Ruggles Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and gives by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; look for an introduction or an existing connection before approaching it.
- Its grants span schools, universities, hospitals, museums, libraries, performing arts groups, food assistance charities and conservation organisations, so organisations in those areas will recognise the pattern, but the filing states no geographic focus and no subject-specific eligibility criteria.
- A request in the typical band of $1,000 to $50,000 is realistic, since about 8 in 10 grants fall in it and the median grant was $10,000, though the largest grant was $400,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat giving is a strong feature: 83% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups the foundation had funded in earlier filings, so building a relationship over time is worth the effort.
Overview
Ruggles Family Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Bessemer Trust Company of Florida, in Garden City, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grant record shows grants going to public charities across varied areas rather than a single named purpose. Recipients include schools and universities, hospitals, a research institute, museums, libraries, performing arts groups, food assistance charities and conservation organisations. The filed purpose for nearly all grants is general purpose, so the filings do not identify the specific activity supported by each award. The grant record places recipients in numerous states, rather than setting out an applicant-location boundary. It does not state subject-specific eligibility criteria.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland and Virginia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 276 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 11%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations Ruggles Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 94 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Plummer Youth Promise · General purpose$400,0002024 tax year
- J. Craig Venter Institute · General purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- Rudy Ruggles Jr. Family Fund - Bessemer Giving Fund · General purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- The Mentor Group · General purpose$100,0002024 tax year
- University of Richmond · General purpose$75,0002024 tax year
- Hotchkiss School · General purpose$75,0002024 tax year
- A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut · General purpose$75,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts General Hospital · General purpose$60,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Whitney R Savignano — Co-Trustee
- Leslie R Rylee — Co-Trustee
- Rudy L Ruggles JR — Co-Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,506,294 | $1,372,200 | $26,408,619 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,872,390 | $2,661,878 | $32,656,151 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,773,812 | $2,444,700 | $39,929,872 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Ruggles Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Garden City, NY (office of its trustee, Bessemer Trust Company of Florida)
Applying to Ruggles Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Garden City, NY (office of its trustee, Bessemer Trust Company of Florida)