← Back to US Funders Directory

Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $901,302 (FY 2023)
  • Total Assets: $82.8 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,250,000 (largest disbursed over five years)
  • Typical Range: $5,000 - $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Central Florida (Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake Counties)
  • Application Method: Invitation only (letter of inquiry accepted)
  • Match/Challenge Grants: Over 50% of grants

Contact Details

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1967 Winter Park, Florida 32790

Phone: 407.647.4322 Fax: 407.647.7716 Email: grantsinfo@edythbush.org Website: https://edythbush.org

Grants Manager: Maggie Soderholm

Overview

Founded in 1973, the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking organization with total assets of $82.8 million and annual giving of approximately $900,000. Since inception, the foundation has awarded over $114 million across 4,298 grants to 896 nonprofit organizations throughout Central Florida. The foundation's mission is "to alleviate human suffering and to help people help themselves," honoring founder Edyth Bassler Bush's particular interest in helping needy children, individuals, and families. In 2015, the foundation received the prestigious Outstanding Foundation Award from both the international and regional chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Under President and CEO David Odahowski's leadership since 1993, the foundation focuses on strengthening nonprofit organizations through capacity building, management assistance, and innovative civic solutions at the intersection of private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have fixed grant programs but rather considers requests on a rolling basis through an invitation-only process. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000, though larger grants are awarded for significant projects (the largest single grant was $1.25 million for Rollins College, disbursed over five years).

Types of Grants Awarded:

  • Challenge and development grants (over 50% on match or challenge basis)
  • Construction and renovation projects
  • Equipment and expansion of functions
  • Pilot projects and seed start-up funding for new programs
  • Study or planning grants for feasibility and market research

Challenge/Match Structure:

  • "Pay-as-matched" - funds released as organization raises matching funds
  • "All-or-nothing" - full grant contingent on raising complete match amount

Priority Areas

  • Human Services: Serving needy children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families
  • Education: Programs with demonstrated impact on vulnerable populations
  • Health Care: Services addressing community health needs
  • Arts and Culture: Nationally recognized quality programs with demonstrated educational value for children K-12
  • Capacity Building: Management, governance, and leadership strengthening for nonprofits

The foundation emphasizes that "it is up to the organization's leadership to present their 'highest and best needs' and demonstrate how a grant would improve the efficacy and/or sustainability of the organization."

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual scholarships
  • Research grants
  • Alcoholism/drug abuse programs
  • Routine operating expenses
  • Deficits or pre-existing debt
  • Foreign organizations
  • Travel projects
  • Purely church/denominational purposes (though religious organizations serving broader community needs may be eligible)
  • Endowment funds
  • Advocacy organizations

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: David A. Odahowski (serving since 1993) - "Our job is to identify and invest in innovative leaders and organizations that are capable of making major progress in the community."

Board of Directors:

  • Richard J. Walsh, Chairman (Chairman and CEO of Knob Hill Companies; 10+ years on board)
  • Matthew W. Certo, Vice Chairman and Corporate Secretary
  • David A. Odahowski, President & CEO and Board Member
  • Elizabeth A. Dvorak
  • Anne B. Kerr, Ph.D.
  • Patricia J. Engfer
  • Brian M. Butler (joined November 2019)

The board comprises highly accomplished thought leaders dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector throughout Central Florida and fulfilling the foundation's mission of creating and supporting innovative civic solutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, but accepts letters of inquiry from eligible organizations.

Initial Contact:

  1. Review the Policies & Eligibility criteria on the foundation's website
  2. Send a letter of inquiry to the Grants Manager (Maggie Soderholm) including:
    • Amount sought
    • Purpose of the grant
    • Nature of your organization

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and Section 509(a) classification
  • Headquartered within Orange, Seminole, Osceola, or Lake Counties, Florida
  • Raised at least $25,000 in memberships/contributions in the prior year

If Invited to Apply:

  1. Complete full application
  2. Potential field review/site visit
  3. Foundation decision
  4. Progress reports required every six months
  5. Final report with disbursement list and evaluation of results upon completion

Decision Timeline

The foundation has no submission deadlines and accepts grant requests on a rolling basis throughout the year. Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, but the rolling process allows for flexibility.

Reapplication Policy

If your request is denied, reapplication for the same grant will not be accepted during that same fiscal year (ending August 31st). Organizations may apply for different projects or reapply for the same project in a subsequent fiscal year.

Important: New grant requests will not be processed from organizations that have not filed final reports on prior grants.

Application Success Factors

What This Foundation Values

1. Capacity Building Over Band-Aids The foundation explicitly states that "the Foundation's best work is helping nonprofits be better managed, governed and led." Recent grants demonstrate this focus:

  • United Arts of Central Florida received $225,000 specifically for financial management capacity and hiring a CFO
  • Grant descriptions emphasize organizational sustainability and efficacy improvements

2. Demonstrating "Highest and Best Needs" The foundation uses this specific phrase and expects applicants to articulate why the requested funding represents the most strategic investment in their organization's future, not just immediate operational needs.

3. Measurable Community Impact Successful grants show tangible outcomes:

  • Limbitless Solutions ($36,000): Specific deliverable of a secure arm delivery and assessment room
  • Delivering Good ($75,000): Leveraged to bring $2.7 million worth of products into Central Florida homes
  • Winter Park Public Library ($750,000): State-of-the-art facility designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye

4. Innovation and Leadership CEO David Odahowski emphasizes identifying "innovative leaders and organizations that are capable of making major progress in the community." Applications should demonstrate forward-thinking approaches, not maintenance of status quo.

5. Alignment with Founder's Vision Special consideration goes to organizations helping "underprivileged or needy people to improve themselves, or to relieve human suffering," particularly programs serving children and families.

6. Leveraging Potential With over 50% of grants on a challenge/match basis, demonstrating ability to leverage the foundation's investment through matching funds or multiplier effects strengthens applications. The Delivering Good grant's 36:1 leverage ratio ($2.7M impact from $75K grant) exemplifies this.

7. Geographic Commitment Organizations must be headquartered in the four-county Central Florida service area and demonstrate commitment to serving local residents.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on capacity building: Frame requests around strengthening organizational infrastructure, management, governance, or leadership rather than program expansion alone
  • Emphasize your "highest and best need": Use this foundation's own language to articulate your most strategic funding priority
  • Demonstrate leverage: Show how the grant will be matched, amplified, or create multiplier effects in the community
  • Prepare for challenge grants: Over 50% of grants require matching funds—build this into your funding strategy and timeline
  • Start with a strong letter of inquiry: Since applications are by invitation only, your initial letter must compellingly demonstrate eligibility, alignment, and impact
  • Highlight innovation: Position your organization as a forward-thinking leader capable of major community progress, not just maintaining services
  • Be patient with relationship building: This is an invitation-only funder serving a defined geographic area—building visibility through other Central Florida philanthropic networks may help
  • Document everything: Progress reports every six months and comprehensive final reports are required; demonstrate strong evaluation capacity in your application

References

← Back to US Funders Directory