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Ralph B Rogers Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.5M

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Ralph B Rogers Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $176,500 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $250 - $500,000 (typical awards)
  • Average Grant: $20,281
  • Total Assets: $11,307,701
  • Geographic Focus: Texas, Maine, and New York (primarily); also supports projects in Colorado, Connecticut, and other states
  • Foundation Type: Private Independent Foundation

Contact Details

Address: Dallas, TX 75244

EIN: 20-3452395

Note: The foundation does not appear to maintain a public website or published contact information. Contact details may be available through their IRS Form 990-PF filings accessible via ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer or other nonprofit databases.

Overview

The Ralph B Rogers Foundation was established to honor Ralph Burton Rogers (1909-1997), an American industrialist and philanthropist known as the "Founding Father of the Public Broadcasting Service." Rogers served as chairman, president, and CEO of Texas Industries (a Fortune 500 company) and was instrumental in creating PBS, serving as its first chairman from 1974-1979. The foundation, now managed by the Rogers family with Richard G Rogers as President, operates as a private independent foundation with assets exceeding $11.3 million. The foundation's grant-making focuses on education, arts and culture, health and hospital care, human services, and philanthropy and voluntarism. In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $176,500, continuing its support across multiple states including Texas, Maine, and New York.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Ralph B Rogers Foundation operates as a private family foundation without formal grant programs or public application cycles. Their grant-making is conducted through board discretion.

Grant Size Range:

  • Typical awards: $250 - $500,000
  • Average grant: $20,281
  • Range suggests support for both major initiatives and smaller projects

Recent Grant Activity:

  • 2024: 23 awards totaling $176,500
  • 2023: 32 awards
  • 2022: 34 awards
  • 2021: 38 awards
  • 2020: 45 awards

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Education: Reflecting founder Ralph B. Rogers' legacy in public broadcasting and educational television
  • Arts & Culture: Including support for cultural institutions and public broadcasting
  • Health & Hospital Care: In-patient medical care and hospital-based services
  • Human Services: Community-based human service programs
  • Philanthropy & Grantmaking: Support for other philanthropic organizations and voluntarism

Geographic Focus:

  • Primary: Texas, Maine, and New York
  • Secondary: Projects in Colorado, Connecticut, and cities including Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, New York, and Washington, D.C.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation, grants appear to be made at the discretion of the board of directors.

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

  • Richard G Rogers: President and Director
  • Board Composition: Several members of the Rogers family serve as directors
  • Compensation: All board members serve without compensation

The foundation is managed by the Rogers family, continuing the philanthropic legacy of founder Ralph B. Rogers, who was a prominent Dallas industrialist and the founding father of PBS.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Ralph B Rogers Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, they appear to make grants through board discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

The foundation currently shows "0 live grant opportunities" in grant databases, indicating they do not maintain an open application process. Grant decisions appear to be made internally by the board of directors.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's connection to public broadcasting, education, and Dallas-area philanthropy, organizations working in these areas may consider:

  • Building relationships within the Dallas philanthropic community where the Rogers family has long-standing ties
  • Demonstrating alignment with the legacy of Ralph B. Rogers' work in public broadcasting and education
  • Connecting through organizations previously supported by the foundation (reviewable through their Form 990-PF filings)
  • Engaging with causes related to public media, educational television, or areas reflecting the founder's interests

Note: As a private family foundation without public application guidelines, the most effective approach may be cultivating relationships within the foundation's sphere of influence rather than direct solicitation.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating through board discretion, grant decisions likely occur on the board's schedule rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

With approximately 23-45 grants awarded annually from what appears to be a discretionary, invitation-based process, success rates for unsolicited applications cannot be determined.

Reapplication Policy

No public reapplication policy is available.

Application Success Factors

As this is a private family foundation without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share common characteristics:

Alignment with Foundation Values:

  • Connection to education and public broadcasting (reflecting Ralph B. Rogers' legacy)
  • Arts and cultural initiatives
  • Health and hospital-based care
  • Human services addressing community needs

Geographic Connection:

  • Preference for Texas (particularly Dallas area), Maine, and New York
  • Some support extends to other states including Colorado and Connecticut

Foundation Legacy:

  • Organizations aligned with Ralph B. Rogers' vision for public broadcasting and education may be particularly well-positioned
  • KERA (Dallas public broadcasting) has historical connections to the Rogers family

Relationship-Based Funding:

  • As a family foundation, personal connections and board relationships appear to drive grant decisions
  • Previous grantees may have ongoing relationships with the foundation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications. Direct grant applications are unlikely to be successful.

  • Legacy Focus: The foundation honors Ralph B. Rogers' legacy in public broadcasting, education, and Dallas philanthropy. Organizations aligned with these areas may have better prospects.

  • Relationship-Driven: As a family foundation with board members serving without compensation, grants appear to be relationship-based rather than application-driven.

  • Geographic Priorities: Strong preference for Texas (especially Dallas), Maine, and New York, with some support in other states.

  • Review 990-PF Filings: Organizations interested in this foundation should review their Form 990-PF tax filings to understand recent grantees and funding patterns, which may provide insight into potential connections.

  • Modest Annual Giving: With approximately $176,500 distributed in 2024, this is a relatively modest foundation despite its $11+ million in assets, suggesting highly selective grantmaking.

  • Family Governance: All board members are Rogers family members serving without compensation, indicating this is a true family foundation with personal involvement in grant decisions.

References

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