← Back to US Funders Directory

Floren Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.2M
000

Floren Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $203,720 (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only/trustee discretion)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies by relationship and project
  • Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Connecticut, Northeast region, and select institutions)
  • Total Assets: $2.52 million (FY 2024)

Contact Details

Address: 210 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, CT 06831

Website: No public website

Phone: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Note: This foundation does not have a public application process. Contact information is limited as grants are made through trustee discretion and invitation only.

Overview

The Floren Family Foundation (also known as the Henry Gustav Floren Family Foundation) is a private independent foundation established in January 2001 and based in Greenwich, Connecticut. With total assets of $2.52 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $203,720 (FY 2024), the foundation modestly supports educational institutions, health and medical research organizations, and select community causes. The foundation is led by Douglas C. Floren, Class of 1963 from Dartmouth College, who founded the hedge fund DCF Capital in Greenwich. The Floren family's philanthropic approach reflects their personal connections and institutional relationships, with significant support directed to educational institutions where family members have studied, medical research centers, and Connecticut-based community organizations. The family is also known for major individual gifts outside the foundation structure, including a $10 million gift to Dartmouth College in 2006 for the construction of Floren Varsity House, which was the largest gift ever made to Dartmouth athletics at that time.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Floren Family Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the family's philanthropic interests and relationships.

Application Method: Invitation only/No public application process. Grants appear to be directed to organizations with which the family has existing relationships or personal connections.

Priority Areas

Based on documented giving patterns, the foundation's priority areas include:

Education & Youth

  • Independent K-12 schools (particularly in Connecticut)
  • Higher education institutions (especially Dartmouth College, Princeton University, Vassar College, Stanford University)
  • Athletic and student development programs at educational institutions

Health & Medical Research

  • Medical research institutions, with particular focus on Stanford University medical research
  • Major cancer research and treatment centers
  • Children's hospitals
  • Community health foundations

Community Support

  • Greenwich-area community organizations
  • United Way initiatives
  • Religious causes (documented but specifics not publicly available)

Known Grantees (based on available records):

  • Dartmouth College
  • Stanford University (medical research focus)
  • Greenwich Country Day School
  • Park City Day School
  • Vassar College
  • Whitby School
  • Princeton University
  • Boston Children's Hospital
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Bethesda Hospital Foundation
  • Greenwich United Way

What They Don't Fund

Given the foundation's small size and relationship-based approach, they likely do not fund:

  • Unsolicited applications from organizations without existing connections to the family
  • Organizations outside their established areas of interest (education, health, community support)
  • International organizations (focus appears primarily domestic)

Governance and Leadership

President: Douglas C. Floren

Background: Douglas C. Floren graduated from Dartmouth College in 1963 with a degree in economics. He is the co-founder and managing partner of DCF Capital, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is married to Olivia "Livvy" Floren, a Republican who served as a Connecticut state representative for the 149th district (covering Greenwich and Stamford areas). Livvy Floren was also formerly board president at Greenwich Country Day School.

Family: The Florens have four children—Jennifer (Dartmouth Class of 1993), Melissa (Princeton 1996), David (Dartmouth Class of 2001), and Clay (Stanford 2001)—reflecting the family's strong connections to multiple prestigious universities.

Foundation Structure: As a private independent foundation with minimal staff (no reported officer compensation), the foundation appears to be run directly by family trustees who make grant decisions based on their knowledge of and relationships with recipient organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Floren Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion. Based on available tax filings and documented giving patterns, grants are awarded to organizations with which the family has existing relationships, personal connections, or institutional ties. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not maintain a website, published application guidelines, or formal application portal.

Organizations that receive funding from the Floren Family Foundation typically:

  • Have existing relationships with family members
  • Are institutions where family members studied or served on boards
  • Are established organizations in the Greenwich, Connecticut area where the family resides
  • Are well-known national institutions in the foundation's priority areas (education, medical research, community health)

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private family foundation making discretionary grants, decision timelines are determined by trustee meetings and family priorities rather than published schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the key factors for receiving support are:

Relationship-Based Grantmaking

  • Organizations must have existing connections to the Floren family through board service, alumni relationships, geographic proximity, or prior engagement
  • Educational institutions where family members attended (Dartmouth, Princeton, Stanford, Vassar) receive priority consideration
  • Organizations in Greenwich, Connecticut, where the family resides and is active in the community

Alignment with Family Interests

  • Education, particularly K-12 independent schools and higher education institutions supporting student development and athletics
  • Medical research, especially at Stanford University
  • Health care institutions focused on cancer treatment and children's health
  • Community support in the Greenwich area

Institutional Credibility

  • All documented grantees are well-established, nationally recognized institutions or long-standing community organizations
  • The foundation supports organizations with proven track records rather than emerging or experimental programs

Multi-Generational Connection

  • The family's four children attended Dartmouth (2), Princeton (1), and Stanford (1), suggesting that institutions with multi-generational family connections may receive sustained support
  • Board service (such as Livvy Floren's role as board president at Greenwich Country Day School) appears to correlate with foundation support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Access: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations without existing Floren family connections are unlikely to receive funding.
  • Relationship-Driven: All documented grants flow to organizations where the family has personal connections—either through education, board service, geographic proximity, or long-term institutional relationships.
  • Education Priority: The strongest pattern is support for educational institutions, particularly those where family members studied or served. The $10 million gift to Dartmouth (outside the foundation) demonstrates the scale of commitment to Doug Floren's alma mater.
  • Medical Research Focus: Stanford University medical research receives "steady funds" from the family, indicating ongoing commitment to specific research initiatives rather than one-time gifts.
  • Small Foundation, Large Personal Giving: With assets of $2.52 million and annual giving around $200,000, the foundation represents only part of the family's philanthropy. Major gifts (like the $10 million to Dartmouth) are made directly by the family outside the foundation structure.
  • Greenwich Community Ties: As long-time Greenwich residents with deep community connections (including Livvy Floren's service as state representative), local organizations may have better access than those outside the area.
  • Alternative Strategy: Organizations seeking Floren support should focus on building authentic relationships with family members through shared institutional connections, board service, or community engagement rather than pursuing formal grant applications.

References

Information compiled from the following sources:

← Back to US Funders Directory