Dorrance Foundation For Education

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,086,809 (2023, per 990)
• Success Rate: Not publicly specified
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Average $9,000 per scholarship; $230,000 - $290,000 to universities
• Geographic Focus: Arizona

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 totalling $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 750 scholarships to first-generation Arizona students. Their annual charitable disbursements (including programme operating costs) have grown significantly from $4,268,026 in 2021 to $8,367,408 in 2024 per 990-PF filings. The foundation currently supports approximately 350 students (per third-party sources) across Arizona's three public universities, providing not just financial aid but comprehensive academic and personal support to instil college-going traditions in future generations of Arizona families.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Dorrance Scholarship Programs - The foundation's flagship programme provides $12,000 per academic year for four years (renewable for 8 semesters), with a total programme 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 programme
• Agreement to live on campus during freshman and sophomore year
• Agreement to participate in summer bridge programme in Flagstaff, Arizona

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not appear to make general operating grants to organisations outside of its core scholarship programme 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 Programs 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 counsellors play a key role as recommenders for students. Application deadline is typically in early February.

For Organisations: This foundation does not have a public application process for organisational 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 programme.

Organisations 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) organisations 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.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from organisations, success in receiving funding is based on the foundation's established relationships with the three Arizona public universities. The foundation's mission statement emphasises that "The Dorrance Scholarship is a need-based award that aims to instil 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:

• Counsellor recommendations are crucial
• Demonstrated financial need is primary criterion
• Leadership and volunteer service are important factors
• Commitment to the full programme (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 organisations - 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 programme
• Grants to organisations are institutional support payments to university foundations, not traditional competitive grants
• The foundation has shown consistent growth in charitable disbursements, with total disbursements (including programme operating costs) increasing from $4.2M in 2021 to $8.4M in 2024 per 990-PF filings
• Organisations 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

References

• Dorrance Scholarship Programs official website: https://dorrancescholarship.org/ (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Dorrance Foundation For Education: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823330439 (accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - Dorrance Foundation for Education profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/dorrance-foundation-for-education,823330439/ (accessed January 2026)
• Grantable.co - Dorrance Foundation for Education profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/dorrance-foundation-for-education-us-foundation-823330439 (accessed January 2026)
• University of Arizona Financial Aid - Dorrance Scholarship Programs: https://financialaid.arizona.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/dorrance-scholarship-program (accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - Dorrance Family Foundation profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/arizona-grants/dorrance-family-foundation (accessed January 2026)