued support for brain health research follows the Dolby family's longstanding commitment. Leading research institutions working on Alzheimer's disease, neurodegenerative conditions, or stem cell applications to brain health may align with the fund's scientific priorities.

Connection to Dolby Family Ventures: The Dolby family maintains other philanthropic vehicles including the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund (EIN: 91-2159332) and Dolby Family Ventures, which focuses on accelerating paths to Alzheimer's cures. Organisations may benefit from understanding the broader ecosystem of Dolby family philanthropy.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - strategic grant-making without application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

While there is no application process, understanding what drives the Dagmar Dolby Fund's grant-making can help organisations assess potential alignment:

Mission Alignment is Critical: The fund's mission emphasises equity for "people, places and the planet." Projects must demonstrate how they advance equity—not just deliver services or conduct research, but actively address disparities and advance justice.

Rhea Suh's Leadership Vision: As President & CEO, Suh brings a clear focus on climate equity and environmental justice, having championed the Flint water crisis settlement and co-founded the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative. The fund's commitment to climate equity research reflects this leadership priority.

Continuation of Dolby Family Legacy: The fund builds on decades of Dolby family philanthropy focused on:

  • Neuroscience and brain health (particularly Alzheimer's disease)
  • Stem cell research and regenerative medicine
  • Scientific research infrastructure
  • World-class research institutions

Community-Based Approaches: The fund's partnership with Marin Community Foundation suggests a preference for community-foundation models that combine philanthropic resources with community expertise.

Research Excellence: The fund's support for institutions like the Salk Institute reflects continued commitment to cutting-edge scientific research at premier institutions. Organisations must demonstrate research excellence and breakthrough potential.

Systems Change vs. Direct Service: The fund's structure and grant-making pattern suggest interest in addressing root causes and building institutional capacity rather than funding direct service delivery.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: The Dagmar Dolby Fund operates as a supporting organisation making strategic grants. Traditional grant seeking will not be effective.

  • Work Through Marin Community Foundation: As a supporting organisation of MCF, organisations may benefit more from pursuing MCF's grant programmes than attempting to access the Dagmar Dolby Fund directly.

  • Strategic Grants Only: The fund makes strategic grants aligned with its mission, not numerous small grants. Only major initiatives with significant impact potential align with their approach.

  • Climate Equity is a Priority: Combined with Rhea Suh's leadership, climate equity research and community-based climate solutions appear to be areas of focus.

  • Neuroscience Research Remains Core: The fund maintains commitment to brain health research, particularly Alzheimer's disease, reflecting Dagmar Dolby's Giving Pledge commitments.

  • Relationship-Based Philanthropy: The fund's structure and grant patterns indicate decisions are made through board relationships and strategic initiatives rather than competitive application processes.

  • Understanding the Broader Ecosystem: Organisations should be aware that the Dolby family operates multiple philanthropic vehicles (Dagmar Dolby Fund, Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, Dolby Family Ventures) with different but complementary missions.

References

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