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Del Vecchio Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.6M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,539,249 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $635,000 (median: $5,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, with some grants in Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, Rhode Island, DC, and Tennessee
  • Total Assets: $32,544,874

Contact Details

No public website, phone, or email available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Foundation Address: New York, NY EIN: 20-5156807

Overview

The Del Vecchio Family Foundation was established in December 2006 as a private independent foundation led by businessman Claudio Del Vecchio, chairman and former CEO of Brooks Brothers and heir to the EssilorLuxottica fortune. With total assets of approximately $32.5 million, the foundation distributed $1,539,249 in grants in 2023 across 33 awards. The foundation operates as a preselected grantmaking entity, making contributions exclusively to charitable organizations selected by the trustees, with a focus on health-related initiatives, Catholic institutions, education, and social services. The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests, and all grants are awarded at the discretion of the Del Vecchio family trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. All grants are designated as "general grants" and are made to preselected organizations.

Grant Range: $5,000 (median) to $635,000 (largest recent grant) Average Grant Size: $46,644

Priority Areas

Based on 2022 grant data, the foundation supports:

  • Catholic and Faith-Based Organizations: Significant support for Catholic media, education, and religious institutions
  • Health and Medical Research: Hospitals, medical research institutions, and health-related diseases and conditions
  • Education: Universities and educational institutions
  • Social Services: Food security, nutrition programs, and community services
  • Arts and Culture: Cultural foundations and institutions

Recent Grant Recipients (2022)

  • Catholic Faith Network - Long Island: $635,000
  • The Interfaith Nutrition Network Inc: $305,000
  • Elon University: $283,100
  • America-Israel Cultural Foundation: $65,000
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: $60,000
  • Saint Francis Hospital (mentioned in multiple sources)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees for preselected organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Claudio Del Vecchio - President
  • Debra Del Vecchio - Secretary/Treasurer/Director
  • Matteo Del Vecchio - Director

None of the trustees receive compensation for their roles with the foundation.

About Claudio Del Vecchio: Born February 1957, Claudio Del Vecchio is an Italian billionaire businessman with an estimated net worth of $8.2 billion. He served as co-CEO of Luxottica in the 1990s, overseeing its IPO on the NYSE in 1990. He acquired Brooks Brothers in 2001 for $225 million and served as its chairman and CEO until its bankruptcy filing in 2020. He inherited a 12.5% stake in the family's Luxembourg-based holding company Delfin after his father Leonardo Del Vecchio's death in 2022. In 1997, he was honored with the World Economic Forum Award as "Global Leader for Tomorrow."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

All grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees, and organizations are selected through the family's own initiative and connections rather than through an open application process.

Application Success Factors

This section is not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded exclusively to organizations preselected by the Del Vecchio family trustees.

Organizations that have received funding tend to be:

  • Located primarily in New York and surrounding states
  • Established institutions with strong reputations
  • Organizations aligned with the family's interests in Catholic faith, healthcare, education, and social services
  • Organizations where the family may have existing relationships or connections

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications; all grants are trustee-initiated
  • Preselected Organizations: Funding goes exclusively to organizations selected by the Del Vecchio family
  • Wide Grant Range: Grants range from $5,000 to over $600,000, with a median of $5,000
  • Focus Areas: Strong support for Catholic institutions, health/medical research, education, and social services
  • Geographic Preference: Primarily New York-based organizations, with some support across the Northeast and nationally
  • Family Foundation: Operated by three family members without compensation, reflecting personal philanthropic interests
  • Relationship-Driven: Funding appears to go to established institutions where the family has connections or personal interest

References

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