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The Romney Foundation For Children

Annual Giving
$0.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

The Romney Foundation For Children

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $950,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (US-based organizations)

Contact Details

Address: 137 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 857-288-3506
EIN: 046907315
Foundation Type: Private Foundation

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or email for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Romney Foundation For Children was established in 1999 by W. Mitt and Ann Romney, operating as a private grantmaking foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. With assets of approximately $13.6 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes nearly $1 million annually to support health and education causes. The foundation's grantmaking reflects the Romney family's personal experiences and interests, particularly neurological diseases (Ann Romney was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998) and children's health. Grant awards are made at the discretion of the trustees without a formal public application process. Recent filings show a significant increase in grantmaking, from $780,000 in 2023 to $950,000 in 2024, representing a 21.8% increase.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretionary grants without formal program structures. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $100,000 per organization annually, with most awards falling under $50,000.

Recent Grant Recipients (2024):

  • Utah Sports Commission Foundation: $100,000
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: $100,000
  • International Republican Institute: $5,000

Priority Areas

Neurological Diseases and Research:

  • Multiple sclerosis research and support
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Parkinson's disease
  • ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
  • Epilepsy research
  • Brain tumors
  • Huntington's Disease

The foundation has supported organizations including the National MS Society, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy, and Huntington's Disease Society of America.

Children's Health:

  • Pediatric multiple sclerosis treatment
  • Children's hospitals
  • International children's health initiatives

Past recipients include Miami Children's Hospital, Center for Treatment of Pediatric MS, and Operation Kids.

Cancer Research: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has received consistent support.

Other Disease Research: The Alliance for Lupus Research has been a past recipient.

Education: Between 2000-2012, the foundation supported City Year with at least $65,000. Educational institutions including Brigham Young University and Harvard Business School have also received funding.

Sports and Youth Development: Recent grants to Utah Sports Commission Foundation indicate support for youth sports initiatives.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's funding restrictions are not publicly documented, but as a small private foundation with specific family interests, they likely do not fund:

  • Organizations outside the United States
  • General operating support for organizations unrelated to their priority areas
  • Capital campaigns
  • Individual scholarships or grants to individuals

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Trustees: W. Mitt Romney and Ann Romney

The foundation operates as a family foundation with decisions made by the Romney family trustees. Ann Romney's personal experience with multiple sclerosis, diagnosed in 1998, has significantly influenced the foundation's focus on neurological disease research. She has been a prominent advocate for MS research and has helped raise nearly $50 million for the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which focuses on collaborative research for five complex neurologic diseases.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their personal interests and priorities. The foundation operates as a private family foundation where grantmaking decisions are made internally without soliciting applications from the public.

Most grants appear to be made to:

  • Organizations with which the Romney family has existing relationships
  • Institutions where family members have personal connections
  • Causes directly related to family experiences (particularly neurological diseases)
  • Organizations specifically identified by trustees

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns, organizations that have received funding typically have:

Direct Connection to Romney Family Interests: The foundation's support for neurological disease research stems directly from Ann Romney's MS diagnosis. Organizations working in areas of personal significance to the family are most likely to be considered.

Institutional Relationships: Past recipients include institutions with Romney family connections, such as Brigham Young University (Mitt Romney's undergraduate alma mater) and Harvard Business School (his graduate institution).

Geographic Ties: While the foundation supports national organizations, there is evidence of grants to both Massachusetts-based organizations (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston) and Utah-based organizations (Utah Sports Commission Foundation), reflecting the family's ties to both states.

Established Reputation: Recipients tend to be well-known, established organizations with strong track records in their respective fields rather than newer or smaller nonprofits.

Decision Timeline

Grants are awarded on a rolling basis at trustee discretion. There are no published board meeting schedules or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations are selected by trustees rather than through an application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, the following factors appear to influence which organizations receive support:

Alignment with Personal Experience: Organizations addressing neurological diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis, align with Ann Romney's health journey and advocacy work. The foundation's consistent support for MS-related organizations demonstrates this as a core priority.

Institutional Connections: Educational institutions where the Romneys studied or have governance involvement appear more likely to receive support, as evidenced by grants to BYU and Harvard Business School.

Established Credibility: Recipients are typically well-known national organizations with proven track records, such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and National MS Society, rather than emerging nonprofits.

Children's Health Focus: Despite funding various health causes, organizations specifically addressing pediatric conditions or children's health (Center for Treatment of Pediatric MS, Miami Children's Hospital) align with the foundation's name and mission.

Grant Size Considerations: Most organizations receive grants under $50,000 annually, with only select flagship organizations receiving $100,000 awards. This suggests the foundation spreads support across multiple organizations rather than making large investments in single entities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation awards grants solely through trustee discretion; there is no application portal or process to submit proposals
  • Personal Connection Required: Grantmaking reflects the Romney family's personal interests, experiences, and institutional relationships rather than responses to external requests
  • Neurological Disease Priority: Ann Romney's MS diagnosis has made neurological disease research, particularly multiple sclerosis, a consistent funding priority
  • Moderate Grant Sizes: Typical grants are under $50,000 annually, with a few flagship organizations receiving $100,000
  • Steady Growth: The foundation has increased its annual giving from $300,000 in 2018 to $950,000 in 2024, indicating growing philanthropic capacity
  • Limited Accessibility: As a small private foundation without public application processes, this is not a suitable prospect for most organizations unless they have existing Romney family connections
  • No Contact for Solicitation: The foundation does not maintain infrastructure for responding to grant inquiries, suggesting unsolicited requests are not welcomed

References

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