Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $2-2.5 million
- Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: $100,000 - $200,000+ (multi-year commitments available)
- Geographic Focus: Greater Philadelphia area and Puerto Rico
Contact Details
Address: 17 Dartmouth Lane, Haverford, PA 19041-1019
Phone: 610-937-0517
Website: No public website
Email: Not publicly available
Overview
The Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation is a private family foundation established by John Chappell with assets of approximately $56 million as of 2024. The foundation distributes roughly $2-2.5 million annually to preselected charitable organizations, focusing on creating upward mobility for under-resourced youth through education and healthcare initiatives. Operating primarily in the Greater Philadelphia area and Puerto Rico, the foundation views education as the primary pathway to middle-class life for bright, under-resourced young people. Led by President/CEO Jennifer Paradis Behle, the foundation has established long-term partnerships with institutions like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College, and The Haverford School.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation focuses on three interconnected areas:
- Education: $100,000-$200,000+ for scholarships, STEM programs, and educational support services
- Healthcare Workforce Development: $99,925+ for training programs and medical education scholarships
- Youth Development: Variable amounts for programs supporting under-resourced youth
Priority Areas
- Educational opportunities for students of color and those facing financial barriers
- Healthcare workforce training programs
- STEM education initiatives
- Support services that remove barriers to education and healthcare access
- Programs serving communities in Greater Philadelphia and Puerto Rico
What They Don't Fund
- Unsolicited requests
- Organizations outside their preselected network
- Programs outside Greater Philadelphia area and Puerto Rico (except limited grants in DC, Florida, and New York)
Governance and Leadership
Founder: John Chappell
President/CEO: Jennifer Paradis Behle (compensation: $240,000 in 2024)
Board Members: Mary Lou Chappell, Eric Chappell, Tim Behle
The foundation's leadership maintains a focused approach to philanthropy, with the founder's vision of education as the pathway to upward mobility guiding all grant decisions.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at trustee discretion to organizations already known to the foundation.
Getting on Their Radar
Based on documented grant patterns, the foundation identifies new grantees through:
- Board member connections in the Greater Philadelphia education and healthcare sectors
- Existing partnerships that lead to referrals (particularly through CHOP and local educational institutions)
- Long-standing relationships with community organizations serving under-resourced youth
Organizations working in education, healthcare workforce development, or youth services in Greater Philadelphia or Puerto Rico may benefit from building relationships with current grantees who could facilitate introductions.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly available - decisions made at trustee discretion
Success Rates
Not applicable - invitation-only process
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - ongoing relationships with preselected organizations
Application Success Factors
Based on the foundation's documented grant patterns and priorities:
- Demonstrated impact on under-resourced youth: All successful grantees show clear pathways to educational or career advancement for disadvantaged populations
- Focus on systemic barriers: Programs that address financial, language, or social barriers to education and healthcare receive priority
- Greater Philadelphia or Puerto Rico connection: Nearly all grants go to organizations serving these specific geographic areas
- Measurable outcomes: Recipients like DCCC and WPSI demonstrate specific metrics (e.g., number of students served, completion rates)
- Long-term partnership potential: The foundation maintains multi-year relationships with key partners like CHOP and The Haverford School
- Alignment with education-to-employment pipeline: Programs that create clear pathways from education to sustainable careers are favored
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- This is an invitation-only funder - no public application process exists
- Building relationships with current grantees may be the only pathway to consideration
- Focus areas are highly specific: education and healthcare for under-resourced youth in Greater Philadelphia and Puerto Rico
- The foundation makes substantial, often multi-year commitments to trusted partners
- Programs must demonstrate clear pathways to upward mobility through education
- Healthcare workforce development is a growing priority area
- Consider partnering with existing grantees like DCCC, CHOP, or The Haverford School on collaborative initiatives
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation Form 990 Data (Accessed January 2025): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/256727111
- Delaware County Community College Press Release - "$99,925 Grant from Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation" (December 2024): https://www.dccc.edu/news/dccc-receives-99925-grant-from-chappell-culpeper-family-foundationto-support-scholarships-in-health-care-fields/
- Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia - Foundation Profile (Accessed January 2025): https://philanthropynetwork.org/redhen/org/232
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Center for Microbial Medicine Announcement (January 2025)
- The Haverford School - Capital Priorities and Endowment Information (Accessed January 2025): https://www.haverford.org/support-haverford/capital-priorities
- Charity Navigator - Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation Profile (Accessed January 2025): https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/256727111
- GuideStar - Foundation Profile (Accessed January 2025): https://www.guidestar.org/profile/25-6727111
- Cause IQ - Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation Data (Accessed January 2025): https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/chappell-culpeper-family-foundation,256727111/