The David B Lynch Foundation concentrates its giving on institutional, civic, and research-oriented organizations, with a strong tilt toward general operating support for a small set of repeat grantees. The largest single recipient is a university, while a second cluster of funding supports organizations working on election reform, democracy resilience, and countering online harms. Grants are relatively few but sizeable and often recur to the same beneficiaries, suggesting a preference for sustained institutional partnerships over one-off project funding.
Concentrated giving: a small number of medium-to-large grants with multiple repeat payments to the same organizations, primarily providing general purpose/unrestricted support.
The David B Lynch Foundation gives in a way that looks more like sustained institutional backing than scattered philanthropy. Its largest recent grant was $75,000 to the University of Richmond Charitable Grant for general purposes, and the same university appears again in the 2025 record with two additional $50,000 awards. That pattern fits a funder that favors repeat support for a small set of organizations, especially when the work is framed as general operating or general-purpose funding. Beyond higher education, the foundation has also backed organizations working on election reform and civic resilience. Election Reformers Network Inc received multiple grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including awards of $40,000 and $25,000, while Institute for Strategic Dialogue US received several grants for general purposes. The grant list also includes support for schools, public media, and community organizations, showing a portfolio that reaches across institutional, civic, and educational sectors rather than a single program niche.
One clear theme is support for election integrity and democratic process work. Election Reformers Network Inc received $40,000 in 2025 and $25,000 grants in both 2024 and 2023, all for general purpose support. A second theme is research and policy work on extremism, disinformation, and civic resilience. Institute for Strategic Dialogue US received $40,000 in 2025, along with $25,000 in 2023 and 2024, and a $20,000 grant in 2025, each listed for general purposes. The foundation also funds education-related institutions. WGBH Educational Foundation received several grants between 2023 and 2025, while Catholic Schools Foundation Inc received awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025. In private education, Phillips Exeter Academy appears in multiple years as well.
Grant sizes cluster in the low five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $9,500, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. The recent record also includes larger institutional awards, which helps explain why annual giving totals exceed the median check size. The foundation’s pattern is repeated support rather than one-time gifts; several recipients appear in multiple years, including University of Richmond Charitable Grant, Election Reformers Network Inc, Institute for Strategic Dialogue US, WGBH Educational Foundation, Catholic Schools Foundation Inc, and Phillips Exeter Academy. The foundation is not listed as funding individuals and is not making program-related investments.
$232K
$4.3M
$213K
$274K
Most grants fall between $5K and $12K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$12K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Notable grantees: University of Richmond, Election Reformers Network Inc, Institute for Strategic Dialogue US
Giving is national, with all recent grants going to US recipients. The strongest concentration by recipient location is in New Hampshire, which is also the top state by grant count. Recent grants reached Richmond, Virginia; Bethesda, Maryland; Toledo, Ohio; Boston, Massachusetts; Nantucket, Massachusetts; Vero Beach, Florida; West Hartford, Connecticut; Exeter, New Hampshire; Concord, Massachusetts; and Wellesley, Massachusetts. No grants in the recent list went to recipients in Delaware.
Its recent grants go to universities, election-reform groups, policy and research organizations, schools, public media, and community organizations. The grant descriptions are mostly for general purpose or general operating support rather than tightly restricted projects.
Yes. Multiple recipients show up across more than one year, including the University of Richmond Charitable Grant, Election Reformers Network Inc, Institute for Strategic Dialogue US, WGBH Educational Foundation, Catholic Schools Foundation Inc, and Phillips Exeter Academy.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the low five figures: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $9,500, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $75,000 and $60,000.
By recipient location, New Hampshire is the top state by grant count. The recent list also shows grants to organizations in Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.
No. The foundation is listed as not funding individuals and not making program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND CHARITABLE GRANT | RICHMOND, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE US | TOLEDO, OH | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ELECTION REFORMERS NETWORK INC | BETHESDA, MD | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NANTUCKET | NANTUCKET, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $17,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | EXETER, NH | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WBUR | BOSTON, MA | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRIMMER AND MAY SCHOOL | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NOBLE & GREENOUGH SCHOOL | DEDHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF THE LOBKOWICZ COLLECTIONS | DOVER, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| IDF LIFE FOR A CHILD (USA) INC | TALLAHASSE, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ROBERT PACKARD CENTER FOR ALS RESEARCH AT JOHNS HOPKINS | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE FOUNDATI | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $2,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FDN | EUGENE, OR | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FDN | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND CHARITABLE GRANT | RICHMOND, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ELECTION REFORMERS NETWORK INC | BETHESDA, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE US | TOLEDO, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NANTUCKET | NANTUCKET, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JOHN'S ISLAND COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAGUE | VERO BEACH, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF KISHORIT INC | WEST HARTFORD, CT | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | EXETER, NH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRIMMER AND MAY SCHOOL | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE LOBKOWICZ COLLECTIONS | DOVER, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NOBLE & GREENOUGH SCHOOL | DEDHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WBUR | BOSTON, MA | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FDN | EUGENE, OR | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ROBERT PACKARD CENTER FOR ALS RESEARCH AT JOHNS HOPKINS | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN PROMISE EDUCATION FUND | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE FOUNDATI | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $2,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FDN | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| IDF LIFE FOR A CHILD (USA) INC | TALLAHASSE, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND CHARITABLE GRANT | RICHMOND, VA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE US | TOLEDO, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ELECTION REFORMERS NETWORK INC | BETHESDA, MD | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $12,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | EXETER, NH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF THE LOBKOWICZ COLLECTIONS | DOVER, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| WBUR | BOSTON, MA | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN PROMISE EDUCATION FUND | CONCORD, MA | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE US
$40,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GENERAL PURPOSE
PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BRIMMER AND MAY SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL
ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NOBLE & GREENOUGH SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
IDF LIFE FOR A CHILD (USA) INC
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ROBERT PACKARD CENTER FOR ALS RESEARCH AT JOHNS HOPKINS
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE FOUNDATI
$2,000RESEARCH
PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BRIMMER AND MAY SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL
NOBLE & GREENOUGH SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
$4,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ROBERT PACKARD CENTER FOR ALS RESEARCH AT JOHNS HOPKINS
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE FOUNDATI
$2,000RESEARCH
IDF LIFE FOR A CHILD (USA) INC
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WBUR
$8,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
$8,000GENERAL PURPOSE