Bruce G Geary Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1,410,259 (2024)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
Grant Range: $14,000 - $140,000 (median $14,000)
Geographic Focus: National (focus on animal welfare organizations)
Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 140732, Staten Island, NY 10314-0732
Phone: 917-656-0372
EIN: 20-8075415

Note: The foundation does not have a website and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Overview

The Bruce G Geary Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2007 following the death of Bruce G. Geary of Staten Island, New York. With total assets of approximately $30 million, the foundation distributed $1,410,259 in grants in 2024 across 70 separate awards. The foundation's singular mission is the "care and support of homeless animals," and it consistently supports animal welfare organizations, zoological societies, animal rescue operations, veterinary services, and therapy animal programs. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, selecting organizations proactively rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Since its inception, the foundation has maintained a steady presence in the animal welfare funding landscape, supporting both local Staten Island organizations and national animal rescue efforts. The foundation's grant-making has remained remarkably consistent, with 70 grants in 2023, 67 in 2022, and 59 in 2021, demonstrating ongoing commitment to its mission.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bruce G Geary Foundation operates as a single-purpose private foundation without distinct grant programs. All funding is directed toward animal welfare causes.

General Animal Welfare Grants: $14,000 - $140,000 (median $14,000)

Supports animal rescue, veterinary services, zoological societies, therapy animal programs, and spay/neuter initiatives
Awards are made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations
No fixed application cycles or deadlines

Priority Areas

The foundation exclusively funds animal welfare initiatives, including:

Animal Rescue and Shelters: Support for organizations rescuing and rehoming homeless animals
Veterinary Services: Low-cost veterinary clinics, mobile spay/neuter services, and emergency veterinary care
Zoological Societies: Support for zoos and wildlife conservation organizations, particularly the Staten Island Zoo (SI Zoological Society)
Therapy Animal Programs: Programs that use animals to enhance human wellbeing through the human-animal bond
Population Control: Spay/neuter initiatives addressing feral and abandoned animal populations
Animal Emergency Services: Emergency rescue and veterinary care for animals in crisis

The foundation demonstrates a particular connection to Staten Island-based animal welfare organizations but also makes grants nationally to organizations aligned with its mission.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's focused mission suggests it does not fund:

Organizations outside the animal welfare sector
Individual animal care expenses
Human services, education, arts, or other charitable causes
General operating support for organizations without animal welfare focus
Capital campaigns unrelated to animal care facilities

Governance and Leadership

The Bruce G Geary Foundation is governed by a board of directors who manage the foundation's assets and make grant decisions.

Leadership Team:

Raymond J Pezzoli, President - Oversees the foundation's grant-making strategy and operations (Annual compensation: $105,000)
Matthew Smith, Secretary/Treasurer - Manages financial operations and record-keeping (Annual compensation: $105,000)
Cathy Carlson, Vice President/Treasurer - Supports financial oversight and grant decisions (Annual compensation: $105,000)
John Kosinski, Director - Participates in grant-making decisions (Annual compensation: $85,000)

The foundation was established to honor the legacy of Bruce G. Geary of Port Richmond, Staten Island, who passed away on January 30, 2007. While specific quotes from leadership are not publicly available, the foundation's consistent focus on animal welfare and steady grant-making over nearly two decades demonstrates the board's commitment to the founder's vision.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Bruce G Geary Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This means:

There is no application form, portal, or submission process
Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the board of trustees
Organizations are identified and selected proactively by foundation leadership
Unsolicited proposals, letters of inquiry, and applications will not be considered

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept applications, animal welfare organizations may benefit from understanding how the foundation identifies potential grantees:

The foundation appears to select organizations through:

Established relationships: The SI Zoological Society (Staten Island Zoo) is a consistent major recipient, suggesting the foundation maintains long-term relationships with key organizations
Geographic connections: Staten Island-based animal welfare organizations have received support (e.g., Pride Center's "Luv on a Leash" therapy dog program, The Toby Project mobile clinic)
Board member knowledge: Trustees likely identify organizations through their personal awareness of the animal welfare sector
Demonstrated impact: Grant recipients like the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA received funding for specific, tangible projects (low-cost veterinary clinic)

Indirect strategies that may be appropriate:

Ensure your organization is visible in the animal welfare sector through conferences, networks, and professional associations
Build strong relationships with other organizations that receive funding from the foundation
Maintain an excellent public profile with clear documentation of impact in animal welfare
Consider that the foundation's trustees are based in Staten Island and may be more familiar with New York-based organizations

Important note: Given the foundation's explicit policy against unsolicited requests, direct outreach or proposal submission is not recommended and will not be successful.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation selects organizations on its own timeline without a formal application or review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - with no public application process, there is no success rate for applicants. The foundation made 70 grants in 2023 from an unknown pool of considered organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - since there is no application process, there is no reapplication policy. Organizations that have previously received funding may be considered again at the trustees' discretion.

