Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 26-1624907
• Annual Giving: $1,550,750 (2023)
• Total Assets: $43,024,016
• Grant Awards: 37 (2023)
• Average Grant Size: ~$41,912
• Geographic Focus: National (15 states including Arizona, California, Texas, and major urban centers)
• Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Mailing Address: c/o Bessemer Trust, Chevy Chase, MD

Website: https://sullivanfamilycharitablefoundation.org/

Note: The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Overview

The Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 with a visionary seed gift from founders Patrick J. Sullivan and Carolyn H. Sullivan, both former public school teachers now based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. With assets exceeding $43 million, the foundation awarded $1,550,750 across 37 grants in 2023. The foundation transforms lives by funding programs and institutions that advance opportunity and equity for individuals, families, and communities, with a particular focus on multilingual education. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Margaret Marcus, appointed for her expertise in applied linguistics and dual-language education, the foundation champions "relational philanthropy" - forging lasting partnerships through multi-year grant commitments that nurture environments where creative solutions meet real-world challenges in education and immigrant support. The foundation supports initiatives across 15 states, partnering with organizations like Latinos for Education and the International Rescue Committee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through strategic, multi-year partnerships rather than discrete grant programs. Their approach focuses on sustained support to preselected organizations aligned with their mission.

Primary Focus Areas:

• Multilingual Education: Initiatives that improve outcomes for multilingual learner (MLL) students, with preference for two-way immersion programs
• Teacher Pipeline Development: Programs that increase the teacher candidate pool for bilingual teachers with strong, inclusive skill sets
• Dual Language Programs: Support for dual language lab classrooms and professional development in urban public schools

Secondary Focus Areas (in honor of personal passions and family legacy):

• Arts and Culture: Select organizations including Boston Symphony Orchestra, Glen Echo Park Partnership, and Evanston Dance Ensemble
• Veterans Support: Including the 1st Lt. Scott Milley Fund (Sudbury, MA)
• Immigrant and Refugee Services: Supporting efforts for refugees and displaced people to live with dignity in the United States or Mexico
• Community Well-being: Programs serving vulnerable and traditionally marginalized populations

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations that:

• Promote increased and equitable access for multilingual learners to high-quality education programs, with preference for two-way immersion
• Train teachers with strong and inclusive skill sets to meet the needs of multilingual learners
• Use art and creativity to improve mental health and emotional well-being
• Provide services to vulnerable and traditionally marginalized populations, including underserved communities, women, immigrants, and veterans
• Create dynamic learning environments through innovative dual-language programs and professional development

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly specify exclusions, but their model inherently excludes:

• Organizations outside their preselected portfolio
• Unsolicited applications from new organizations
• Programs not aligned with their core focus on multilingual education, immigrant support, arts/culture, or veterans services

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Trustees:

• Patrick J. Sullivan: Co-founder and trustee (serves without compensation); former public school teacher
• Carolyn H. Sullivan: Co-founder and trustee (serves without compensation); former full-time substitute teacher for San Diego Public Schools, grew up in a family of nine with a French teacher mother and UCC minister father, bringing a deep love of travel and languages to the foundation's mission

Executive Leadership:

• Dr. Margaret Marcus, Ph.D.: Executive Director, appointed for her professional expertise and passion for education, especially in multilingual and dual-language contexts. She holds a Master in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts and a Ph.D. from the Applied Linguistics and Language Education program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her dissertation explored stakeholder perspectives on equitable access to dual language programs. Previously worked as a bilingual teacher and instructional coach.

Administrative Support: The foundation utilizes Bessemer Trust for administrative management.

Foundation Philosophy: "We actively support our grantees through board service, site visits, and professional expertise. Our multi-year grant commitments are designed to move the needle where it matters most."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through:

• Trustee discretion and identification
• Pre-existing relationships and partnerships
• Strategic alignment with the foundation's mission identified by leadership

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations working in their focus areas may increase visibility through:

Sector Engagement: Dr. Margaret Marcus is an active voice in the multilingual education community. She has presented at The Principal Center on dual-language immersion programs and teacher pipelines, and maintains professional involvement in applied linguistics and language education networks. Organizations might encounter foundation leadership at conferences and events focused on multilingual education, dual-language programs, and English learner advocacy.

Known Partnerships: The foundation has publicly acknowledged partnerships with Latinos for Education and the International Rescue Committee, suggesting they value organizations with strong track records in multilingual education and immigrant services. Understanding their existing portfolio may provide insights into the types of organizations they support.

