The Robert And Jane Toll Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6.8 million (2022)
• Success Rate: Not available (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $100 - $300,000
• Geographic Focus: New York City, Philadelphia, Miami

Contact Details

• Address: 250 Gibraltar Rd., Horsham, PA 19044
• Website: Not publicly available
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Robert and Jane Toll Foundation was established in 1991 by businessman Robert Toll (1940-2022) and his wife Jane. Robert co-founded Toll Brothers in 1967, a publicly-traded luxury home builder in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The foundation provided $6.8 million in grants in 2022 through 43 awards. Following Robert's passing in October 2022 after a battle with Parkinson's disease, Jane continues the foundation's mission focusing primarily on supporting projects dedicated to education and promoting racial and financial equity. The foundation maintains a low profile and operates on an invitation-only basis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have publicly advertised grant programs. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees through invitation only.

Priority Areas

• Education and Youth: Support for organizations like Seeds of Peace and Say Yes to Education
• Public Interest Law: Major support for Penn Carey Law School's public interest programs
• Jewish Causes: Synagogues, Jewish federations, and cultural institutions
• Arts and Culture: Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Richard Tucker Music Foundation
• Health and Human Services: Hospitals, disease research, public health initiatives
• Underserved Housing Needs: Supporting housing equity initiatives
• Voter Access and Civic Engagement: Including support for the Barack Obama Foundation
• Peace-Building Initiatives: International conflict resolution programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation appears to focus exclusively on established organizations with existing relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Founders: Robert I. Toll (deceased October 2022) and Jane Toll Current Leadership: Jane Toll continues to lead the foundation Board Involvement: Jane Toll also serves on the boards of Seeds of Peace and Say Yes to Education Family Engagement: The Tolls engaged their five children (Laurie, Deborah, Rachel, Jacob, and Joshua) in the foundation's work

The foundation maintains minimal public disclosure about its board structure and governance.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made exclusively through invitation only or at the discretion of the trustees based on pre-existing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

• Network with past recipients, particularly organizations that receive recurring support
• Build connections through shared board service (Jane Toll serves on Seeds of Peace and Say Yes to Education boards)
• Establish visibility in the foundation's priority geographic areas (New York City, Philadelphia, Miami)
• Connect through Jewish community organizations in these cities
• Develop relationships with Penn Carey Law School's public interest programs

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed - decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis at trustees' discretion

Success Rates

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only structure. The foundation tends to support the same organizations year after year.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates by invitation only, success factors focus on relationship building:

• Established Track Record: The foundation supports organizations with proven impact and established reputations
• Geographic Alignment: Strong presence in New York City, Philadelphia, or Miami increases visibility
• Mission Alignment: Clear connection to education equity, public interest law, Jewish causes, or peace-building
• Existing Network Connections: Relationships with current grantees or board connections
• Multi-Year Commitment: The foundation values long-term partnerships, as evidenced by recurring annual support to many organizations
• Scale of Impact: Preference for organizations making systemic change (e.g., $50 million to Penn Law for public interest lawyers)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based funder with no public application process
• Focus efforts on building connections through current grantees and shared networks
• The foundation makes substantial multi-year commitments to organizations they trust
• Geographic presence in NYC, Philadelphia, or Miami is advantageous
• Jewish organizations and education/youth programs receive consistent support
• The foundation values systemic change and large-scale impact
• Patience and relationship cultivation are essential - this is not a transactional funder

References

• Inside Philanthropy profile on Robert and Jane Toll Foundation (accessed March 2024)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Robert And Jane Toll Foundation Form 990 (2022)
• Penn Today: "Robert and Jane Toll Foundation makes $50 million gift to Penn Law" (September 29, 2020)
• The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Robert I. Toll Obituary" (October 13, 2022)
• Cause IQ: The Robert and Jane Toll Foundation organizational profile (accessed March 2024)
• GuideStar Profile: The Robert and Jane Toll Foundation (EIN: 23-2654322)
• University of Pennsylvania Almanac: Robert and Jane Toll Foundation's $50 Million Gift announcement (2020)