Ray And Dagmar Dolby Family Fund - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $9,514,312 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $106,000 - $2,000,000
Median Grant: $500,000
Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area (California) with selected national organizations
Total Assets: $82.8 million

Contact Details

Address: 3340 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 563-3646
Contact: Jen Lynch, Assistant Secretary
EIN: 91-2159332

Overview

The Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund was established in 2002 by the late Ray Dolby, the renowned audio technology pioneer who founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965, and his wife Dagmar. The private foundation manages assets of approximately $82.8 million and awarded $9.5 million in grants in 2023 through 14 awards. The foundation focuses strategically on arts, science, and education, with particular emphasis on areas "not typically at the top of charitable giving lists." Following Ray Dolby's death in 2013 from Alzheimer's disease, the foundation has maintained a strong commitment to brain health research, reproductive rights, stem cell research, and supporting children's health and educational opportunities. In 2017, Dagmar Dolby became a signatory of The Giving Pledge, confirming the family's commitment to devoting the major part of their estate to charitable causes. Over the past 25 years, Dagmar has become a national champion for reproductive freedom and has recently expanded the foundation's portfolio to include democracy and voting rights organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than specific formal grant programs. Recent grants have ranged from $106,000 to $2,000,000, with a median grant of $500,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through a simple letter of inquiry.

Priority Areas

Brain Health & Medical Research

Alzheimer's disease research and treatment
Mood disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder)
Stem cell research and regenerative medicine
Neurological disease treatment (Parkinson's, dementia)
Mental health support and destigmatization

Reproductive Rights & Women's Health

Full reproductive freedom through education, advocacy, and service access
Advocacy for women and girls
Support for reproductive healthcare organizations

Children & Education

Early childhood education programs
Educational opportunities at all levels
Healthy start in life for children
Scholarships for higher education
Access to quality education for underserved communities

Social Justice & Democracy

Democracy strengthening initiatives
Voting rights protection
Human rights organizations
Racial justice work
Climate-related initiatives

Arts & Science

Scientific research institutions
Arts organizations and programs

Geographic Focus

Primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, with selected national organizations also considered. Recent grants have supported organizations in California, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

Gladstone Institutes (San Francisco, CA): $2.0M for general operating support
UCSF Foundation (San Francisco, CA): $1.8M for general operating support
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (Oakland, CA): $1.3M for general operating support
Barack Obama Foundation (Chicago, IL): $1.0M for general operating support
Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (New York, NY): $500K for general operating support
Cure Alzheimer's Fund: General operating support

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation appears to focus primarily on organizations with established track records in their priority areas. The foundation makes a limited number of larger grants rather than numerous small grants.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team:

Dagmar Dolby, President - Giving Pledge signatory (2017) and national champion for reproductive freedom. Deeply committed to brain health research following her husband's Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2009.
Thomas Dolby, Secretary - Son of Ray and Dagmar; musician and technology entrepreneur
David Dolby, Chief Financial Officer - Son of Ray and Dagmar; co-donor of the $20 million gift establishing the UCSF Dolby Family Center for Mood Disorders
Natasha Dolby, Vice President - Daughter of Ray and Dagmar
Jen Lynch, Assistant Secretary - Primary contact for grant inquiries

Key Quotes from Leadership

From Dagmar Dolby's Giving Pledge letter:

"We would like to see children have a healthy start in life and receive proper educational opportunities at all levels."
"Contributing to a decent life for those less fortunate whether at the beginning or the end of their lives is a great privilege."
The foundation focuses on "areas not typically at the top of charitable giving lists."
The family is committed to "adapt our giving responsibly to the changing needs in the world."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund accepts applications through a simple letter of inquiry. Applicants should submit a letter describing their organization and the purpose of requested funds to:

Jen Lynch
Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund
3340 Jackson Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone: (415) 563-3646

Application Method

Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's relatively small number of grants (14 in 2023), the review process likely involves careful consideration by trustees.

Success Rates

The foundation made 14 grants in 2023, 8 grants in 2022, and 4 grants in 2021. Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation appears to be highly selective, focusing on organizations with established track records and alignment with the family's philanthropic priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Several organizations appear to receive repeat funding (UCSF, Gladstone Institutes), suggesting that successful grantees may be considered for ongoing support.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns and leadership statements, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Alignment with Core Priority Areas The foundation has clearly articulated focus areas: brain health research, reproductive rights, stem cell research, children's health and education, and democracy/voting rights. Organizations working in these specific areas, particularly those addressing issues "not typically at the top of charitable giving lists," should emphasize this alignment.

