Charles Foundation Inc
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $2,303,000 (2023)
- Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
- Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania (based on recent grant patterns)
- Total Assets: $23.1 million (2023)
- Number of Awards: 70 grants (2023)
Contact Details
Address: 668 Spring Valley Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: 973-539-2281
Website: Not available
Email: Not available
Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funds.
Overview
The Charles Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in August 1994 in New Jersey. With total assets of $23.1 million as of 2023, the foundation distributed approximately $2.3 million in grants in 2023 across 70 awards. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, human services, and philanthropic initiatives, primarily in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. The foundation operates under the leadership of the Rooke family and maintains a selective approach to grantmaking, choosing to support preselected charitable organisations rather than accepting public applications. The foundation has demonstrated consistent grantmaking activity, making 70 awards in 2023, 72 awards in 2022, and 70 awards in 2021.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programmes
The Charles Foundation Inc does not operate formal grant programmes with specific application cycles. The foundation awards grants on a discretionary basis to organisations selected by the trustees.
- Annual Grant Distribution: $2.3 million distributed across approximately 70 grants in 2023
- Grant Amounts: Individual grant amounts are not publicly disclosed; information would require review of Form 990-PF Part XV
Priority Areas
Based on available information, the foundation focuses on:
- Education: Supporting educational institutions and initiatives
- Human Services: Funding human services organisations and programmes
- Philanthropy: Supporting other grantmaking and philanthropic organisations
What They Don't Fund
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds from any organisations with which they do not already have a relationship.
Governance and Leadership
The Charles Foundation Inc is governed by a family-based board of trustees from the Rooke family:
- Robert C. Rooke - President, Treasurer, and Trustee
- Natalie D. Rooke - Vice President and Trustee
- Robert C. Rooke Jr. - Secretary and Trustee
- Thomas W. Rooke - Trustee
None of the trustees receive compensation for their service to the foundation. The foundation operates as a family foundation with decision-making authority concentrated among family members.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This foundation does not have a public application process.
The Charles Foundation Inc has clearly indicated that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organisations they have identified and selected independently.
Organisations cannot submit applications, letters of inquiry, or proposals to this foundation. All grantmaking decisions are made proactively by the board of trustees based on their own research and organisational priorities.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by the trustees on their own timeline.
Success Rates
Not applicable for external applicants. The foundation made 70 grants in 2023 and 72 grants in 2022, but these were all to organisations selected by the trustees rather than through a competitive application process.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - the foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from organisations.
Application Success Factors
Since the Charles Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" for grant applications do not apply. However, organisations that align with the foundation's stated priorities in education, human services, and philanthropy may be more likely to be considered if the foundation proactively reaches out.
Key Considerations:
- The foundation focuses on education, human services, and philanthropic sectors
- Grants are awarded to preselected organisations identified by the trustees
- The foundation operates as a family foundation with concentrated decision-making authority
- Grant decisions are made independently without external input or applications
- Geographic focus appears to be primarily New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania based on recent grant patterns
Organisations seeking funding should not contact this foundation with proposals or requests, as the foundation has specifically stated it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No Public Application Process: The Charles Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited applications, proposals, or letters of inquiry
- Invitation-Only Grantmaking: All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organisations they have preselected
- Focus Areas: The foundation concentrates on education, human services, and philanthropic initiatives
- Geographic Focus: Primary activity in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania based on recent grant patterns
- Consistent Grantmaking: The foundation maintains steady grantmaking activity with approximately 70 grants annually totalling $2.3 million
- Family Foundation Structure: Governed entirely by members of the Rooke family who make all funding decisions
- Do Not Contact: Organisations should not reach out to this foundation with funding requests as they will not be considered
- Limited Public Information: Specific grant recipients, amounts, and detailed funding criteria are not publicly disclosed without accessing Form 990-PF filings
References
- Grantmakers.io. "Charles Foundation Inc Profile." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/223292066-charles-foundation-inc/
- Instrumentl. "Charles Foundation Inc | Morristown, NJ | 990 Report." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/charles-foundation-inc
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Charles Foundation Inc." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223292066
- GuideStar by Candid. "Charles Foundation Inc - GuideStar Profile." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/22-3292066
- Candid Foundation Directory. "Charles Foundation Inc C/o Robert C Rooke." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=CHAR150
- GrantAdvisor. "Charles Foundation Inc - Morristown, NJ funder info." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://grantadvisor.org/profile/22-3292066
- Cause IQ. "Charles Foundation | Morristown, NJ." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/charles-foundation,223292066/
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