Robert Brunner Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $802,194 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A - invitation only
• Decision Time: N/A - preselected organisations
• Grant Range: Distributed among three preselected organisations
• Geographic Focus: New York, Washington DC, and Brussels, Belgium

Contact Details

Address: 63 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005

EIN: 13-6067212

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations.

Overview

The Robert Brunner Foundation was established on April 29, 1949, as a private foundation dedicated to supporting Catholic activities and organisations. With annual grant distributions of approximately $802,194 (2023), the foundation operates as a highly selective grantmaker with a focused mission in Catholic philanthropy. The foundation maintains exclusive relationships with three preselected Catholic organisations and has not expanded its beneficiary list in decades. This closed approach reflects a deep commitment to specific Catholic causes rather than broad grantmaking. The foundation's giving has ranged from approximately $802,000 to over $2 million annually in recent years, with funds distributed among its three core beneficiaries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation exclusively supports three organisations with annual grants:

• Catholics United for Spiritual Action (CUSA) - New York: Supporting Catholic spiritual apostolate work
• Foundations & Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA) - Washington, DC: Supporting Catholic philanthropic infrastructure
• Maison de L'Enfant Jésus - Brussels, Belgium: Supporting Catholic education

Priority Areas

• Catholic spiritual support and apostolic work
• Catholic philanthropic networking and capacity building
• International Catholic education

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept any unsolicited applications and only funds its three preselected organisations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates with a small board that serves without compensation. Leadership information is limited in public records, though historical records indicate founding trustee involvement in establishing FADICA (Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities) in 1976, demonstrating the foundation's deep roots in Catholic philanthropic leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Robert Brunner Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

The foundation maintains exclusive, long-term relationships with its three beneficiary organisations and does not consider new applicants.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are distributed annually to preselected organisations at the trustees' discretion.

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 applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, their grantmaking pattern reveals:

• Exclusive Relationships: The foundation maintains decades-long partnerships with only three organisations
• Catholic Mission Alignment: Every supported organisation has explicit Catholic identity and mission
• Institutional Stability: All beneficiaries are well-established organisations with proven track records
• Geographic Reach: Despite being New York-based, they fund internationally where mission alignment exists

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Applications Accepted: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - do not submit applications
• Closed Grantmaking: With only three beneficiaries maintained over decades, this represents one of the most exclusive foundation models
• Catholic Focus: All funding supports explicitly Catholic organisations and causes
• Substantial but Limited: Annual giving of $802,194 (2023) is distributed among only three organisations
• Not a Funding Opportunity: Grant seekers should not consider this foundation as a potential funder

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - Robert Brunner Foundation Inc. Accessed January 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/136067212-robert-brunner-foundation-inc/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Robert Brunner Foundation. Accessed January 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136067212
• Cause IQ - The Robert Brunner Foundation Profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-robert-brunner-foundation,136067212/
• Instrumentl - Robert Brunner Foundation 990 Report. Accessed January 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/robert-brunner-foundation
• Foundation Directory (Candid) - The Robert Brunner Foundation Inc. Accessed January 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BRUN003