G B Stuart Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $962,942 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Typically one large grant per year (~$900,000)
• Geographic Focus: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

Contact Details

• Phone: 717-243-3735 or 717-243-3737
• Address: 15 State Avenue, Suite 101, Carlisle, PA 17013-4456
• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The G B Stuart Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1976 by George Benjamin Stuart (1912-1989), a prominent Carlisle attorney and civic leader. With assets of $22.7 million as of 2024, the foundation continues Stuart's legacy of supporting Cumberland County organizations. The foundation operates with a unique model of typically awarding one substantial grant per year, averaging around $900,000, rather than multiple smaller grants. Stuart, who served in WWII and was deeply involved in local civic and religious organizations, created this foundation to support education, youth services, human services, and historical preservation in Cumberland County. The foundation maintains a low public profile with no website or published guidelines, operating primarily through trustee discretion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation typically awards one significant grant per year rather than operating specific programs. Recent awards have been in the range of $900,000-$960,000.

Priority Areas

• Education
• Youth development and youth services
• Human services
• Historical preservation
• Religious purposes
• Charitable purposes benefiting Cumberland County

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation appears to fund only organizations within Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

• Keith D. Falconer - Executive Director
• Barbara E. Falconer
• Victoria J. Macauley
• Alison J. Alioto
• Karen Faircloth

The foundation was established by George Benjamin Stuart, a University of Pennsylvania Wharton School graduate and Dickinson School of Law alumnus who practiced law in Carlisle throughout his life. Stuart served as Cumberland County Solicitor, was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, and participated in numerous civic organizations including the Cumberland County Historical Society.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and identification of community needs by the board. Organizations are typically selected based on pre-existing relationships with the foundation or awareness by board members of community needs.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations interested in funding should:

• Have a strong presence and track record in Cumberland County
• Align clearly with the foundation's focus on education, youth services, human services, or historical preservation
• Consider developing relationships with current board members through Cumberland County civic organizations
• Note that the Cumberland County Historical Society operates the "G. B. Stuart History Workshop," suggesting ongoing relationships with organizations aligned with the founder's interests

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. With only one grant typically awarded per year, timing of decisions is not published.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation appears to award one large grant annually.

Reapplication Policy

No information available regarding reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Based on confirmed grant recipients and the foundation's history:

• Geographic alignment is critical: Confirmed recipients like Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry Counties demonstrate the foundation's commitment to Cumberland County organizations
• Mission alignment with founder's interests: Stuart's involvement with education, religious organizations, and historical preservation suggests these areas receive favorable consideration
• Established local presence: The foundation appears to support well-established organizations with proven community impact
• Scale of need: With single large grants rather than multiple smaller ones, the foundation likely looks for transformational impact opportunities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private foundation without a public application process - relationships and board connections are essential
• The foundation makes one substantial grant per year (~$900,000) rather than multiple smaller grants
• Cumberland County location and focus is mandatory
• Alignment with education, youth services, human services, or historical preservation is critical
• The foundation maintains minimal public presence - no website or published guidelines exist
• Organizations should focus on building awareness through Cumberland County civic networks rather than direct applications
• Consider that this foundation represents "major gift" level funding requiring strategic cultivation rather than traditional grant writing

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings for G B Stuart Charitable Foundation (EIN: 232042245)
• Cause IQ nonprofit database entry for G B Stuart Charitable Foundation
• Charity Navigator profile for G B Stuart Charitable Foundation
• Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry Counties website - January 2021 grant announcement
• Gardner Library Encyclopedia entry for George Benjamin Stuart
• Cumberland County Historical Society - G. B. Stuart History Workshop
• Various nonprofit databases including GuideStar, Candid Foundation Directory, GrantStation, and Instrumentl
• IRS tax-exempt organization database