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Dorrance Foundation For Education

Annual Giving
$8.4M
Grant Range
$9K - $0.3M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,367,408 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% for new applicants
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: Average $9,000 per scholarship; $230,000 - $290,000 to universities
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Arizona; also New York, Texas, Virginia

Contact Details

Website: https://dorrancescholarship.org/
Phone: (480) 405-2410
Email: dorrance@dorrancescholarship.org
Address: Scottsdale, AZ

Overview

The Dorrance Foundation For Education was founded in 2019 as a private grantmaking foundation with assets totaling $50,038,126. The foundation's primary mission is to provide need-based scholarships for first-generation college students in Arizona through the Dorrance Scholarship Programs, which was originally established by the Dorrance Family in 1999. The foundation has awarded more than 500 scholarships, representing an investment of more than $40 million. Their annual charitable disbursements have grown significantly from $4,268,026 in 2021 to $8,367,408 in 2024. The foundation currently supports approximately 350 students across Arizona's three public universities, providing not just financial aid but comprehensive academic and personal support to instill college-going traditions in future generations of Arizona families.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Dorrance Scholarship Program - The foundation's flagship program provides $12,000 per academic year for four years (renewable for 8 semesters), with a total program value exceeding $100,000 per student. The foundation awards up to 60 new scholarships annually to incoming freshmen at:

  • Arizona State University (Tempe)
  • Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff)
  • University of Arizona (Tucson)

The foundation makes institutional grants of $230,000 - $290,000 to each university's foundation to support these scholarships.

Student Support Beyond Financial Aid:

  • Summer Bridge experience
  • Dedicated academic advisor
  • Tutoring services
  • Cultural enrichment events
  • International travel opportunities
  • Orientation programming

Priority Areas

  • First-generation college students in Arizona
  • Low-income and underserved students
  • Students demonstrating leadership and volunteer service
  • Building college-going traditions in Arizona families

Eligibility Criteria for Scholarships

  • Seniors in good standing graduating from an accredited Arizona high school
  • First generation to attend college
  • Accepted by one of Arizona's three state universities
  • Demonstrated leadership and volunteer service
  • Agreement to participate in all aspects of scholarship program
  • Agreement to live on campus during freshman and sophomore year
  • Agreement to participate in summer bridge program in Flagstaff, Arizona

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not appear to make general operating grants to organizations outside of its core scholarship program partnerships with the three Arizona university foundations.

Governance and Leadership

Bennett Dorrance - President
Jaquelynn Dorrance - Vice President
James Hensley - Executive Director (compensated position: $444,616 annually)

The foundation operates with no full-time employees beyond its executive leadership team.

The Dorrance family has a legacy of philanthropy in Arizona, with the Dorrance Scholarship Program originating in 1999 and the formal foundation established in 2019 to continue this work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual Students: The foundation accepts applications directly from high school students through their website at dorrancescholarship.org. School counselors play a key role as recommenders for students. Application deadline is typically in early February.

For Organizations: This foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants. The foundation makes targeted institutional grants to the three Arizona public university foundations (Arizona State University Foundation, Northern Arizona University Foundation, and University of Arizona Foundation) to support their scholarship program.

Organizations seeking educational grants from the Dorrance family should note that there is a separate entity, the Dorrance Family Foundation (EIN 86-0691863), which accepts letters of inquiry from 501(c)(3) organizations in Arizona, California, and Hawaii for educational and other charitable purposes.

Decision Timeline

The foundation makes approximately 40 grants per year, primarily to support their scholarship recipients through the university foundations.

Success Rates

  • For New Applicants: 12% (based on scholarship applications)
  • Total Grants Made in Previous Year: 8,220 (includes individual scholarship payments)
  • Average Grant Size: $9,000

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from organizations, success in receiving funding is based on the foundation's established relationships with the three Arizona public universities. The foundation's mission statement emphasizes that "The Dorrance Scholarship is a need-based award that aims to instill college-going traditions in future generations of Arizona families," indicating their focus on systemic impact through supporting first-generation students.

For students applying for scholarships:

  • Counselor recommendations are crucial
  • Demonstrated financial need is primary criterion
  • Leadership and volunteer service are important factors
  • Commitment to the full program (including Summer Bridge and on-campus living) is required
  • First-generation college student status is essential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation is not open to unsolicited applications from organizations - it operates with a predetermined set of university foundation partners
  • The foundation's grantmaking is highly focused on supporting first-generation college students in Arizona through a comprehensive scholarship and support program
  • Grants to organizations are institutional support payments to university foundations, not traditional competitive grants
  • The foundation has shown consistent growth in charitable giving, increasing from $4.2M in 2021 to $8.4M in 2024
  • Organizations seeking educational grants from the Dorrance family should explore the separate Dorrance Family Foundation (EIN 86-0691863) instead
  • The foundation's approach goes beyond financial aid to include wraparound support services for students
  • Success rate for new scholarship applicants is 12%, indicating competitive selection

References

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