Deborah Rose Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 13-4088811
• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Total Assets: $3,987,734
• Average Grant Size: $350,166
• Decision Time: N/A (invitation only)
• Grant Range: Variable (average ~$350,000)
• Geographic Focus: Multi-state (CO, CT, DC, MA, MD, NY)
• Application Type: Invitation only - No public application process

Contact Details

Mailing Address: White Plains, NY

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

Overview

The Deborah Rose Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1999 in Delaware and operating from New York. With assets totaling nearly $4 million, the foundation focuses on advancing education, higher education, science, and human services across multiple states. Led by Dr. Deborah Rose, a Yale-educated epidemiologist (BA '72, MPH '77, PhD '89) who serves as President, Director, and Treasurer, the foundation takes a selective approach to grantmaking, supporting preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation was established during Dr. Rose's marriage to the late Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk, a distinguished Yale professor and former Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, who passed away in 2021. The foundation supports projects across the United States, with particular activity in major cities including Baltimore, Boston, Boulder, New Haven, New York, and Washington DC.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a traditional private foundation with discretionary grantmaking. With an average grant size of $350,166, the foundation makes substantial awards to organizations aligned with its mission. Grants are made on an invitation-only basis to preselected organizations.

Priority Areas

• Higher Education: Primary focus area, particularly supporting educational institutions and programs
• Science and Scientific Research: Funding for scientific research organizations and initiatives
• Human Services: Support for human services organizations
• Education (General): Broader educational initiatives beyond higher education

Geographic Scope

The foundation operates across multiple states:

• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• New York

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications from organizations, as stated on their Form 990-PF filings.

Governance and Leadership

Dr. Deborah Rose - President, Director, and Treasurer

• Yale University graduate (BA '72, MPH '77, PhD in Epidemiology '89)
• Epidemiologist with the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland
• Former lecturer at Yale University School of Nursing and acting instructor at Yale Medical School
• President of the Helping Africa Foundation, dedicated to improving health, education, and social welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa
• President of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation
• Trustee and Treasurer of the Jonathan Edwards Trust at Yale
• Founding member of the Yale Alumni Service Corps
• Awarded an honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana (2023)
• Widow of Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk, Yale Professor Emeritus (deceased 2021)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Deborah Rose Foundation has indicated on its Form 990-PF that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and doesn't accept unsolicited applications for funds." This means the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, selecting grantees through the discretion of its leadership rather than through an open application process.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's operational model and leadership background, organizations with the following connections may have better positioning:

Yale University Network: Dr. Rose's extensive Yale affiliations (three degrees, teaching positions, trustee roles) suggest organizations with Yale connections or those working in New Haven may be on the foundation's radar.

Public Health and Epidemiology: Dr. Rose's career as a CDC epidemiologist and her academic work in public health indicates alignment with organizations in these fields.

African Development: Dr. Rose's leadership of the Helping Africa Foundation indicates interest in organizations improving health, education, and social welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa.

African-American Heritage: Dr. Rose's role as President of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation suggests interest in organizations preserving African-American history and culture.

Environmental Health: Given Dr. Stolwijk's distinguished career in environmental health sciences, organizations in this field may align with foundation interests.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation with preselected grantees, there is no standard timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's approach is valuable:

• Pre-existing Relationships: Grantees are selected based on relationships and organizational knowledge rather than competitive applications
• Yale Ecosystem: Organizations within the Yale community or working in New Haven are likely priority candidates
• Professional Alignment: Organizations working in epidemiology, public health, or scientific research align with the founders' expertise
• Higher Education Focus: Universities and colleges, particularly those with strong science and public health programs, are likely beneficiaries
• Substantial Commitments: With average grants exceeding $350,000, the foundation makes significant, likely multi-year commitments

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - there is no application process available
• The foundation operates through trustee discretion with preselected organizations
• Average grant size exceeds $350,000, indicating substantial commitments to a limited number of organizations
• Yale connections, public health/epidemiology focus, and higher education institutions appear most aligned with foundation interests
• The foundation supports work across multiple states rather than being geographically restricted
• Organizations would need to establish relationships through professional networks rather than formal applications
• Dr. Rose's work with African development and African-American heritage organizations suggests additional areas of interest

References

• Cause IQ Profile: The Deborah Rose Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/deborah-rose-foundation,134088811/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Deborah Rose Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134088811 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• Grantable Foundation Profile: The Deborah Rose Foundation. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/the-deborah-rose-foundation-us-foundation-134088811 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• Candid (Foundation Directory): The Deborah Rose Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=ROSE375 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• 24-7 Press Release: "Deborah Rose, PhD, Recognized for Dedication to the Field of Epidemiology." https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/517869/deborah-rose-phd-recognized-for-dedication-to-the-field-of-epidemiology (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• Yale School of Medicine: "Jan A.J. Stolwijk, Emeritus Professor of Public Health, Dies at 93." https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/jan-aj-stolwijk-emeritus-professor-of-public-health-dies-at-93/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• Yale School of Public Health: "The Stolwijk Fellowship for 1st Year Public Health students." https://ysph.yale.edu/admissions-financial-aid/applied-practice-and-research/stolwijk-fellowship/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)