In December, 1994, Dale and Edna Walsh set up an Illinios based 501(c)(3) private charitable contribution foundation named the Dale and Edna Walsh Foundation. We refer to ourselves as DEW Foundation or simply DEW.

Whereas a Board of Directors governs DEW’s general affairs, a larger Advisory Board allocates our annual charitable distributions. Reflecting the varied interests of this board, we support a wide range of charitable activities from ministries and social services to education and arts. We do, however, follow certain guidelines that you can find elsewhere.

DEW does not provide end-user charitable services nor are we guided by a single charitable Vision. Instead, by providing financial support, we join with other 501(c)(3) organizations that we determine have clear vision and capabilities to fulfill those visions. In this, our difficulty is seldom in recognizing good and bad, but discerning good and better. We decided that supporting nonprofit organizations already conducting good work would be the smartest, most successful and effective way to improve the lives of others and allow our Board Members to make a difference in their communities and strengthen the impact they have in their own areas of interest and passion.

Someone defined a foundation a s a pile of money surrounded by people who want some. That’s a slightly pessimistic view. More exactly, a charitable foundation like DEW is a tax-exempt organization set up and usually funded by its founders to carry out charitable activities subject to a few broad rules in the U.S. Tax Code and guidelines set by DEW’s Board of Directors.

Our mission statement says: by contributing financial support, DEW Foundation joins hands with effective charitable organizations to meet human need and promote the common good worldwide, encouraging and empowering our family’s personal involvement.

We believe effective charitable organizations will couple organization, resources and leadership with winning ideas and vision to meet pressing needs and fulfill vital missions. Our mission is to help provide those resources.

DEW Foundation Charter

by contributing financial support, joins hands with effective charitable organizations to meet human need and promote the common good worldwide, encouraging and empowering our family’s personal involvement.

What does this mean?

Well, we believe effective charitable organizations will couple organization, resources, and leadership with winning ideas and vision to meet pressing needs and fulfill vital missions.

Our mission is to help provide those resources. But, an implied part of our mission is to discern the effective from the ineffective. We have learned there are great organizations with impressive leadership harnessing worn-out ideas or addressing questionable needs. And, there are disorganized groups with seemingly clear vision and noble mission.

To bring wisdom and discernment to this task, DEW has an Advisory Board that recommends how to best invest each year’s disbursements