Multi-Year Commitment Model: The foundation emphasizes "relational philanthropy" with multi-year grants, suggesting they seek deep, sustained partnerships rather than one-off funding relationships. Organizations should be prepared for long-term engagement if they do establish a relationship.

Geographic Presence: With 37 grants across 15 states (including Arizona, California, Texas, and major urban centers like New York, Chicago, and Boston), the foundation has a national footprint while maintaining some geographic concentrations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder making decisions at trustee discretion, there are no published deadlines or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so traditional success rates cannot be calculated.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot submit initial applications, so reapplication policies are not relevant.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Already in Relationship with the Foundation:

Based on the foundation's stated values and approach, organizations that succeed likely demonstrate:

1. Alignment with Multilingual Education: "We support efforts to improve outcomes for multilingual learner students and increase the teacher candidate pool for bilingual teachers." Programs with strong two-way immersion components appear particularly valued.

2. Commitment to Equity: The foundation explicitly seeks to "advance opportunity and equity for individuals, families, and communities," particularly for "vulnerable and traditionally marginalized populations, including underserved communities, women, immigrants, and veterans."

3. Openness to Partnership: The foundation states: "We actively support our grantees through board service, site visits, and professional expertise." Organizations must be prepared for engaged partnership, not just financial transactions.

4. Evidence-Based Approaches: With Executive Director Dr. Margaret Marcus's Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, the foundation likely values programs grounded in research on bilingual education and dual-language acquisition.

5. Capacity for Multi-Year Engagement: The foundation explicitly commits to "multi-year grants" and "lasting partnerships," suggesting they seek established organizations with infrastructure to sustain long-term initiatives.

6. Innovation in Practice: The foundation supports "environments where creative solutions meet real-world challenges," indicating appreciation for innovative approaches to persistent problems in multilingual education.

7. Urban Education Focus: References to "professional development programs in urban public schools" and "dual language lab classrooms" suggest particular interest in urban education settings.

Foundation's Own Words:

• "We champion relational philanthropy by forging lasting partnerships, committing to multi-year grants, and nurturing environments where creative solutions meet real-world challenges in education and immigrant support."
• Their approach involves "supporting organizations that provide services to vulnerable and traditionally marginalized populations"
• They value programs that "promote increased and equitable access for multilingual learners (MLLs) to high-quality education programs, with a preference for two-way immersion"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-Only Model: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant writing to this funder is not possible without prior relationship or trustee identification.

• Multilingual Education Focus: Over 90% of their work centers on improving outcomes for multilingual learners and building bilingual teacher pipelines - organizations outside this space are unlikely to be considered unless they fall into the arts/culture, veterans, or immigrant services categories tied to family legacy.

• Relational Philanthropy: The foundation seeks deep, multi-year partnerships with board service and site visits, not transactional one-time grants. Organizations must be prepared for sustained engagement.

• Leadership Expertise Matters: With Dr. Margaret Marcus's Ph.D. in applied linguistics and specific focus on dual-language programs, the foundation brings sophisticated understanding of multilingual education research and best practices.

• Geographic Reach: While based in Maryland, the foundation funds nationally across 15 states with concentration in major urban areas, demonstrating willingness to support quality work regardless of location.

• Average Grant Size: With $1.55M distributed across 37 grants, the average award is approximately $42,000, though actual grant sizes likely vary significantly based on organization size and project scope.

• Network Engagement: Organizations serious about connecting with this foundation should engage in multilingual education networks where Dr. Marcus and the foundation are active, building reputation and relationships over time rather than seeking direct solicitation.

References

• Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation official website: https://sullivanfamilycharitablefoundation.org/ (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation - What We Stand For: https://sullivanfamilycharitablefoundation.org/what-we-stand-for/ (accessed February 25, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/261624907 (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/261624907-sullivan-family-charitable-foundation/ (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Cause IQ - Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/sullivan-family-charitable-foundation,261624907/ (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory - Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation C/o Bessemer Trust: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=SULL105 (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/sullivan-family-charitable-foundation (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Dr. Maggie Marcus - The Century Foundation: https://tcf.org/experts/dr-maggie-marcus/ (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Margaret Sullivan Marcus - The Principal Center: https://www.principalcenter.com/margaret-sullivan-marcus-dual-language-immersion-programs-teacher-pipelines/ (accessed February 25, 2026)
• Dr. Margaret Marcus LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-marcus-ph-d-8547b450/ (accessed February 25, 2026)