Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation

Funder Type: Private Foundation EIN: 59-1055300 Location: Coral Gables, Florida Prior Award: Mammography Equipment - $50,000

Opportunity Summary

The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation (DDF) is a well-established South Florida private foundation with over 60 years of grantmaking history. Founded in 1963 through the will of Ann V. Dunspaugh Dalton, DDF focuses on cultural, educational, health and human services, and youth activities primarily in Miami-Dade County, Florida and Monterey County, California.

Award Range: $5,000 - $200,000 Total Annual Giving: ~$1.5 million (FY2024) Total Assets: $32.9 million (FY2024) Application Process: Two-stage (Letter of Intent → Full Proposal)

Strategic Fit Assessment

Alignment Strengths

• Prior Relationship: FIU HWCOM received $50K for mammography equipment, demonstrating successful partnership history
• Geographic Focus: Miami-Dade County is DDF's primary funding area - perfect alignment with FIU's location
• Health & Human Services Priority: Health services and healthcare access are core focus areas
• Education Support: DDF supports educational initiatives, relevant for NeighborhoodHELP's educational component
• Community Benefit: Strong emphasis on programs that benefit the community aligns with FIU's community health mission

Strategic Considerations

• Small Foundation: $1.5M annual giving means limited number of awards (~28 grants in 2024)
• Five-Year History Required: Organizations must demonstrate 5 years of successful financial history
• One Application Per Year: No more than one LOI or grant request per 365-day period
• One-Year Grant Periods: Grants typically awarded for single year; returning grantees eligible after 12 months
• Competitive Landscape: Recent grantees include Barry University ($200K), Miami Music Project ($200K), Boys & Girls Clubs ($100K)

Opportunity Score

Detailed Scoring (1-5 Scale)

Overall Score: 4.0 / 5.0 Priority Level: HIGH PRIORITY

Recommended Approach

Positioning Strategy

1. Leverage Prior Relationship: Reference successful mammography equipment grant; demonstrate stewardship and impact
2. Community Benefit Focus: Emphasize direct benefit to underserved Miami-Dade residents through NeighborhoodHELP
3. Educational Component: Highlight medical student training and community health education aspects
4. Health Equity Angle: Position around improving healthcare access for low-income, uninsured Miami-Dade residents

Potential Project Framing

• NeighborhoodHELP Expansion: Equipment, supplies, or program enhancement for community health delivery
• Health Education Initiative: Community health worker training or patient education programs
• Clinical Services Enhancement: Medical equipment or supplies to expand services in underserved neighborhoods
• Youth Health Programs: Health education and services for children and families in Miami-Dade

Ask Range

Recommended: $75,000 - $125,000 Rationale: Prior $50K award establishes floor; recent grants range $100K-$200K; mid-range request balances ambition with realism

Application Timeline

Note: Specific deadlines not published on website; contact foundation for current cycle dates.

Key Contacts

Primary Contact: Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation 1501 Venera Ave, Suite 217 Coral Gables, FL 33146-3032 Phone: 305-668-4192 Website: https://www.dunspaughdalton.org

Email Contact: Information requests: Use contact form on website Partnership inquiries: usprogram@americares.org (for medicine program partners)

Key Decision-Makers

Foundation Leadership (FY2024):

• Alexina Lane - President ($154,000 compensation)
• Lane B Dowlen - Secretary ($154,000 compensation)
• Leslie Buchanan - VP/Secretary ($154,000 compensation)
• Katherine Reynolds - Treasurer ($89,833 compensation)

Note: As a small private foundation, these officers likely have significant influence over grantmaking decisions.

Critical Success Factors

1. Demonstrate Community Impact: Show how project directly benefits Miami-Dade County residents
2. Leverage Prior Success: Reference previous grant; show stewardship and outcomes achieved
3. Financial Stability: Highlight FIU's strong financial position and 5+ year track record
4. Clear Outcomes: Define measurable health outcomes and community benefit metrics
5. Sustainable Impact: Show how one-year grant creates lasting benefit
6. Alignment with Priorities: Explicitly connect to DDF's health, education, and community service focus areas
7. Competitive Positioning: Differentiate from other health organizations seeking support

Due Diligence Notes

Strengths

• Established foundation with 60+ year history
• Consistent grantmaking (~$1.5M annually)
• Clear geographic focus aligned with FIU location
• Proven relationship through prior successful grant
• Professional management and clear guidelines

Considerations

• Limited annual giving pool means high competition
• Small number of grants awarded annually (~28)
• Must wait 12 months between grant awards
• Strong preference for programmatic vs. capital grants
• Board discretion on geographic areas and funding priorities

Research Sources

• Official Website: https://www.dunspaughdalton.org (Retrieved: 2026-02-13)
• ProPublica 990 Data: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/591055300 (Retrieved: 2026-02-13)
• CauseIQ Profile: Financial data and recent grantee information (Retrieved: 2026-02-13)
• Form 990-PF Filings: 2011-2024 available through ProPublica

Next Steps

1. Review Prior Grant File: Gather documentation of mammography equipment grant (outcomes, stewardship reports, photos)
2. Identify Project Lead: Determine which FIU program/initiative will be featured in application
3. Budget Development: Create detailed budget for $75K-$125K request
4. Relationship Cultivation: Consider cultivation meeting before LOI submission (if appropriate)
5. LOI Drafting: Prepare concise, compelling 2-3 page Letter of Intent
6. Timeline Confirmation: Contact foundation to confirm current application cycle dates

Related Opportunities

• Health Foundation of South Florida (HFSF): Another South Florida health funder with Miami-Dade focus
• Miami Foundation: Community foundation serving Greater Miami
• Knight Foundation: Miami-based funder with health equity programs
• Peacock Foundation: South Florida health and human services funder

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Last Updated: 2026-02-13 Research Completed By: Grant Funder Researcher Agent Confidence Level: High (official website + ProPublica 990 data + prior relationship documentation)