Dunard Fund USA
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Dunard Fund USA's stated focus is music and the arts, and its recorded recipients include music schools, opera companies, orchestras, dance organisations and museums, so a music or arts organisation is the closest fit.
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an existing link to it should not send a cold application and should look for an introduction instead.
- Most of its grant dollars to organisations go to groups it had also funded in an earlier filing, so a new applicant should expect a relationship-led process.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $115,000 or less, so a modest request is more in line with its usual giving, though about 8 in 10 grants fall between $10,000 and $2,600,000.
Overview
Dunard Fund USA is a US private foundation based in Northbrook, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (insidephilanthropy.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
One of the Colburn family charities, Dunard Fund USA focuses on music and the arts. Its recorded recipients include arts and cultural organisations such as music schools, opera companies, orchestras, dance organisations and museums. Most recorded grants are designated as general support. The grants recorded in the filings have been concentrated in California, followed by New York. The filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations; it does not describe an open application process or state which organisations are eligible.
Themes
- Music and the arts
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California 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, 90% 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 62 grants to organisations were $115,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 73% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations Dunard Fund USA had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 24 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $147k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Colburn School · General support$52,500,0002024 tax year
- Myriad USA · General support$2,760,0002024 tax year
- King's Foundation America · General support$2,600,0002024 tax year
- Chapel & York Foundation · General support$1,750,4002024 tax year
- Los Angeles Opera · General support$1,300,0002024 tax year
- The Crown Prince Fredrick Fund · General support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- American Ireland Fund · General support$835,0002024 tax year
- Metropolitan Opera · General support$650,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Forrest Colburn — Director
- Catherine Hogel — Director
- Keith Colburn — Assistant Secretary
- Andrea Mayes — Assistant Treasurer
- David Bradford — Secretary
- Carol Grigor — President / Director / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $49,738,319 | $11,946,000 | $144,283,543 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,807,129 | $11,503,100 | $216,500,277 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $65,747,222 | $65,122,000 | $282,389,968 | 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 Dunard Fund USA?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Northbrook, IL
Applying to Dunard Fund USA?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Northbrook, IL