2. Strong Track Record in Medical Research Recent major grants show a preference for established research institutions. The foundation's significant historical support for UCSF ($16M in 2006, $20M in 2011 for the Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building; $20M in 2018 for the Dolby Family Center for Mood Disorders) and Gladstone Institutes ($2M in 2023) demonstrates appreciation for institutions conducting pioneering research, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders, and stem cell research.

3. San Francisco Bay Area Connection While the foundation supports selected national organizations, a strong Bay Area presence or connection appears advantageous. The majority of recent large grants went to Bay Area institutions.

4. Capacity for Significant Impact With a median grant of $500,000 and grants ranging up to $2M, the foundation appears to seek organizations capable of utilizing substantial funding for transformative work. Applications should articulate how funding will create meaningful change.

5. Personal Connection to Family's Experience The foundation's focus on Alzheimer's research intensified after Ray Dolby's diagnosis in 2009. Organizations addressing health conditions or social issues that resonate with the family's lived experience may receive favorable consideration.

6. Emphasis on Underserved Areas Dagmar Dolby's stated commitment to supporting children having "a healthy start in life" and "proper educational opportunities at all levels," particularly for underserved communities, suggests that organizations serving disadvantaged populations should highlight this aspect.

7. Multi-Year General Operating Support Recent grants indicate a preference for general operating support rather than project-specific funding, suggesting the foundation trusts grantees to deploy resources where most needed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Keep it simple: The foundation requires only a letter of inquiry, not a full proposal. Be clear, concise, and compelling about your organization and funding purpose.
Target Bay Area or national scope: While San Francisco Bay Area organizations receive priority, significant national organizations (Barack Obama Foundation, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation) also receive support.
Think big: With grants ranging from $106K to $2M and a median of $500K, this is a major donor prospect for organizations with substantial programmatic capacity.
Emphasize brain health and reproductive rights: These are the foundation's most distinctive funding priorities, representing areas Dagmar Dolby has described as underrepresented in philanthropy.
Demonstrate established excellence: Recent grantees are predominantly well-known, established institutions (UCSF, Kaiser, Gladstone Institutes). New or emerging organizations may face challenges unless they can demonstrate exceptional promise.
Connect to family values: Reference the foundation's stated priorities around children's opportunities, supporting people at the beginning and end of life, and addressing issues often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy.
Be prepared for selective review: With only 14 grants awarded in 2023 from what is likely a much larger applicant pool, competition is significant. Applications must make a compelling case for both organizational excellence and programmatic alignment.

References

Grantmakers.io Profile - Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/912159332-ray-and-dagmar-dolby-family-fund/, accessed January 14, 2026
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Ray And Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/912159332, accessed January 14, 2026
The Giving Pledge - Dagmar Dolby, https://www.givingpledge.org/pledger/dagmar-dolby/, accessed January 14, 2026
UCSF News - "Dolby Family Gift Launches New UCSF Center for Mood Disorders" (September 2018), https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2018/09/411651/dolby-family-gift-launches-new-ucsf-center-mood-disorders, accessed January 14, 2026
UCSF News - "UCSF Receives Second Major Gift from Dolbys for Stem Cell Building" (January 2011), https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/01/98170/ucsf-receives-second-major-gift-dolbys-stem-cell-building, accessed January 14, 2026
University of Cambridge - "£85 million gift from the Dolby family to transform Cambridge science," https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/ps85-million-gift-from-the-dolby-family-to-transform-cambridge-science, accessed January 14, 2026
Gladstone Institutes - "Philanthropic Leadership Enables Trailblazing Alzheimer's Research," https://gladstone.org/news/philanthropic-leadership-enables-trailblazing-alzheimers-research, accessed January 14, 2026
Foundation Directory (Candid) - Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund, https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=DOLB002, accessed January 14, 2026
Wikipedia - Ray Dolby, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Dolby, accessed January 14, 2026
Wikipedia - Dagmar Dolby, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagmar_Dolby, accessed January 14, 2026