Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation
ActivoPhilanthropy & Voluntarism
About Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation
The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation concentrates its giving on cultural and educational institutions—primarily in the Washington, D.C. region—supporting performing arts, literacy/educational programs, and civic policy education. Grants include faith‑based community education as well as national philanthropic organizations, indicating a mix of local cultural investment and support for high‑profile education initiatives.
Focus Areas
Performing arts institutions in the D.C. area (e.g., Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra)Literacy and humanities programming (e.g., Folger Shakespeare Library)Civic and public policy education (e.g., Wilson Center)Church-based community education programs (e.g., Scotland AME Zion Church)
Who They Fund
Washington, D.C.-area cultural institutions (e.g., Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra)Libraries and humanities institutions (e.g., Folger Shakespeare Library)Policy research and education centers (e.g., Wilson Center) and policy students/practitioners
About Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation
The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation’s largest recent grant went to Scotland Ame Zion Church Inc., a $64,806 award in 2025 for education. That single gift sits alongside a pattern of support for Washington-area cultural and educational institutions, with grants to the Kennedy Center, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Wilson Center. The foundation also makes larger institutional commitments through its broader grant programs, including major gifts and pledges to universities and education-related institutions. Across its recent giving, the foundation appears to favor organizations that connect public learning, cultural programming, and civic education. Its portfolio includes faith-based community education, arts and humanities institutions, and policy-focused centers. The mix of grantees suggests a preference for established nonprofits that can use discretionary support for programming, symposia, performances, and educational initiatives. Recent awards also show that it supports both local institutions in the Washington, D.C. region and select national organizations, while maintaining a clear emphasis on education-related work.
What Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation Funds
Education is a central theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $64,806 to Scotland Ame Zion Church Inc. in Potomac, Maryland, for education, and it also awarded $20,800 to the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, for education. Arts and culture are another clear focus. The foundation gave $35,000 to the Kennedy Center (Noseda Era Fund) in 2024 and $25,000 to the National Symphony Orchestra in 2025, both in Washington, DC. It also supported the Folger Shakespeare Library with a $25,000 grant in 2024. Civic and public policy education appears through grants such as $11,000 to Civic Nation in 2025 and $10,000 to Smithsonian in 2024. The foundation’s program list also includes peace and conflict resolution as a standing priority.
How Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster in the middle range: the 25th percentile is $12,500, the median is $22,500, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. Recent awards include several gifts at or near that band, with a few larger outliers. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and does not accept unsolicited applications for its general grantmaking or several named programs. Its active programs indicate project-based, institutional support rather than individual funding. The recent grants list shows repeat support for some recipients over multiple years, including the Kennedy Center in 2023 and 2024.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$272K
Total Assets
$3.8M
Total Revenue
$149K
Total Expenses
$173K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $13K and $25K, with a median of $23K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$23K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Regional3 states funded
About 17% of grants go to recipients in VA.
Intensidad de financiamiento
BajaAlta
Sede
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