About Denison University
Denison’s purpose is to inspire and educate its students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents and active citizens of a democratic society.
Focus Areas
Higher educationStudent support and scholarshipsArts & cultureAthleticsSustainabilityGlobal programs / study abroadCareer development
Who They Fund
municipal fire departmentslocal arts organizationscommunity-based nonprofits and eventsgeneral local community/attendees
Funding Style
community sponsorship
About Denison University
Denison University’s recent giving is defined by a large, repeated commitment to Granville Township Board of Trustees for annual fire department assistance, with grants of $210,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2023. That pattern signals a funder that uses philanthropy for local infrastructure and civic support, alongside direct backing for education, arts, and community organizations. The foundation’s latest grants also include support for a prize fund at the American Philosophical Association, community sponsorships for Granville Exempted Village School District and Granville Center for the Arts, and funding for local nonprofits in Newark and Columbus. Across these awards, Denison University appears to favor targeted, named grants that fit specific institutional or event needs rather than broad unrestricted programs. Its stated purpose of educating autonomous thinkers and active citizens aligns with a grantmaking mix that reaches public services, cultural institutions, and community partners within its immediate region. The portfolio also shows recurring relationships with several recipients, suggesting steady local engagement over time.
What Denison University Funds
In public safety and emergency services, Denison University made its largest recent award to Granville Township Board of Trustees for annual fire department assistance, and it repeated that support in the prior year. In education and student-facing community work, the foundation gave $15,000 to Granville Exempted Village School District for community sponsorship in both 2023 and 2024, and also provided $50,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark for community sponsorship. Arts and culture appear through event-linked support such as $10,000 to Columbus Museum of Art for an art celebration sponsorship and $10,000 to Ohiolina for music festival sponsorship. Community development and service organizations also receive backing, including $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity-midohio for community sponsorship.
How Denison University Gives
Denison University’s typical grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,500, and the 75th percentile is $23,750. Recent giving shows both recurring and one-time awards, with several recipients appearing in multiple years, including Granville Township Board of Trustees, Granville Exempted Village School District, Licking County United Way, Capa, and Licking Memorial Hospital. The foundation is a university-backed funder with total assets of $1.46 billion and annual grants of $722,844, and it makes program-related investments. The recent record points to targeted assistance and sponsorship-style grants rather than a standardized open application model.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$394K
Total Assets
$1.6B
Total Revenue
$299M
Total Expenses
$293.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $24K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$24K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ADAM S WEINBERG
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