Benjamin D. & Ruby G. Schulman Foundation

Quick Stats

Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation
Tax-Exempt Since: 1976
EIN: 04-2585160
Location: Carlsbad, California (originally Boston, Massachusetts)
Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on California, Massachusetts, and Tennessee
Application Process: No public application process (trustee-directed giving)
Recent Major Grant: $2 million+ (Vanderbilt Hillel renovation, 2023-2024)

Contact Details

No public contact information or website is available for grant applications. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed giving.

Overview

The Benjamin D. & Ruby G. Schulman Foundation was established in 1976 by Benjamin D. Schulman (1917-2019), a Vanderbilt University graduate, WWII naval officer, and founder of Schulman Mobile Video, and his wife Ruby G. Schulman (d. 1996). The foundation continues to operate following Benjamin's death in 2019, making substantial grants to causes that were important to the founders. Ruby encouraged her husband to devote their resources to helping those in need, shaping the foundation's philanthropic direction toward community support, diversity, and recognition of cultural and religious identity.

The foundation has been operating for nearly 50 years and maintains significantly larger assets compared to other nonprofits in California. Benjamin Schulman explained his approach to philanthropy in a Wall Street Journal interview at age 90: "The resources for our gifts came mainly from stock investments. I've never made a big tremendous hit, but I've plugged along for all these years and have always had more at the end of the day than what I started out with."

Most recently, the foundation provided a major grant as part of Vanderbilt Hillel's $2 million renovation project in 2023-2024, demonstrating continued active grant-making aligned with the founders' legacy.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Jewish Life and Culture

Jewish community centers and Hillel organizations
Jewish Family Services organizations
Support for Jewish student life on college campuses

Higher Education

Capital projects for university facilities
Programs supporting diversity and inclusion on campus
Criminal justice education programs

Veterans' Causes

Support for wounded warriors
Military memorial preservation
Veterans' service organizations

Cultural Institutions

Public libraries and educational programming
Arts and cultural programming in library settings
Community auditoriums and performance spaces

Healthcare

Medical clinics and healthcare facilities
Support for community health services

Known Grant Recipients

Vanderbilt University - Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life: $1 million for construction (2001-2002); major grant for renovation (2023-2024)
Carlsbad City Library - Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium: endowment for programming and personal book collection
Jewish Family Services - Boston and San Diego locations
Scripps Clinic - La Jolla, California
Northeastern University - College of Criminal Justice
Wounded Warrior Project
USS Massachusetts and USS Missouri - Preservation efforts

Governance and Leadership

Founders

Benjamin D. Schulman (1917-2019): Vanderbilt University graduate (BE '38 in chemical engineering), WWII naval officer, founder of Schulman Mobile Video, a satellite transmission and production company whose early clients included ESPN
Ruby G. Schulman (d. 1996): Encouraged the couple's philanthropic activities and inspired the foundation's focus on helping those in need

The foundation continues to operate following Benjamin Schulman's death in 2019, though current trustee information is not publicly available.

Foundation Philosophy

Benjamin Schulman's approach to philanthropy emphasized:

Building community and recognizing cultural and religious identity
Supporting underrepresented groups
Making strategic investments in capital projects that have lasting impact
Fostering diversity and inclusion, particularly in higher education

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Benjamin D. & Ruby G. Schulman Foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed giving. Grants appear to be awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations aligned with the founders' values and interests, often involving capital projects or endowments for organizations with which the founders had personal connections.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept public applications, organizations seeking support should note the foundation's demonstrated giving patterns:

Historical Giving Patterns:

Major capital projects: The foundation has made substantial gifts for building construction and renovation (Vanderbilt Hillel Center, Carlsbad Library Auditorium)
Endowments: Support for ongoing programming through endowed funds (Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium programming)
Long-term relationships: Recipients often have connections to the founders' personal history and geography (Vanderbilt, Carlsbad, Boston)
Jewish causes: Strong emphasis on supporting Jewish life, culture, and community services
Veterans: Recognition of military service and support for wounded warriors
Educational institutions: Particular interest in higher education and criminal justice education

Geographic Connections:

California (Carlsbad, San Diego, La Jolla) - where the Schulmans lived
Massachusetts (Boston) - where the foundation was originally registered
Tennessee (Nashville/Vanderbilt) - Benjamin Schulman's alma mater
National organizations serving veterans and Jewish communities

Cause Alignment:

Organizations supporting diversity and inclusion
Jewish community services and student life
Cultural and educational programming
Healthcare and social services
Veterans' causes and military heritage preservation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: This foundation awards grants through trustee discretion, not open applications
Capital project focus: The foundation has shown willingness to make substantial gifts for building projects and renovations
Long-term commitment: Evidence of ongoing support to recipient organizations (e.g., multiple grants to Vanderbilt Hillel over 20+ years)
Legacy giving continues: The foundation remains active even after the founder's death in 2019, honoring the Schulmans' philanthropic vision
Personal connections matter: Historical grant recipients often had connections to the founders' lives, interests, and geographic locations
Jewish causes prioritized: Strong emphasis on supporting Jewish life, culture, and community
Veterans' recognition: Support for causes honoring military service and supporting wounded warriors

References

"Benjamin D. Schulman, BE'38, Fostering Diversity" - Vanderbilt University, August 20, 2019. https://news.vanderbilt.edu/vanderbiltmagazine/benjamin-d-schulman-be38-fostering-diversity/
"Vanderbilt Hillel Celebrates the Start of its Building Renovation with a Groundbreaking Event" - The Jewish Observer, March 2024. https://www.jewishobservernashville.org/article/2024/03/vanderbilt-hillel-celebrates-the-start-of-its-building-renovation-with-a-groundbreaking-event
"Schulman honored for contributions to library" - The Coast News Group. https://thecoastnews.com/schulman-honored-for-contributions-to-library/
"Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium in Carlsbad set for reopening" - North Coast Current, March 2025. https://www.northcoastcurrent.com/carlsbad/2025/03/ruby-g-schulman-auditorium-in-carlsbad-set-for-reopening/
"Benjamin Schulman Obituary" - Dignity Memorial, 2019. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/oceanside-ca/benjamin-schulman-8732487
Benjamin D & Ruby G Schulman Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42585160
Benjamin D and Ruby G Schulman Foundation - Nonprofit Locator. https://nonprofitlocator.org/organizations/ca/carlsbad/042585160-benjamin-d-and-ruby-g-schulman-foundation

Accessed: November 2024