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Oechsle Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M
Success Rate
12%

Oechsle Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,900,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% (new applicants)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $180,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Massachusetts and Connecticut, with grants across multiple US states

Contact Details

Address: Wilmington, DE

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

Established in 2007, the Oechsle Family Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation with approximately $63 million in assets and annual charitable distributions of approximately $2.9 million. The foundation focuses on education, health, social services, and support for immigrants and refugees. Led by family members Martina Oechsle-Vasconcelles (President/Treasurer) and Linda Oechsle (Vice President/Secretary), the foundation operates on a preselected grantmaking model, working primarily with organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, though grants extend to organizations in other states including Illinois, California, Colorado, New York, and beyond. The foundation awarded 45 grants in 2023 and 41 grants in 2024, with a median grant size of $68,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes trustee-discretionary grants across several focus areas:

  • General & Unrestricted Support: Primary grant type, allowing organizations flexibility in use of funds
  • Education Support: Grants ranging from $5,000 - $180,000
  • Health & Healthcare: Including palliative care and disease-specific initiatives
  • Social Services: Youth programs, family support, immigrant and refugee services

Priority Areas

  • Education and higher education
  • Health, diseases and conditions, cancer research
  • Social services and community support
  • Immigrant and refugee support programs
  • Youth development programs
  • Palliative care
  • Women's services and family support

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions, but operates exclusively with preselected organizations and does not fund organizations outside their established relationships.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a family board of directors who serve without compensation:

  • Martina Oechsle-Vasconcelles - President and Treasurer
  • Linda Oechsle - Vice President and Secretary
  • William O. Bunton - Director
  • Tyler Bunton - Director
  • Andrew Vasconcelles - Director
  • Oliver M. Vasconcelles - Director

The foundation operates as a traditional family foundation with decision-making authority resting with the board of directors.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships or which come to their attention through board member networks and connections.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking is relationship-based, with the board selecting organizations aligned with their funding priorities. Organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut working in education, health, social services, or immigrant/refugee support that align with the foundation's values may come to the board's attention through:

  • Connections with other funders in the Greater Boston and Connecticut philanthropic community
  • Participation in collaborative funding initiatives in their geographic focus areas
  • Recognition as leaders in their respective fields, particularly in education and health sectors

Given the foundation's focus on preselected organizations, building visibility within the Massachusetts and Connecticut nonprofit sectors and establishing strong programmatic track records appears to be the primary pathway to potential consideration.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose decision timelines. As a private family foundation with trustee discretion, grants are likely approved on a rolling basis by the board as opportunities align with their priorities.

Success Rates

According to available data, approximately 12% of new applicant organizations are funded. However, this statistic should be interpreted with caution given the foundation's stated policy of not accepting unsolicited applications - this likely reflects organizations that successfully established relationships with the foundation through indirect channels.

The foundation awards between 39-45 grants annually from its $63 million asset base.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on a preselected, invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors are not applicable. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Geographic alignment: Strong preference for Massachusetts and Connecticut-based organizations, particularly those serving the Greater Boston area and Greater New Haven.

Funding type: The foundation shows a clear preference for general and unrestricted support grants, suggesting they value organizational flexibility and trust in leadership.

Grant recipients: Recent grants include:

  • Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (CT)
  • Foundation for MetroWest (MA)
  • Northwestern University
  • Nurse-Family Partnership
  • Women's Lunch Place Inc (Boston)
  • All Our Kin Inc (CT)
  • Political Asylum Immigration Representation Project (Boston)

Focus on established organizations: Recipients tend to be well-established organizations with strong track records in education, health, and social services.

Support for vulnerable populations: Consistent funding for organizations serving women, families, immigrants, refugees, and those experiencing poverty or health challenges.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and works only with preselected organizations
  • Relationship-based grantmaking: Access requires establishing indirect connections through the philanthropic community or exceptional visibility in the field
  • Geographic focus: Strong preference for Massachusetts and Connecticut organizations, particularly Greater Boston and Greater New Haven areas
  • Unrestricted funding preference: The foundation favors general and unrestricted support, indicating trust in organizational leadership
  • Median grant: $68,000, with range from $5,000 to $180,000, allowing for both smaller pilot projects and substantial program support
  • Focus areas: Education, health (especially cancer and diseases), social services, immigrant/refugee support, and women's/family services are consistently funded
  • Not a direct prospect for most: Unless your organization has existing relationships with board members or operates within their established network, this foundation should not be prioritized in fundraising strategy

References

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