The Dodson Foundation funds a mix of faith-based institutions, education/scholarship programs, basic needs providers (food banks and shelters), and health-related causes, often through repeat multi-year support. Grants tend to be mid-sized and earmarked for general operating or scholarship purposes, and the foundation shows a preference for organizations they fund multiple times rather than one-off gifts. Geographic giving is dispersed (notably Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Indiana, Washington) but recurring grantees and Catholic-affiliated institutions are prominent. Their portfolio also includes youth development and cancer/recovery-focused medical philanthropy.
A defining thread in Dodson Foundation Inc C/o Mark R Dodson’s grantmaking is sustained support for the Louis-Dodson Scholarship at Ithaca High School, which appears in the recent grants list in three separate years: $180,000 in 2023 and 2024, and $162,500 in 2025. That recurring scholarship support sits alongside other multi-year commitments to education, faith-linked institutions, food access, and health-related organizations. The foundation’s recent giving includes sizable unrestricted awards to the US Olympic Committee, North Texas Food Bank, White Rock Center of Hope, and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, suggesting a mix of scholarship funding and flexible operating support. Across the recent grants listed here, the foundation funds both named scholarship programs and nonprofit service providers. It has supported university scholarship structures such as the Stout University Foundation and the Indiana University Foundation, as well as community organizations working in hunger relief, shelter, youth development, and addiction recovery. Catholic-affiliated institutions also appear repeatedly, including Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington and St Colettas of Illinois Foundation. The pattern is not limited to one sector; instead, the foundation maintains a broad national portfolio with repeat grants to organizations it already knows.
Scholarship support is one of the clearest themes in the recent record. The foundation gave $162,500 in 2025 to the Louis-Dodson Scholarship at Ithaca High School, and also supported the Stout University Foundation with $70,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2025 for scholarships. Indiana University Foundation received $75,000 in 2025 as an unrestricted charitable grant, adding another education-related line of giving. Basic needs organizations are also a recurring category. North Texas Food Bank received $75,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2023, while White Rock Center of Hope received $75,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024. Shelter and housing work appears in gifts to Wilkinson Center, Central Arizona Shelter Services, and Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington. Health-related philanthropy shows up through Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, which received $75,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2023, and through Lee Health Foundation, which received $50,000 in 2024 for Kids Minds Matter.
$3.3M
$24.5M
$811K
$3.6M
Most grants fall between $13K and $34K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$34K
About 7% of grants go to recipients in FL.
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Predominantly repeated mid-size grants to a set of core grantees (many organizations show 2–4 grants each), focused on general operating and scholarships rather than one-time capital projects. Giving is moderately concentrated across several themes (religion, scholarships, food security, health/recovery, youth services) with geographically dispersed beneficiaries.
Notable grantees: Louis‑Dodson Scholarship at Ithaca High School, Pontifical College Josephinum, North Texas Food Bank, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $12,500, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $33,750. The recent grants list also shows much larger awards at the top end, including repeated six-figure scholarship support. The pattern leans toward repeat giving rather than isolated one-time gifts, with several organizations appearing across multiple years. Grants are commonly described as unrestricted charitable grants, general operating expenses, or scholarships, which points to flexible support and direct educational funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments.
Giving is national, with all recipient-country grants in the United States. Florida is the top state by grant count, and Illinois is the headquarters state, but only 7% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. Recent grants reach multiple regions, including Phoenix and Scottsdale in Arizona, Dallas and Plano in Texas, Fort Myers in Florida, Seattle in Washington, and Colorado Springs in Colorado. The recipient mix also includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and Indiana.
