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Cele H & William B Rubin Family Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.5M - $6M
  • Total Assets: $34.3M
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation/pre-selection only)
  • Grant Range: $100 - $1,300,000
  • Median Grant: $5,000
  • Number of Grants: 56 annually (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Boston/Massachusetts, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C.)

Contact Details

Address: Wellesley Hills, MA
EIN: 116026235
Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not provide contact information for grant inquiries, as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Cele H. & William B. Rubin Family Fund Inc. was established in 1943 in New York and operates as a private non-operating foundation managed by the Rubin/Gordon family. With total assets of approximately $34.3 million, the foundation distributes between $4.5 million and $6 million annually across 50-65 grants. The foundation is currently led by Ellen R. Gordon (daughter of founders Cele H. and William B. Rubin), who serves as President alongside family members including Lisa Gordon, Wendy Gordon, and Virginia Gordon in leadership roles. All officers serve without compensation, reflecting the family's personal commitment to philanthropy. The foundation has demonstrated particular dedication to paralysis research and rehabilitation through major multi-million dollar commitments, including a $5 million founding grant for the Gordon Center for the Cure and Treatment of Paralysis at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Awards are made on a rolling basis to pre-selected organizations.

Grant Distribution Patterns:

  • Large Institutional Grants: $300,000 - $1,300,000 (typically to major medical institutions and research centers)
  • Mid-Range Grants: $10,000 - $100,000 (to educational institutions, cultural organizations, and social services)
  • Small Grants: $100 - $5,000 (community organizations and smaller nonprofits)

Priority Areas

Healthcare & Medical Research (Primary Focus)

  • Rehabilitation hospitals and research (especially paralysis treatment and neuroscience)
  • Major academic medical centers (Brigham & Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital)
  • Medical school research initiatives (University of Chicago School of Medicine)
  • Disease-specific research and treatment programs

Education & Higher Education

  • University research programs, particularly in neuroscience and computational fields
  • Educational institutions (Brandeis University connections)
  • Student support and scholarship programs

Human Services & Nonprofits

  • Social service organizations
  • Community-based nonprofits
  • Philanthropic infrastructure organizations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and has not published specific exclusions. However, based on their giving patterns, they do not appear to fund:

  • International organizations (focus is U.S.-based)
  • Individual scholarships or emergency assistance
  • Political organizations or lobbying activities
  • Religious institutions for sectarian purposes

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team:

  • Ellen R. Gordon - President and Treasurer
  • Lisa Gordon - Vice President
  • Wendy Gordon - Vice President
  • Virginia Gordon - Secretary
  • Karen Mills - Vice President

All officers serve without compensation.

Family Legacy: Ellen R. Gordon is the daughter of founders Cele H. and William B. Rubin. Ellen is also the former CEO and current Executive Chairman of Tootsie Roll Industries, alongside her late husband Melvin J. Gordon. Her family's business success has enabled sustained philanthropic engagement. Ellen received an honorary degree from Brandeis University in 2021, reflecting the family's commitment to education and the broader community.

The Gordon Center for the Cure and Treatment of Paralysis at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital exemplifies the foundation's strategic approach. Dr. Ross D. Zafonte, the center's director, described the $5 million founding gift as enabling "a more collaborative and comprehensive approach toward the treatment and potential cure" of paralysis affecting conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Cele H. & William B. Rubin Family Fund explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the interests and priorities of the Gordon family leadership.

Grant decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year, but only for organizations already known to the trustees or identified through their networks.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. For pre-selected organizations, decision timelines are managed privately and vary based on the scale of the grant and the relationship with the foundation.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. As the foundation works exclusively with pre-selected organizations, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process. Organizations that have received grants may continue to receive support based on their ongoing relationship with the foundation and the trustees' continued interest in their work.

Application Success Factors

Given that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their giving patterns reveals what attracts the foundation's support:

Focus on Established, High-Impact Institutions The foundation directs significant funding to well-established institutions with proven track records. Major recipients like Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Corporation (receiving grants of $1.3M, $1.0M, and $681K in a single year), Brigham & Women's Hospital ($300K), and the University of Chicago School of Medicine demonstrate a preference for institutions capable of producing substantial research outcomes and clinical impact.

Commitment to Paralysis and Neurological Research The foundation's $5 million founding grant for the Gordon Center for the Cure and Treatment of Paralysis signals a deep commitment to neurological conditions. Organizations working on stroke recovery, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury research align with documented foundation priorities.

Multi-Year, Sustained Relationships Grant patterns suggest the foundation prefers ongoing relationships rather than one-time grants. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's multiple large grants and continued recognition on their donor honor roll indicate the foundation values sustained partnerships with organizations demonstrating measurable progress.

National Geographic Reach with Boston/Massachusetts Emphasis While the foundation funds organizations across major U.S. cities (Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C.), there is a notable concentration in the Boston/Massachusetts area, reflecting the family's regional ties.

Connection to Family Interests and Values Education (particularly higher education), healthcare innovation, and organizations addressing neurological conditions reflect the personal interests and experiences of the Gordon family leadership. Ellen R. Gordon's connection to Brandeis University and her family's business leadership suggest an appreciation for institutional excellence and proven leadership.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Direct outreach is not recommended and will not be successful.
  • Trustee-Driven Giving: All grants are made through trustee discretion based on pre-existing relationships and family interests. The foundation leadership identifies organizations rather than responding to proposals.
  • Healthcare and Education Focus: Major giving concentrates on medical research (especially neuroscience and rehabilitation), academic medical centers, and higher education institutions.
  • Major Commitment to Paralysis Research: The $5 million founding grant for the Gordon Center demonstrates a significant strategic focus on paralysis treatment and cure research across multiple neurological conditions.
  • Large Grant Capacity: The foundation has the capacity to make grants exceeding $1 million to organizations aligned with their priorities, though the median grant is much smaller at $5,000.
  • Geographic Reach: While national in scope, there is strong emphasis on Boston/Massachusetts institutions, with additional presence in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
  • Long-Term Relationships: Evidence suggests the foundation prefers sustained partnerships with organizations showing measurable impact rather than one-time grants to new organizations.

References

  1. Cause IQ. "Cele H. & William B. Rubin Family Fund." Profile of foundation including financial data and leadership. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cele-h-william-b-rubin-family-fund,116026235/ (Accessed January 2026)

  2. GrantExec. "Cele H & William B Rubin Family Fund." Foundation profile with grant statistics. https://grantexec.com/foundations/116026235 (Accessed January 2026)

  3. Grantable. "CELE H & WILLIAM B RUBIN FAMILY FUND | Foundation Profile & Grants." Foundation overview and giving patterns. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/cele-h-william-b-rubin-family-fund-us-foundation-116026235 (Accessed January 2026)

  4. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. "Gordon Center for the Cure and Treatment of Paralysis." Information about the $5 million founding grant and center mission. https://spauldingrehab.org/about/news/gordon-center-for-paralysis (Accessed January 2026)

  5. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. "Honor Roll of Donors." Recognition of Ellen R. Gordon/Cele H. and William B. Rubin Family Fund, Inc. among 2024 donors. https://spauldingrehab.org/giving/supporters/donor-honor-roll (Accessed January 2026)

  6. Brandeis University. "Ellen Gordon '65 | Honorary Degree Recipients | Commencement 2021." Biographical information about Ellen R. Gordon and her philanthropic activities. https://www.brandeis.edu/commencement/2021/honorees/gordon.html (Accessed January 2026)

  7. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Cele H & William B Rubin Family Fund Inc." IRS Form 990 filings and organizational information. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/116026235 (Accessed January 2026)

  8. Instrumentl. "Cele H & William B Rubin Family Fund | 990 Report." Grant statistics and financial data from IRS filings. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/cele-h-william-b-rubin-family-fund-inc (Accessed January 2026)

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