Ruettgers Family Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Because the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, a small charity should not send a cold application; it can approach the foundation only through an invitation.
- Its typical grant falls between $5,000 and $50,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, so a modest request in the lower part of that band matches its usual pattern, though its largest grant was about $290,000.
- Its grants support public charities broadly, including schools, cultural institutions, conservation, churches, health providers, food banks and social services, and most are general support.
- Repeat giving is substantial: 62% of its grant dollars in its most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in the filing before, so an organisation new to its giving has no record to build on.
- The filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts and New York, but no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern should not be read as a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Ruettgers Family Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The recorded grants show broad support for public charities, rather than a named funding field. Recipients include schools and education bodies, cultural institutions, conservation organisations, churches, health providers, food banks and social-service organisations. Most grants are recorded as general support, with a smaller number described as charitable or for particular education-related support. Grants reach organisations in several states and overseas; Massachusetts receives the largest share of recorded dollars, followed by New York. Contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations, and unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts and New York.
How to apply
It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 62% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 111 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 8%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 62% of grant dollars went to organisations Ruettgers Family Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Rwanda).
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 52 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Garden Conservancy · General support$289,8202023 tax year
- Island School · General support$125,0002023 tax year
- WGBH · General support & ralphy lowell society$100,0002023 tax year
- Childrens Day School · General support$60,0002023 tax year
- Buckner International · General support$50,0002023 tax year
- Gasparilla Island Conservation District Act · General support$35,0002023 tax year
- Move Up Global · General support$25,0002023 tax year
- Dwelling House of Hope · General support$25,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Abigail Flanagan — Trustee
- Polly Fields — Trustee
- Christopher Ruettgers — Trustee
- Maureen Ruettgers — Trustee
- Michael Ruettgers — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,572,934 | $1,380,500 | $27,998,211 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,400,202 | $1,224,820 | $34,106,010 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to Ruettgers Family Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA
Applying to Ruettgers Family Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Boston, MA