The recent grants list shows a mix of scholarship programs, food banks, shelters, Catholic-affiliated institutions, youth-serving groups, and health-related nonprofits. Examples include the Louis-Dodson Scholarship at Ithaca High School, North Texas Food Bank, Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington, and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Many of the listed grants are described as unrestricted charitable grants or general operating expenses. Scholarship awards are also a major part of the portfolio, including recurring support for the Louis-Dodson Scholarship at Ithaca High School and scholarship funding through Stout University Foundation.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including the Louis-Dodson Scholarship at Ithaca High School in 2023, 2024, and 2025; North Texas Food Bank in 2023 and 2025; White Rock Center of Hope in 2024 and 2025; and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in 2023 and 2025.
The typical grant size is $12,500 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $33,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, especially for recurring scholarship support and selected unrestricted gifts.
The foundation gives nationally, but Florida is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are spread across Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITHACA SCHOOL DISTRICT | RICHLAND CENTER, WI | $260,000 | 2026 | LOUIS-DODSON SCHOLARSHIP |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $175,000 | 2026 | DODSON FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| LEE HEALTH FOUNDATIONKIDS MINDS MATTER | FT MYERS, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| GOOD SAMARITANS OF GARLAND TEXAS | GARLAND, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HOME OF THE MOTHER | WORTHINGTON, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK | PLANO, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WILKINSON CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| UNITED STATES OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE | SPRINGS, CO | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HAZELDON BETTY FORD FOUNDATION | CENTER CITY, MN | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEGUE | PHOENIX, AZ | $60,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CATHOLIC HOUSING SERVICES OF WESTERN WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SCOTTSDALE | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| UW-STOUT FOUNDATION AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | MENOMONIE, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HAPPILY EVER AFTER LEAGUE | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| OVERLAKE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | BELLEVUE, WA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE | DALLAS, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| PONTIFICAL COLLEGE JOSEPHINUM | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ST COLETTAS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION | TINLEY PARK, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| FOCUS MISSION FOUNDATION | GOLDEN, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CENTRAL ARIZONA SHELTER SERVICES | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ST MARY'S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| PELOTONIA | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| THE STEW POT | DALLAS, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ST MATTHEWS HOUSE | NAPLES, FL | $40,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CAFE OF LIFE | BONITA SPRINGS, FL | $40,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE | FT MYERS, FL | $40,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES INC | FT MYERS, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| YOUTH HAVEN | NAPLES, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| LEE HEALTH FOUNDATION | FT MYERS, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | CANCER CLINIC |
| ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT NETWORK | NAPLES, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| MAGGIES PLACE ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA | FORT MYERS, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NEW HORIZONS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA | NAPLES, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| VILLAGE THEATRE | ISSAQUAH, WA | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF CENTRAL OHIO INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN-CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| AQUINAS CLASSICAL ACADEMY | BREMERTON, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| BENEDICTINE DAUGHTERS OF THE DIVINE WILL | MARYVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ST OXFORD, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| MATTHIAS ACADEMY | BRISTOL, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| 3W MEDICAL FOR WOMEN | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| DALLAS FORT WORTH PUG RESCUE CLUB | GRAPEVINE, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| PARTNERS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES | PALATINE, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ISSAQUAH FOOD & CLOTHING BANK | ISSAQUAH, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| UWM FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | BUSINESS SCHOOL |
ITHACA SCHOOL DISTRICT
$260,000LOUIS-DODSON SCHOLARSHIP
LEE HEALTH FOUNDATIONKIDS MINDS MATTER
$100,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
GOOD SAMARITANS OF GARLAND TEXAS
$100,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEGUE
$60,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CATHOLIC HOUSING SERVICES OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SCOTTSDALE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
HAPPILY EVER AFTER LEAGUE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
ST COLETTAS OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
FOCUS MISSION FOUNDATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
THE STEW POT
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
ST MATTHEWS HOUSE
$40,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
LEE HEALTH FOUNDATION
$30,000CANCER CLINIC
ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT NETWORK
$30,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
AQUINAS CLASSICAL ACADEMY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
BENEDICTINE DAUGHTERS OF THE DIVINE WILL
$25,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
DALLAS FORT WORTH PUG RESCUE CLUB
$25,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT