The McCutchen Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,603,500 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Approximately $5,000 - $100,000+ (estimated based on 99 grants totaling $4.6M)
• Average Grant: ~$46,500 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: New York City and Essex County, NY; Washington, DC metropolitan area; New Jersey
• Total Assets: $81,982,222 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 114 East G Street, Brunswick, MD 21716

Phone: (973) 943-1410

Note: The McCutchen Foundation does not appear to have a public website or email address. This is a private family foundation that operates through trustee discretion.

Overview

The McCutchen Foundation was established in 1956 (incorporated in 1958) by the family of Dr. Charles McCutchen as one of the largest family foundations in the United States. Originally focused on funding research for achromatopsia (a debilitating eye disease) that affected Dr. McCutchen's father and aunt Margaret, the foundation has evolved into a broad-based charitable organization supporting local, national, and international causes. With total assets exceeding $81 million as of 2024, the foundation continues the McCutchen family's tradition of philanthropy, awarding approximately $4.6 million annually to 99 organizations in 2023. The foundation maintains a private, discretionary grantmaking approach operated by its board of trustees, focusing primarily on organizations in the New York City area, Washington, DC metropolitan area, and New Jersey.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The McCutchen Foundation operates as a private foundation without designated grant programs or application cycles. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Grant Activity:

• 2023: 99 grants totaling $4,603,500
• 2022: 86 grants
• 2021: 64 grants
• Since 2020: 300 grants totaling $12,163,000

Priority Areas

The Foundation's areas of interest include:

• Animal Welfare: Supporting organizations that protect and care for animals
• Arts and Culture: Supporting cultural institutions and arts programming
• Children and Youth: Including programs serving at-risk youth
• Civic Affairs: Community development and civic engagement
• Education: Educational institutions and scholarship programs, including support for Christian education
• Health: Medical research, treatment organizations, and healthcare access
• Social Services: Poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and social support programs

Notable Past Recipients (based on foundation records):

• National Kidney Foundation
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Doctors Without Borders
• United Negro College Fund
• The Salvation Army
• Institute for Advanced Study
• Paul Smith College
• Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though as a private family foundation operating through trustee discretion, the foundation does not appear to make grants outside their stated geographic areas or priority sectors.

Types of Support

• General operating support
• Project support
• Scholarships and financial assistance
• Medical research
• Disaster relief
• Educational opportunities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by a four-member board of trustees, each receiving $20,000 in annual compensation:

• Ann Terry, Trustee
• Benson J. Chapman, Trustee
• Steven P. Chapman, Trustee
• Jack E. McClow, Trustee

Officer Compensation

Total officer compensation: $80,000 (representing 2% of total expenses in 2024)

Family Legacy

The foundation was founded by the McCutchen family, with Dr. Charles McCutchen playing a central role. Dr. McCutchen's grandfather, Charles W. McCutchen, was a successful flour merchant and banker, establishing the family's tradition of philanthropy and community involvement that continues through the foundation today.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The McCutchen Foundation is a private family foundation that operates through trustee discretion. Grants are typically made to organizations already known to the trustees or identified through the trustees' networks and community involvement.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals through an online portal or formal application system. All grantmaking decisions are made by the four-member board of trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and knowledge of organizations serving their geographic focus areas.

Getting on Their Radar

While the McCutchen Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations seeking funding should consider the following approaches:

Review Past Grantees: The foundation's Form 990-PF filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, GuideStar, and other nonprofit databases) list all grant recipients. Organizations working in similar program areas or serving similar populations may have a better understanding of whether their work aligns with the foundation's interests.

Geographic Alignment: Ensure your organization operates in one of their priority geographic areas: New York City and Essex County, NY; the Washington, DC metropolitan area; or New Jersey. Organizations outside these regions are unlikely to receive funding.

Programmatic Fit: The foundation has demonstrated consistent interest in animal welfare, arts and culture, youth services, education, healthcare, and social services. Organizations should have clear alignment with these areas.

Relationship Building: As with many private family foundations operating through trustee discretion, building relationships with board members or individuals connected to the foundation may be beneficial, though direct contact information for trustees is not publicly available.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, grants are likely approved on a rolling basis throughout the year rather than through scheduled funding cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. Given the foundation makes grants through trustee discretion without a public application process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the McCutchen Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear to influence their grantmaking based on their documented giving history:

Geographic Focus is Critical: The foundation consistently supports organizations in New York City and Essex County, NY; the Washington, DC metropolitan area; and New Jersey. Organizations outside these areas do not appear in their grantmaking history.

Broad Charitable Impact: The foundation supports a diverse range of causes—from major medical research institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to local fire departments. This suggests the trustees value organizations making tangible differences at both local and national levels.

Established Organizations: Past grant recipients include well-known national organizations (National Kidney Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, United Negro College Fund) alongside smaller community organizations, suggesting the foundation supports both established institutions and grassroots efforts.

Education and Medical Research Heritage: Given the foundation's origins in supporting achromatopsia research and educational opportunities, organizations in these sectors may align particularly well with the foundation's historical mission.

Multiple Support Types: The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific funding, indicating flexibility in how they structure their grants based on organizational need.

Consistent Giving Relationships: Organizations should note that private foundations operating through trustee discretion often develop ongoing relationships with grantees. Being on the foundation's radar through past support or trustee knowledge appears more important than any particular application strategy.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: The McCutchen Foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants through trustee discretion. There is no application portal, deadline, or publicly available application guidelines.

• Geographic Restrictions are Strict: Focus exclusively on New York City and Essex County, NY; Washington, DC metropolitan area; and New Jersey. Organizations outside these areas are not supported.

• Broad Mission, Diverse Recipients: The foundation supports animal welfare, arts and culture, youth programs, education, healthcare, and social services, funding both major institutions and smaller community organizations.

• Significant Resources: With over $81 million in assets and annual giving of approximately $4.6 million, the foundation has substantial grantmaking capacity, averaging around $46,500 per grant across 99 awards in 2023.

• Research Past Grants: Review the foundation's Form 990-PF filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer to understand their giving patterns and identify organizations similar to yours that have received funding.

• Relationship-Driven: As with most private family foundations, grants are made through existing relationships and trustee knowledge rather than competitive application processes.

• Contact Thoughtfully: While the foundation has a phone number, unsolicited calls may not be welcome. Consider whether you have genuine alignment with their mission and geography before reaching out.

References

• Cause IQ - MC Cutchen Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mccutchen-foundation,226050116/ (Accessed January 2026)

• GuideStar - McCutchen Foundation Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/22-6050116 (Accessed January 2026)

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Mccutchen Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/226050116 (Accessed January 2026)

• Instrumentl - The Mc Cutchen Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/mccutchen-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• Candid Foundation Directory - The Mc Cutchen Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=MCCU002 (Accessed January 2026)

• GrantStation - The McCutchen Foundation. https://grantstation.com/grantmakers/mccutchen-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• Dr. Charles W. McCutchen Memorial Website. https://charleswmccutchen.com/ (Accessed January 2026)