Bruce G Geary Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,202,500 (2023 tax year)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Grant Range: Contact varies by project
• Geographic Focus: National (focus on animal welfare organisations)
• 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 $20.7 million (2023), the foundation distributed $1,202,500 in grants in the 2023 tax year. The foundation's singular mission is the "care and support of homeless animals," and it consistently supports animal welfare organisations, zoological societies, animal rescue operations, veterinary services, and therapy animal programmes. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, selecting organisations 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 organisations and national animal rescue efforts. The foundation's grant-making has remained remarkably consistent, demonstrating ongoing commitment to its mission with historical grants of $1,202,500 (2023), $1,250,000 (2022), and $1,114,700 (2021).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

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

General Animal Welfare Grants: Amounts vary by project

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

Priority Areas

The foundation exclusively funds animal welfare initiatives, including:

• Animal Rescue and Shelters: Support for organisations 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 organisations, particularly the Staten Island Zoo (SI Zoological Society)
• Therapy Animal Programmes: Programmes 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 organisations but also makes grants nationally to organisations aligned with its mission.

What They Don't Fund

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

• Organisations outside the animal welfare sector
• Individual animal care expenses
• Human services, education, arts, or other charitable causes
• General operating support for organisations 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 honour the legacy of Bruce G. Geary of Port Richmond, Staten Island, who passed away on 30 January 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 organisations 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
• Organisations 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 organisations may benefit from understanding how the foundation identifies potential grantees:

The foundation appears to select organisations through:

• Established relationships: The SI Zoological Society (Staten Island Zoo) is a consistent major recipient, suggesting the foundation maintains long-term relationships with key organisations
• Geographic connections: Staten Island-based animal welfare organisations have received support (e.g., Pride Center's "Luv on a Leash" therapy dog programme, The Toby Project mobile clinic)
• Board member knowledge: Trustees likely identify organisations 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 organisation is visible in the animal welfare sector through conferences, networks, and professional associations
• Build strong relationships with other organisations 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 organisations

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 organisations 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.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - since there is no application process, there is no reapplication policy. Organisations 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 organisations 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" - organisations must have direct animal welfare impact
• Specific, tangible projects: Grants suggest preference for defined initiatives (e.g., low-cost veterinary clinics, mobile spay/neuter services, therapy dog programmes) rather than general operating support
• Established operations: Grant recipients appear to be established organisations with proven track records, not startups or new initiatives
• Geographic presence: While the foundation makes grants nationally (based on recent 990-PF records), Staten Island and New York-based organisations may have stronger visibility with trustees
• Financial need for animal services: The foundation appears to support organisations providing direct services to animals in need, particularly homeless, abandoned, or feral animals

Example funding patterns from recent records:

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

Organisations less likely to align:

• Those with missions broader than animal welfare
• Wildlife conservation organisations without direct animal care components
• Advocacy-only organisations without service delivery
• Organisations 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: The foundation is an active, reliable funder in animal welfare with consistent annual giving of approximately $1.2 million
• Long-term partnerships: Consistent major funding to key organisations suggests the foundation values ongoing relationships
• Practical projects preferred: Grants to veterinary clinics, spay/neuter programmes, and therapy animal initiatives suggest preference for tangible, service-oriented projects over theoretical or advocacy work
• Visibility matters: Since trustees select organisations proactively, maintaining a strong public profile and sector presence is essential for potential consideration

References

1. Grantmakers.io Profile - Bruce G Geary Foundation. Available at: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/208075415-bruce-g-geary-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

2. Cause IQ Organisation Profile - Bruce G Geary Foundation (EIN: 20-8075415). Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bruce-g-geary-foundation,208075415/ (Accessed January 2026)

3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bruce G Geary Foundation (EIN: 20-8075415). Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208075415 (Accessed January 2026)

4. Instrumentl 990 Report - Bruce G Geary Foundation. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/bruce-g-geary-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. Pride Center of Staten Island. "Luv on a Leash" programme page. Available at: https://www.pridecentersi.org/luv-on-a-leash (Accessed January 2026)

8. Legacy.com. "Bruce Geary Obituary." Staten Island Advance, 31 January 2007. Available at: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/bruce-geary-obituary?pid=86225787 (Accessed January 2026)

9. IRS Form 990-PF filings for Bruce G Geary Foundation (EIN: 20-8075415), tax years 2009-2024. Available through IRS Tax Exempt Organisation Search and various nonprofit databases.