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John G Rangos Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $136,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $34.2 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Pennsylvania and Maryland (primarily Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Duquesne, Vandergrift)
  • Application Method: Pre-selected organizations only

Contact Details

Address: 6915 Stone Meadow Dr, Dallas, TX 75230-2379
Phone: (412) 871-6120
Website: rangosfoundation.org
Address (Pittsburgh): 1301 Grandview Avenue, Suite 230, Pittsburgh, PA 15211

Overview

The John G. Rangos Sr. Charitable Foundation was established in 1987 in Pennsylvania by John G. Rangos Sr., a Korean War veteran, entrepreneur, and prominent Pittsburgh philanthropist who passed away in 2021 at age 91. With total assets of $34.2 million as of 2024, the foundation is dedicated to "providing children with a springboard to knowledge through education and good health, so that they may build a blueprint for life." The foundation has made transformational gifts to major institutions including a $15 million endowment for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's Research Center, significant support for Duquesne University's Rangos School of Health Sciences (established 1990), and major contributions to Johns Hopkins University, the Carnegie Science Center, and veterans' organizations. The foundation is now managed by John G. Rangos Sr.'s children—John G. Rangos Jr., Alexander W. Rangos, Jill Rangos, and Jenica Rangos Welch—who serve as trustees without compensation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than open application programs. Historical grants have ranged from $25,000 to $1,500,000+ for major capital projects and endowments.

Application Method: The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. No grants are made to individuals.

Priority Areas

Children and Youth: Pediatric healthcare, child welfare programs, youth development initiatives including the Outdoor Odyssey Leadership Academy in Boswell, PA

Education: Universities and schools, particularly health sciences programs; established the Rangos School of Health Sciences at Duquesne University; supports Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University

Healthcare and Medical Research: UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (namesake research centers in both Oakland and Lawrenceville campuses), Johns Hopkins University medical research, Center for Military Medicine Research at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, cystic fibrosis research

Veterans Support: Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation (co-founded by Rangos Sr. in 1996), programs supporting wounded warriors

Orthodox Christian Causes: International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC, co-founded 1992), St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Community Development: Recreation and trail development in Westmoreland County, PA; cultural institutions like Carnegie Science Center

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Organizations outside their pre-selected network
  • Geographic areas outside Pennsylvania and Maryland focus regions

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all unpaid):

  • John G. Rangos Jr. - Trustee
  • Alexander W. Rangos - Trustee
  • Jill Rangos - Trustee
  • Jenica Rangos Welch - Trustee

The foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of founder John G. Rangos Sr., who said through his work that his mission was to help children through education and health initiatives. Rangos Sr. received numerous awards including "Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year" in 1990 and was elected Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in 1988.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations identified by the trustees. Unsolicited applications are not accepted.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the family's longstanding philanthropic relationships and strategic interests in Pennsylvania and Maryland, particularly the Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has established deep relationships with specific institutions over decades. Organizations the trustees already support or have connections with include:

  • Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh/UPMC - Multi-decade relationship with namesake research centers
  • Duquesne University - Namesake School of Health Sciences established 1990; recent $7.5 million co-gift for medical school (2020)
  • Johns Hopkins University - Major life sciences building support; ongoing metastatic cancer research competitions (Rangos Award)
  • Organizations the Rangos family founded: International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
  • Carnegie Science Center - Rangos Giant Screen Cinema (Omnimax theater)

The foundation's trustees are active in Pittsburgh's philanthropic and business communities. New relationships appear to develop through the trustees' personal involvement in healthcare, education, veterans' affairs, and Orthodox Christian causes.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on a pre-selected, invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Established Relationships Are Essential: The foundation makes grants to organizations where the Rangos family has deep, often decades-long involvement, frequently including board membership or naming opportunities.

Focus on Transformational Impact: Historical grants show preference for major capital projects, endowments, and initiatives that create lasting institutional change (research centers, academic schools, educational programs) rather than annual operating support.

Alignment with Founder's Biography: John G. Rangos Sr.'s Korean War service and immigrant family background influenced the foundation's strong support for veterans' organizations and programs serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Children's Health and Education Nexus: The foundation's mission statement emphasizes the intersection of education and health as foundations for children's success—projects addressing both areas align strongly with their stated purpose.

Pennsylvania/Maryland Geographic Concentration: Despite the Dallas, TX administrative address, virtually all grants support organizations in Pennsylvania (especially Pittsburgh) and Maryland (especially Baltimore).

Multi-Generational Vision: Recent grants (such as the 2020 Duquesne medical school gift and 2021 IOCC matching challenge) show the second generation of trustees continuing the founder's legacy causes while potentially expanding into new initiatives within the same thematic areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process - The foundation only supports pre-selected organizations; unsolicited proposals are not accepted
  • Deep relationship model - Grants flow to organizations where trustees have personal involvement, often spanning decades
  • Significant capital focus - Major gifts for buildings, endowments, and program creation rather than annual operating support
  • Geographic specificity - Focus on Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas despite Texas administrative address
  • Legacy continuation - Children's health, education, veterans, and Orthodox Christian causes remain core priorities under second-generation leadership
  • Major gifts capacity - With $34+ million in assets, the foundation has capacity for transformational seven-figure grants to aligned organizations
  • Family foundation structure - All four trustees are Rangos family members serving without compensation, making decisions together

References

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