The DN Batten Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The DN Batten Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so an organisation should not send an application unless it has been invited or is one of the preselected charitable organisations it funds.
- If you do have an invitation or existing link, its themes of climate change, large animal conservation, innovation in healthcare and youth development are the areas to match, and its filings show grants to wildlife and environmental, school and university, youth and community, health and cultural organisations.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 82 grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $500,000, with a median of $100,000, though its largest was about $3,100,000, so a request near the typical band is the realistic size.
- Repeat giving is a large part of its work, as 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier filings, so the relationship is central to how it operates.
- Most of its recorded grant dollars went to Virginia and the District of Columbia, with grants also in New York, but no geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not decide whether you approach it.
Overview
The DN Batten Foundation is a US private foundation based in Norfolk, VA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (fusfoundation.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s stated interests are climate change, conservation of large animal species, innovation in healthcare and youth development. It describes its work as funding organisations that produce a healthier planet, and links conservation with the resilience and sustainability of species and their habitats. Its filings show grants to wildlife and environmental organisations, schools and universities, youth and community organisations, health organisations and cultural bodies. Most recorded grant dollars went to organisations in Virginia and the District of Columbia; the filings list grants as financial support without specifying more particular purposes. Contributions are restricted to preselected charitable organisations, rather than an open unsolicited application process.
Themes
- Climate change
- Large animal conservation
- Innovation in healthcare
- Youth development
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia, District of Columbia and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% 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 82 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It directs funding to organisations that produce a healthier planet. (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
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 19% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations The DN Batten Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 28 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $82,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Wildlife Conservation Society · To provide financial support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia · To provide financial support$450,0002024 tax year
- Network2Work USA · To provide financial support$400,0002024 tax year
- Charlottesville City Schools · To provide financial support$400,0002024 tax year
- African Wildlife Foundation · To provide financial support$362,8402024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood · To provide financial support$350,0002024 tax year
- Forest Trends · To provide financial support$300,0002024 tax year
- Shenandoah National Park Trust · To provide financial support$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Frank Batten JR — Officer / Director
- Dorothy N Batten — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $11,959,937 | $10,765,199 | $38,472,136 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,975,062 | $5,910,560 | $37,292,390 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,482,251 | $4,707,590 | $36,071,198 | 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 The DN Batten Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Norfolk, VA
Applying to The DN Batten Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Norfolk, VA