Our Mission

The Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation (DLMECF) is a private, grant-making foundation that supports charitable organizations, with a primary focus on the advancement of the arts. This includes art education, art preservation, and art exhibitions.

Our founder, Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards, had a strong interest in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century British and European art, and this focus continues to guide DLMECF’s grant-making.

Our Founder

Lee MacCormick Edwards divided her time between her mother’s birthplace, America, and her father’s, Australia. She contributed richly to the artistic and cultural life of both countries — and their leading institutions. She also made her mark as a lecturer in art history, an author, and a photographer.

Grant Guidelines

  • DLMECF only makes grants to organizations that are tax exempt public charities under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1), (2), and (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

    Application Requirements: 

    Grant applications should include the following information:

    • A concise (1-2 pages) narrative proposal including your organization's mission, organizational and program descriptions, geographic reach, community needs, and projected use of requested funds. Your request should include appropriate backup material, i.e., budget, schedules, population reached, projected outcome/solutions, etc.

    • A copy of the Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit status exemption letter from the Internal Revenue Service for the applicant or for the organization with which the applicant has partnered. 

    • A complete copy of your organization’s most recent Form 990 and audited financial report.

    • A list of your organization’s current (last 12 months) contributions and foundation grants, including level of support.

    • We have an interest in administrative costs. Please indicate what percentage of your organization’s income goes towards achieving its mission.

    • If your organization has received a grant from the DLMECF in the past, a brief update would be appreciated. Applicants who have received a grant in a prior year should submit a grant application with updated attachments.

    • All applications for grants must be submitted by e-mail to information@dlmecf.org

    Grant Application Amount: 

    DLMECF has made grants ranging from $1,000 to over $25,000. DLMECF typically makes grants in the $5,000 - $10,000 range. DLMECF grants to approximately 30-35 grantees each year. If a grant proposal is approved, the applicant will receive the grant prior to December 31st for the following year. 

    Grant Limitations:

    DLMECF does not grant to or for the following:

    • Individuals

    • Programs with political, fraternal, sectarian, or religious purposes

    • Capital campaigns

    • Reductions of debt

    • Outside the scope of DLMECF’s mission

    Deadline:

    The deadline to apply is September 30th for the following calendar year. DLMECF limits its grants to a particular organization to once per calendar year. Applicants are not automatically considered for funding the following year; proposals with updated attachments must be resubmitted each year.

  • Follow the application requirements, limitations, and deadlines as spelled out for U.S. Grant applicants.

    Additional eligibility requirements for Non-U.S. Grant applicants:

    • A foreign charity that has been recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity;

    • A foreign charity that has received an “equivalency determination” for the foreign charity as a Section (501(c)(3) public charity.  For more information on obtaining an equivalency determination, see https://www.ngosource.org/how-it-works/what-is-equivalency-determination;

    • A U.S. “friends of” charity, such as a trust or non-profit corporation formed under the laws of one of the states of the U.S., that is a tax-exempt public charity under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1), (2), and (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information on “friends of” charities, see https://cof.org/content/how-private-foundation-can-use-friends-organizations; or

    • A U.S. charity that operates internationally, i.e., a U.S. charity that has, or can establish, a direct relationship with the non-U.S. based charitable applicant. In this case, the U.S. charity that receives the grant effectively acts as an intermediary, receiving the grant and then making the grant to sponsor the foreign charity’s application. 

    For example, DLMECF has made grants to: 

    • CAF America (Charities Aid Foundation America) Friends Fund

    • Chapel & York U.S. Foundation for the benefit of non-U.S. charities

    • Myriad USA for the benefit of a non-U.S. charity

    Other than as set out above, DLMECF does not make grants directly to non-U.S. charities.

  • DLMECF's fiscal year ends on December 31st. The application deadline for grants is September 30th. This allows for a grant to be made by December 31st of the same year for projects and programs in the following calendar year.

    DLMECF limits grants to one grant per grantee in each fiscal year.

    Grantees are not automatically considered for funding the following year and should reapply.

Officers & Directors

  • Director
    President

    Joseph S. Piropato is a Portfolio Manager at Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. He joined Tocqueville in 2007 and is a member of the Wealth Management Group. He manages private portfolios for individuals, families, and trusts. Prior to joining Tocqueville, he was a Managing Director of William D. Witter, Inc. and Inverness Counsel, Inc. He began his career in 1983 at Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst and his early career includes positions as Managing Director at Robertson Stephens & Co. and Founder and President of Pacific Heights Capital Management. Mr. Piropato is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and he earned an A.B. from Princeton University.

  • Director
    Treasurer, Secretary

    Tina Albright is a Principal at Albright Law Office, P.C. Ms. Albright counsels wealthy families with regard to preserving and protecting wealth for multiple generations, including estate and business succession planning with a special emphasis on U.S. tax and reporting issues for multi-jurisdictional families. She also advises individuals on wealth transfer planning and drafts implementing documents such as wills, trust and corporate/partnership and LLC agreements. Ms. Albright advises non-U.S. settlors and off-shore fiduciaries on establishing, funding and administering foreign trust structures.

  • Director

    Alison is passionate about being part of small, intentional communities. With a career centered on service, she has worked as a Learning and Academic Support Specialist in both public and private schools across the USA and the UK. Outside of her professional life, Alison is an active community volunteer, dedicating her time to supporting education and advocating for public issues. In her free time, you can often find her seeking snow for a bit of skiing, practicing yoga, or giddy in an independent bookstore.