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Connie And Bob Lurie Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$14.5M
Grant Range
Up to $1.0M00
00

Connie And Bob Lurie Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14,516,275 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $219,776
  • Total Assets: $84.9 million
  • Number of Grants: 66 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: California/Bay Area, with broader U.S. reach
  • Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Location: Redwood City, CA
EIN: 208004479

Note: The foundation does not publicly list contact information for grant inquiries as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Connie And Bob Lurie Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation established by real estate developer and former San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie and his wife Connie. With assets totaling approximately $84.9 million, the foundation distributed $14,516,275 in grants across 66 awards in 2023. The foundation focuses on education, environmental education, health, community and economic development, and human services. The Luries are well-known Bay Area philanthropists with a long history of supporting higher education, local community organizations, and biomedical research. The family has been deeply involved with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation since its founding and has helped fund generations of promising early-career scientists.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation supports a wide range of charitable activities including:

  • Education: Strong emphasis on higher education and support for underserved student populations
  • Environmental Education: Programs focused on environmental awareness and sustainability
  • Health and Biomedical Research: Cancer research and genomic immunology research
  • Community and Economic Development: Supporting Bay Area community organizations
  • Human Services: Various human service programs across the U.S.

Notable Funding Examples

  • Connie and Robert Lurie Breakthrough Challenge Fund ($1 million) supporting Damon Runyon scientists at Stanford, UCSF, UC Berkeley, Gladstone Institute, and UC Santa Cruz
  • Endowment of the Lurie Author-in-Residence program at San Jose State University
  • Support for San José State's Connect Motivate Educate Society (provides support and mentorship to former foster youth pursuing college education)
  • Named directorship at the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology
  • Support that led to the naming of the Connie L. Lurie College of Education at San José State University

Grant Range

Based on 2023 data:

  • Total Annual Giving: $14,516,275
  • Average Grant: $219,776
  • Number of Awards: 66 grants

The foundation appears to make grants of varying sizes, from smaller community grants to major institutional gifts in the six and seven-figure range.

Governance and Leadership

Connie L. Lurie, President
Connie Lurie graduated from San José State with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and psychology in 1964. She has been a long-time supporter of education initiatives, particularly at San José State University, where the College of Education bears her name. She established the Connect Motivate Educate Society to support former foster youth and endowed the Lurie Author-in-Residence program in 1998.

Robert A. Lurie, Vice President
Bob Lurie is a real estate developer and former owner of the San Francisco Giants. Together with Connie, he has maintained a strong philanthropic presence in the Bay Area.

Both trustees serve without compensation, and the foundation operates with approximately 82-97% of total expenses directed toward charitable purposes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This 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."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations with which the Luries have established relationships or personal connections. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation where funding decisions are made internally by the trustees.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: This section includes only verified, funder-specific information.

The Lurie Foundation's grantmaking appears to be driven by:

  1. Personal Connections and Affiliations: The foundation supports institutions where the Luries have direct connections, such as San José State University (Connie's alma mater) and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area where they have business and personal ties.

  2. Long-term Institutional Relationships: The Lurie family has been involved with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation "since its founding," suggesting they prefer sustained partnerships with established organizations rather than one-time grants.

  3. Geographic Proximity: While the foundation makes grants across the U.S., there is a strong concentration of funding in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly supporting institutions like Stanford, UCSF, UC Berkeley, Gladstone Institute, and San José State University.

Organizations that share the Luries' focus areas and operate in their geographic sphere may become known to the trustees through sector networks, but direct outreach is not accepted.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the traditional success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's grantmaking patterns reveal:

Funder-Specific Preferences

  1. Established Institutions: The foundation funds well-established universities, research institutes, and recognized nonprofits rather than emerging organizations.

  2. Cancer Research Focus: The Lurie family's "long history of supporting biomedical research" particularly through Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation indicates a strong interest in cancer research and early-career scientists.

  3. Education for Underserved Populations: Connie Lurie's establishment of programs for former foster youth shows specific interest in educational equity for vulnerable populations.

  4. Environmental Education: This is listed as a specific focus area, distinguishing environmental programs from general environmental conservation.

  5. Bay Area Impact: Despite making grants across the U.S., the foundation shows preference for organizations making impact in the San Francisco Bay Area.

  6. Author and Literary Programs: The endowment of an Author-in-Residence program suggests interest in literary arts and bringing renowned authors to educational settings.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Unsolicited Applications: This foundation does not accept proposals from organizations with which they don't already have a relationship
  • Trustee-Driven Grantmaking: Funding decisions are made internally by Connie and Bob Lurie based on their personal interests and connections
  • Focus on Established Organizations: The foundation funds recognized institutions like major universities and research centers rather than grassroots or emerging nonprofits
  • Bay Area Emphasis: Strong geographic preference for San Francisco Bay Area organizations, particularly higher education and research institutions
  • Cancer Research Priority: Demonstrated through long-term involvement with Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and support for genomic immunology research
  • Education Equity: Specific interest in supporting underserved populations in education, particularly former foster youth
  • Average Grant Size: With an average grant of approximately $220,000, this foundation makes substantial grants rather than small community grants

References

Information compiled from publicly available 990 tax filings and foundation databases, accessed December 2024

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