Edgerley Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $24,944,961 (2023)
Total Assets: $225,481,791
Number of Grants: 106 awards (2023)
Grant Range: $1,000 - $3,200,000
Median Grant: $20,000
Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Boston, MA and Kansas)
Application Method: Invitation only - preselected organizations

Contact Details

Address: Overland Park, KS
EIN: 20-1867709
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Grantmaking Foundation (since December 2004)

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Edgerley Family Foundation was established in 2004 by Paul and Sandra Edgerley of Brookline, Massachusetts. With total assets exceeding $225 million and annual grantmaking of nearly $25 million, the foundation represents one of the more significant private family foundations operating nationally. Paul Edgerley is a senior advisor at Bain Capital, where he was a managing director and played a leadership role for more than 30 years, joining the firm in 1988. Sandra Edgerley worked at Bain & Company for 10 years and is an active leader in numerous Boston-based children's and educational charitable institutions, currently serving as chair of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.

The foundation's strategic approach centers on education, youth development, healthcare, and arts institutions, with particular emphasis on organizations that create opportunity and provide access to education for underserved communities. The foundation has demonstrated significant growth in its grantmaking activity, increasing from 23 awards in 2021 to 68 in 2022 and 106 in 2023. While based in Kansas, the foundation's grantmaking extends nationally, with a concentration of support in the Boston area and Kansas, reflecting the trustees' personal and professional connections to these regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. All grants are awarded to preselected organizations identified by the trustees. Grant amounts vary widely based on organizational relationships and strategic priorities:

Major institutional gifts: $1,000,000 - $3,200,000 (multi-year commitments to flagship organizations)
Significant program support: $100,000 - $999,999 (established partnerships)
General operating support: $20,000 - $99,999 (median grant level)
Smaller strategic grants: $1,000 - $19,999 (emerging or specific initiatives)

Priority Areas

Education and Higher Education

Leadership development programs
Business education and strategic institutional advancement
Access to education for underserved students
Scholarships and endowed positions

Youth Development and Services

After-school and summer programs
Urban youth opportunity programs
Youth leadership training
Community-based youth organizations

Healthcare

Major medical centers and hospitals
Community healthcare access
Healthcare institutions serving diverse populations

Arts and Culture

Museums and cultural institutions
Arts education and access programs

Social Sector Innovation

Nonprofit capacity building
Philanthropic infrastructure
Social entrepreneurship and innovation

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation that only supports preselected organizations, the foundation does not fund:

Unsolicited grant applications from any organization
Organizations without existing relationships to the trustees
General requests for funding from unknown entities

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Paul B. Edgerley: Co-founder and managing director of VantEdge Partners; senior advisor at Bain Capital (joined 1988, partner 1990-2016); Kansas State University alumnus (B.S. Business, 1978) and Harvard Business School (M.B.A., 1983); inducted into K-State's Accounting Hall of Fame
Sandra M. Edgerley: Former Bain & Company consultant (10 years); chair of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston; board member of the Boston Foundation; active in 15+ nonprofit boards focused on youth, education, and community healthcare

Both trustees serve without compensation.

Philanthropic Philosophy

Paul Edgerley has articulated the foundation's approach through their support of Kansas State University: "Sandy and I are great believers in the importance of the business college strategic plan and see this as a unique opportunity to give back to the university that has had such a profound impact on my life. We believe funding the college strategy will continue to transform the business college, ensuring K-State business students get a differential education, find great jobs and ultimately have successful and meaningful lives and careers."

Sandra Edgerley has emphasized impact and contribution as core values, stating regarding their philanthropic criteria: "One of the questions we ask is, 'What impact are you having in your field, your community, or in the world?'"

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

The foundation's 2023 grantmaking demonstrates its strategic priorities:

Education and Leadership Development:

Kansas State University Foundation - $3,200,000 for education and leadership studies
Additional support for K-State scholarships and endowed positions

Youth Development and Opportunity:

Year Up - $3,000,000 for general fund support (workforce development for young adults)
City Year - $3,000,000 for general fund support (education-focused AmeriCorps program)
Boys and Girls Club of Boston (Edgerley Family South Boston Club) - ongoing support

Social Innovation and Nonprofit Sector:

New Profit Inc. - $1,100,000 for general fund support (venture philanthropy organization)

Healthcare:

Massachusetts General Hospital - $2,500,000 for general fund support

Arts and Culture:

Museum of Fine Arts Boston - general fund support

Additional 2023 Recognition:

Boston College - gift to establish the Edgerley Family Court in Conte Forum

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, Paul and Sandra Edgerley, to organizations they have identified through their personal involvement, board service, professional networks, and long-term relationships with institutions.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations do not apply directly to the foundation.