Application Success Factors

While there is no application to submit, animal welfare organizations can assess their potential alignment with the Bruce G Geary Foundation's interests:

Strong alignment indicators:

Clear animal welfare mission: The foundation's sole focus is "care and support of homeless animals" - organizations must have direct animal welfare impact
Specific, tangible projects: Recent grants suggest preference for defined initiatives (e.g., low-cost veterinary clinics, mobile spay/neuter services, therapy dog programs) rather than general operating support
Established operations: Grant recipients appear to be established organizations with proven track records, not startups or new initiatives
Geographic presence: While the foundation makes grants nationally, Staten Island and New York-based organizations may have stronger visibility with trustees
Financial need for animal services: The foundation appears to support organizations providing direct services to animals in need, particularly homeless, abandoned, or feral animals

Example funding patterns:

The SI Zoological Society received $140,000 in 2023, suggesting strong ongoing support for major partner organizations
Emergency veterinary services (NY Save Animals in Veterinary Emergency, $45,000) indicate interest in crisis intervention
International Animal Rescue US ($35,000) shows willingness to fund national/international organizations with strong animal welfare missions
Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA ($25,000 for low-cost veterinary clinic) demonstrates support for accessible veterinary care

Organizations less likely to align:

Those with missions broader than animal welfare
Wildlife conservation organizations without direct animal care components
Advocacy-only organizations without service delivery
Organizations focused on domestic animal breeding or commercial animal industries

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications - do not submit materials
Animal welfare only: The foundation's exclusive focus is homeless animal care and support; no other causes are considered
Relationship-based: Grants flow from trustee knowledge and established relationships, not from application review
Consistent giver: With 70 grants annually and $1.4 million in annual giving, the foundation is an active, reliable funder in animal welfare
Range of grant sizes: Awards from $14,000 (median) to $140,000 suggest the foundation funds both smaller projects and major initiatives
Long-term partnerships: The SI Zoological Society's consistent major funding suggests the foundation values ongoing relationships with key organizations
Practical projects preferred: Grants to veterinary clinics, spay/neuter programs, and therapy animal initiatives suggest preference for tangible, service-oriented projects over theoretical or advocacy work
Visibility matters: Since trustees select organizations proactively, maintaining a strong public profile and sector presence is essential for potential consideration

References

Grantmakers.io Profile - Bruce G Geary Foundation. Available at: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/208075415-bruce-g-geary-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
Cause IQ Organization Profile - Bruce G Geary Foundation (EIN: 20-8075415). Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bruce-g-geary-foundation,208075415/ (Accessed January 2026)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bruce G Geary Foundation (EIN: 20-8075415). Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208075415 (Accessed January 2026)
Instrumentl 990 Report - Bruce G Geary Foundation. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/bruce-g-geary-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA. "Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA receives $100,000 in grants for low-cost veterinary clinic." December 2024. Available at: https://cghs.org/columbia-greene-humane-society-spca-receives-100000-in-grants-for-low-cost-veterinary-clinic/ (Accessed January 2026)
The Toby Project. "Geary Foundation Brings The Toby Project to Staten Island." 2013. Available at: http://www.tobyproject.org/news/geary-foundation-brings-toby-project-staten-island (Accessed January 2026)
Pride Center of Staten Island. "Luv on a Leash" program page. Available at: https://www.pridecentersi.org/luv-on-a-leash (Accessed January 2026)
Legacy.com. "Bruce Geary Obituary." Staten Island Advance, January 31, 2007. Available at: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/bruce-geary-obituary?pid=86225787 (Accessed January 2026)
IRS Form 990-PF filings for Bruce G Geary Foundation (EIN: 20-8075415), tax years 2009-2024. Available through IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and various nonprofit databases.