Dorrance Family Foundation
The Dorrance Family Foundation (Scottsdale, AZ) supports education and natural resource conservation through scholarships, grants, and volunteer service. The site describes geographic focus areas (California and the Island of Hawaiʻi) and program work including a Marine Conservation Initiative and accepts letters of inquiry via an online process.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A tax-exempt nonprofit working in education or natural-resource conservation—especially coastal/marine work or programs in Southern California or the Island of Hawaiʻi—that can submit an online letter of inquiry and demonstrate project outcomes or community partnerships.
Good Fit
- • Projects focused on coastal, marine, or watershed restoration in Southern California or Hawaiʻi.
- • Education or youth engagement tied to conservation work.
- • Capacity-building or general operating needs for mission-aligned nonprofits.
- • Ability to submit a concise online letter of inquiry through the portal.
- • Clear, measurable restoration or education outcomes and local partnerships.
- • Proposals aligned with the foundation’s named Marine Conservation Initiative when applicable.
Geography
The latest observed giving reached organizations in 11 states, with a strong concentration of dollars to California but a clearly multi-state footprint.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year the foundation funded 67 distinct recipients (78 grants), with many small and mid-sized awards and a mix of conservation and education groups, indicating a broad recipient set despite some dollar concentration among top grants.
New Applicants
Direct evidence supports openness: a public online LOI process and portal, named program and technical contacts, and 67 new recipients in the latest year together suggest unfamiliar organizations can access funding.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