Understanding the Foundation's Grantmaking Approach

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, analyzing their grantmaking patterns reveals clear strategic preferences:

Relationship-Driven Philanthropy

The foundation's grants consistently flow to organizations where the trustees have deep, personal involvement:

Sandra Edgerley chairs the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Boston (the Edgerley Family South Boston Club is named for their support)
The family has multiple endowments at Kansas State University, Paul's alma mater
Both trustees serve on numerous boards of recipient organizations
Long-term, multi-year relationships characterize their largest grants

Strategic and Transformational Support

Rather than distributing many small grants, the foundation makes significant, strategic investments intended to advance institutional goals:

The $20 million gift to Kansas State University's College of Business Administration was specifically tied to supporting the college's five-year strategic plan
Major grants to Year Up, City Year, and New Profit support scalable models addressing youth opportunity and social innovation
Healthcare and arts grants support flagship Boston institutions

Focus on Impact and Measurable Outcomes

Based on Sandra Edgerley's stated criteria ("What impact are you having in your field, your community, or in the world?"), the foundation prioritizes:

Organizations with proven track records
Scalable models and approaches
Leadership in their respective fields
Direct service to underserved communities, particularly youth

Geographic Concentration

While the foundation supports organizations nationally, there is clear geographic concentration:

Boston area: Reflects the family's residence and Sandra's extensive board involvement in Boston nonprofits
Kansas: Honors Paul's connection to Kansas State University
Select national organizations: Organizations with proven models (Year Up, City Year) that align with trustee priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Seekers

No public application process exists: The foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations identified by the trustees. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.
Relationship is prerequisite: Virtually all grants flow to organizations where Paul or Sandra Edgerley have personal involvement through board service, alumni connections, or long-term relationships.
Strategic, institutional focus: The foundation favors large, transformational gifts tied to strategic plans rather than general operating support for many organizations.
Youth opportunity and education are core: The foundation's largest and most consistent grants support youth development, educational access, and leadership training for underserved populations.
Multi-year commitments to proven organizations: Grantmaking patterns show sustained support for flagship organizations over time rather than exploratory or one-time grants.
Boston and Kansas connections matter: Geographic proximity to the trustees' residence and personal history significantly influences grantmaking.
Impact-driven approach: The foundation seeks organizations demonstrating measurable impact, leadership in their field, and scalable approaches to social challenges.

References

Cause IQ - Edgerley Family Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/edgerley-family-foundation,201867709/
Instrumentl - Edgerley Family Foundation 990 Report. Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/edgerley-family-foundation
Grantmakers.io - Edgerley Family Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/201867709-edgerley-family-foundation/
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Edgerley Family Foundation. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201867709
Bain Capital - Paul Edgerley Biography. Retrieved from https://www.baincapital.com/people/paul-edgerley
Kansas State University Foundation - "A K-State First" (donor story). Retrieved from https://ksufoundation.org/impact/donor-stories/a-k-state-first/
Kansas State University Foundation - "Transformational gift advances college strategic plan." Retrieved from https://ksufoundation.org/impact/donor-stories/transformational-gift-advances-college-strategic-plan/
Kansas State University News - "Alumni provide philanthropic support for new home of university's College of Business Administration" (August 2013). Retrieved from https://www.k-state.edu/news/newsreleases/aug13/edgerleybiz8813.html
The Boston Foundation - Sandra M. Edgerley Board Profile. Retrieved from https://www.tbf.org/who-we-are/people/board-of-directors/board/edgerley
City Year - Sandy Edgerley Board Profile. Retrieved from https://www.cityyear.org/about/leadership/board-trustees/sandy-edgerley/
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston - Edgerley Family South Boston Club. Retrieved from https://www.bgcb.org/find-your-club/edgerley-family-south-boston-club/
Kansas State University News - "Two high school seniors earn K-State's Edgerley-Franklin Leadership Scholarship" (March 2023). Retrieved from https://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2023-03/Edgerley-Franklin-leadership-scholarship31323.html
Boston College News - "Gift Will Establish Edgerley Family Court in Conte Forum." Retrieved from https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/sites/bc-news/articles/2025/fall/gift-will-establish-the-edgerley-family-court-in-conte-forum.html
The Boston Foundation - "Boston Foundation Board of Directors bids farewell to longtime Chair and appoints new Chair and Vice Chair" (June 2016). Retrieved from https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2016/june/june-2016-board-release

Research conducted December 2025