The Lawrence A. Bossidy Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,144,892 (2024)
• Total Assets: $5,700,976 (2024)
• Grant Range: Varies significantly - from tens of thousands to over $1 million
• Number of Grants: 17 grants made in 2024
• Geographic Focus: Connecticut, with emphasis on Ridgefield and Bridgeport areas
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation
• Application Process: No public application process (trustee discretion)

Contact Details

Address: 452 W Mountain Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877-2926
Phone: (203) 431-9832
EIN: 06-1188527

Note: This foundation does not have a website or publicly available application portal.

Overview

The Lawrence A. Bossidy Foundation was established in 1987 by Lawrence Arthur "Larry" Bossidy, the renowned business leader who served as CEO of AlliedSignal (later Honeywell) and spent over 30 years in executive positions at General Electric. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with assets of approximately $5.7 million and annual grantmaking of over $2.1 million in 2024. Following Larry Bossidy's death in July 2025 at age 90, the foundation's future direction remains to be determined. The foundation has historically focused on Catholic education, youth mental health and resilience programs, community organizations in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and causes reflecting Bossidy's personal commitment to helping young people find meaning and fulfillment in their lives. His philanthropic philosophy emphasized "quiet philanthropy" characterized by faith, humility, and devotion to leadership, mentorship, and compassion toward young people.

Funding Priorities

Recent Grant Recipients (2024)

The foundation made 17 grants in 2024, with three major recipients identified:

• Catholic Academy of Bridgeport: $1,050,000 - The largest grant, supporting a PreK-8th grade Catholic school serving primarily low-income families (85% at or below poverty level, 96% qualify for need-based financial assistance). Larry Bossidy was the founding Board Chair and received the Founders Award at the school's 20th anniversary gala in November 2024.

• RADical Hope Foundation: $350,000 - Supporting youth mental health and resilience programs. Bossidy served as Honorary Chairman and was deeply involved following his grandson's death by suicide in 2017. The foundation develops programs teaching fundamental skills to enhance mental, physical, and emotional health of young Americans.

• Ridgefield Library: $110,000 - Supporting the local library in the foundation's home community.

Priority Areas

Based on grantmaking patterns and Larry Bossidy's documented philanthropic interests:

1. Catholic Education - Particularly institutions serving low-income communities
2. Youth Mental Health & Resilience - Programs addressing suicide prevention and emotional wellness
3. Community Organizations - Local nonprofits in Ridgefield, Connecticut
4. Youth Development - Boys & Girls Clubs and similar organizations serving young people
5. Education Access - Programs expanding educational opportunities for underserved populations

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation operating without a public application process, the foundation does not typically fund:

• Unsolicited grant requests
• Organizations without personal connections to the trustee(s)
• Causes outside their established priority areas
• General operating support for large, well-funded institutions

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Lawrence A. Bossidy (served until his death in July 2025)

No Full-Time Employees: The foundation operates with volunteer leadership and no compensated staff.

About Lawrence A. Bossidy (1935-2025)

Lawrence Arthur Bossidy was one of America's most respected business leaders, serving as:

• CEO of AlliedSignal (later Honeywell International)
• Vice Chairman at General Electric under Jack Welch
• Senior Advisor at Cornell Capital (2018-2025)
• Co-author of the influential business book "Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done"

On His Philanthropic Philosophy:

"We have a simple metric at RADical Hope, that is to say how many schools we can get in and touch people... if we can save one life through this work, it'll have been worth it." - Larry Bossidy

According to RADical Hope co-founder Pam Martin, Bossidy brought "his passion for business excellence, his love for family and concern for young people" to his charitable work.

The RADical Hope Foundation tribute noted: "Quiet philanthropy defined Larry Bossidy, and he was forever in the service of others... Larry Bossidy left this earth bursting with optimism... he had every faith in the goodness of people and in the unlimited potential of the human spirit that he worked so hard to unlock in others."

Personal Context:

• Married Nancy Jo Rodhouse in 1956 (she died in 2023)
• Father of nine children (six daughters and three sons)
• Grandfather of 31 grandchildren
• The tragic loss of his grandson to suicide in 2017 became a driving force in his mental health advocacy

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Lawrence A. Bossidy Foundation does not have a public application process.

This is a private family foundation that makes grants based on trustee discretion. Grants are typically awarded to:

• Organizations with which the trustee(s) have personal connections
• Causes reflecting the founder's personal philanthropic priorities
• Institutions where family members have served in leadership roles

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications through a formal process. There is no online portal, application form, or published deadlines.

How Grants Are Typically Awarded

Based on the 2024 grantmaking pattern, grants appear to be awarded through:

• Direct trustee initiative - The trustee identifies organizations aligned with family values and priorities
• Long-term relationships - Organizations where Larry Bossidy served in leadership roles (e.g., founding Board Chair of Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, Honorary Chairman of RADical Hope)
• Community connections - Local institutions in Ridgefield, Connecticut where the family resides
• Personal mission alignment - Causes directly connected to family experiences (e.g., youth mental health following grandson's death)

Future of the Foundation

Following Larry Bossidy's death in July 2025, the foundation's future operations and grantmaking priorities have not been publicly announced. The foundation may:

• Continue under new trustee leadership from the Bossidy family
• Wind down operations and distribute remaining assets
• Merge with or transfer assets to other charitable entities

Organizations previously supported by the foundation should monitor for updates through the foundation's tax filings (Form 990-PF).

Financial Trends and Sustainability

Revenue Volatility (2011-2024)

The foundation has experienced significant financial volatility:

• 2024 revenue: $5,979,194 (peak year)

  • Contributions: $5,256,289 (87.9%)
  • Sales of assets: $705,704 (11.8%)
  • Investment income: $16,870

• 2022 revenue: $34,647 (lowest year)

Asset Distribution Pattern

The foundation has been described as "partially liquidated," suggesting a planned drawdown of assets rather than perpetual endowment growth. The 2024 data shows:

• Net assets: $5,700,976
• Grants made: $2,144,892 (37.6% of total assets)

This high distribution rate relative to assets suggests the foundation may be spending down rather than maintaining assets in perpetuity.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Previously Supported

If your organization has received funding from the Bossidy Foundation in the past:

1. Maintain the relationship - Continue reporting on outcomes and impact from previous grants
2. Align with core values - Demonstrate how your work reflects Larry Bossidy's priorities: youth development, education access, mental health, and community service
3. Show measurable impact - Bossidy's business background emphasized execution and results. Use his own metric: "how many people can we touch?"
4. Community connection - Emphasize local impact in Ridgefield/Connecticut communities
5. Financial responsibility - Demonstrate sound fiscal management and efficient use of resources

For Organizations Seeking First-Time Funding

Given the lack of public application process:

1. Do not submit unsolicited proposals - The foundation does not accept cold applications
2. Build authentic relationships - Focus on connecting with Bossidy family members or foundation advisors through genuine mission alignment, not opportunistic fundraising
3. Align with established priorities - Your organization should clearly fit within Catholic education, youth mental health, or Ridgefield community service
4. Demonstrate community connections - Strong roots in Connecticut and particularly Ridgefield area

What Made Catholic Academy of Bridgeport Successful

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport received the largest grant ($1,050,000) in 2024. Success factors included:

• Personal leadership connection - Larry Bossidy served as founding Board Chair
• Mission alignment - Serving 900 low-income PreK-8th grade students (85% at or below poverty level)
• Proven impact - 20-year track record of educational excellence
• Community transformation - Bossidy helped expand the board, launch an endowment fund, and upgrade facilities
• Measurable outcomes - Clear demonstration of educational impact for underserved populations

What Made RADical Hope Foundation Successful

RADical Hope received $350,000 in 2024. Success factors included:

• Personal tragedy connection - Founded following the death of Bossidy's grandson
• Leadership involvement - Bossidy served as Honorary Chairman
• Clear metrics - Goal of reaching 10,000 to 1 million young people with programs
• Evidence-based approach - "Science-based programs" with measurable outcomes
• Urgent mission - Addressing the "#2 killer among college students" (suicide)
• Scalability - Demonstrated pathway from helping 10,000 to reaching 1 million young people

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This is a private family foundation making grants through trustee discretion and personal connections, not competitive applications

• Personal relationships are essential - All major grants identified went to organizations where Larry Bossidy held leadership positions (founding Board Chair, Honorary Chairman)

• Following Larry Bossidy's death in July 2025, the foundation's future is uncertain - organizations should monitor Form 990-PF filings for updates on new trustees and grantmaking patterns

• Youth-focused causes align with core values - Catholic education, youth mental health, resilience programs, and Boys & Girls Clubs reflect consistent priorities

• Connecticut/Ridgefield geography matters - Strong preference for local community organizations in the foundation's home area

• Metrics and execution matter - Bossidy's business philosophy emphasized measurable results and disciplined execution of mission

• Serving underserved populations resonates - The largest grant went to a school where 85% of students live at or below poverty level and 96% need financial assistance

• Personal tragedy drove mental health focus - The loss of Bossidy's grandson to suicide became a defining philanthropic priority in his final years

References

1. Cause IQ - Lawrence A Bossidy Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bossidy-foundation,061188527/ (Accessed December 2024)

2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bossidy Foundation (EIN 06-1188527). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61188527 (Accessed December 2024)

3. Candid Foundation Directory - The Lawrence A. Bossidy Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BOSS007 (Accessed December 2024)

4. Catholic Academy of Bridgeport - CAB 20th Anniversary Gala to Honor Mr. Larry Bossidy and Sr. Joan Magnetti, rscj. https://www.catholicacademybridgeport.org/20th-anniversary-gala-november-7/ (Accessed December 2024)

5. Diocese of Bridgeport - Celebrating 20 years of Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/celebrating-20-years-of-catholic-academy-of-bridgeport/ (Accessed December 2024)

6. RADical Hope Foundation - A Tribute To Our Honorary Chairman, Larry Bossidy. https://radicalhopefoundation.org/news/our-honorary-chairman-larry-bossidy/ (Accessed December 2024)

7. RADical Hope Foundation - Larry Bossidy Honored at An Evening of RADical Hope. https://radicalhopefoundation.org/news/larry-bossidy-honored-at-an-evening-of-radical-hope/ (Accessed December 2024)

8. HamletHub Ridgefield - Ridgefield Resident Larry Bossidy Honored at An Evening of RADical Hope. https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield-connecticut/71296-ridgefield-resident-larry-bossidy-honored-at-an-evening-of-radical-hope (Accessed December 2024)

9. HamletHub - Let's help RADical Hope and Larry Bossidy break the grip of emotional isolation that is killing our young people. https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield-connecticut/74145-let-s-help-radical-hope-and-larry-bossidy-break-the-grip-of-emotional-isolation-that-is-killing-our-young-people (Accessed December 2024)

10. Legacy.com - Lawrence Bossidy Obituary (2025) - Ridgefield, CT. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newstimes/name/lawrence-bossidy-obituary?id=58976425 (Accessed December 2024)

11. Wikipedia - Lawrence Bossidy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Bossidy (Accessed December 2024)

12. Keeler Tavern Museum - Contributors (Campaign donor list including Bossidy Foundation). https://keelertaverncampaign.com/contributors/ (Accessed December 2024)