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BLBB Charitable (formerly Cedarcrest Charitable Foundation)

Annual Giving
$1.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,568,328 (2024)
  • Total Granted Since 2010: Over $12 million
  • Grant Range: Varies by program; average grant size approximately $8,060
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Philadelphia region, with priority on northeastern Montgomery County and lower Bucks County
  • Application Method: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) reviewed monthly, then invitation to full proposal
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board meetings throughout the year

Contact Details

Overview

BLBB Charitable, formerly known as the Cedarcrest Charitable Foundation (EIN: 27-3420282), was founded in 2010 by Franklin A. Burke and his wife Elizabeth Burke to support organizations they were involved with. After Frank Burke's passing and a subsequent endowment, the foundation expanded its programs and was renamed BLBB Charitable in 2018, becoming the "Giving Arm of BLBB Advisors." With total assets of approximately $39 million and annual giving of $1.6 million (2024), the foundation operates on a guiding principle that "when given the right tools, resources, and opportunities, individuals are more capable than they think." BLBB Charitable emphasizes trust-based philanthropy through relationship-building and flexible, often multi-year, general operating support to help nonprofit partners plan, budget, and innovate effectively.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Education & Leadership Impact Grants ($686,500 in 2024) The foundation's primary competitive grant program focused on:

  • Youth Development & Leadership: Programs for middle through high school youth providing academic enrichment, character, and leadership development, with priority to organizations removing barriers for disadvantaged youth
  • College Access & Post-Secondary Opportunities: Programs assisting disadvantaged youth in navigating college applications and alternative post-secondary pathways
  • Economic Self-Sufficiency: Programs working deeply with individuals and families over time to break cycles of poverty with intergenerational impact
  • K-12 Educational Opportunities: Support for private K-8th grade tuition-based schools serving under-resourced families
  • Local Environmental Education: Environmental education programs in the local service area

Burke Family Legacy Grants ($330,000 in 2024) For organizations with long-standing partnerships with the Burke family.

BLBB Advisors Programs (Employee-focused)

  • Employee Matching Grants ($111,729 in 2024)
  • Board and Volunteer Service Incentive Grants
  • Corporate Citizenship Grants ($85,600 in 2024)

Board Discretionary Grants ($250,000 in 2024)

Priority Areas

  • Youth development and leadership for middle through high school students
  • Breaking cycles of poverty through programs working with family systems
  • Educational access for disadvantaged youth
  • Environmental education in Greater Philadelphia
  • Economic empowerment and financial literacy
  • Programs serving northeastern Montgomery County and lower Bucks County

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Private foundations
  • Supporting organizations
  • Organizations with primary political or religious missions
  • Organizations without at least two consecutive Form 990s filed with the IRS

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Clifford P. Haugen, CFA - President and Board Chair
  • Laura W. Brewer - Director
  • Diana Loukedis Doherty - Director
  • W. Dean Karrash - Director
  • John T. Lawton - Director

All board members serve without compensation.

Executive Leadership:

  • Nicole G. Tell, CAP - Executive Director

Family Council: The Burke family maintains involvement through a Family Council that participates in governance.

Quote from Leadership: Clifford P. Haugen stated: "We know the importance of helping citizens become both financially educated and financially healthy" when discussing the foundation's partnership with Clarifi to bring financial counseling services to Montgomery County families.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Organizations meeting eligibility criteria must first submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online system at https://fsrequests.com/blbb. BLBB Charitable reviews newly submitted LOIs monthly and notifies organizations if they have been selected to submit a full application.

Important Notes:

  • Current or recent grantees should email charitable@blbb.com before submitting an LOI
  • Do not send additional materials unless requested
  • Due to multi-year commitments to several organizations, BLBB Charitable is limited in the number of new grantees it can consider each year

Step 2: Full Proposal (by invitation only)

For requests greater than $15,000 or for multi-year support, full proposals must adhere to quarterly deadlines:

  • Q1: February 20 deadline (Board Meeting: March)
  • Q2: May 15 deadline (Board Meeting: June)
  • Q3: August 14 deadline (Board Meeting: September)
  • Q4: November 6 deadline (Board Meeting: December)

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed monthly at the LOI stage. Invited full proposals are reviewed quarterly by the Board of Trustees, with board meetings held in March, June, September, and December. Organizations can expect notification following board meetings.

Success Rates

In 2024, BLBB Charitable awarded 215 grants totaling $1,568,328, with 155 grants made in 2022 totaling $2.05 million. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed, but the foundation notes that it has limited capacity for new grantees due to multi-year commitments to existing partners.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly stated. Organizations should contact charitable@blbb.com for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Multi-Year Funding Emphasis

BLBB Charitable prioritizes trust-based philanthropy and relationship-building. The majority of their grants are for general operating support over three consecutive years, allowing organizations to plan, budget, and innovate. Organizations seeking long-term partnership rather than one-time funding may be more competitive.

Organizations Recently Funded

Understanding BLBB Charitable's recent grantees provides insight into their priorities:

Youth Development/Leadership Partners (Multi-Year):

  • Philadelphia Outward Bound
  • Girls on the Run Southeastern Suburban PA
  • Snider Youth Hockey and Education
  • SquashSmarts
  • Starfinder Foundation

Economic Self-Sufficiency Partners:

  • ACHIEVEability
  • Bucks County Opportunity Center
  • Clarifi (Delaware Valley's largest provider of financial and housing empowerment services)
  • Women's Way

Education:

  • Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia (K-8th grade tuition access)

Environmental Education:

  • Mercer Museum
  • Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust
  • Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
  • Elmwood Park Zoo

Geographic Alignment

Priority is given to organizations serving northeastern Montgomery County and lower Bucks County, where BLBB Advisors' employees and clients reside. While exceptions are considered, strong local connection improves competitiveness.

Demonstrated Impact and Strategy

BLBB Charitable emphasizes that they "make investments in nonprofit organizations whose creative approach and sound strategies yield meaningful and measurable outcomes for the people they serve." Applications should clearly articulate innovative approaches and expected measurable outcomes.

Capacity Building Support

The foundation considers requests for capacity-building projects and is willing to support multi-year initiatives that require longer duration to realize impact.

Alignment with Core Philosophy

Programs should align with BLBB Charitable's belief that "individuals can and should be accountable for fulfilling their civic duty to better themselves and the greater community" and that "individuals are more capable than they think when given the right tools, resources, and opportunities."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multi-year focus: BLBB Charitable strongly prefers multi-year general operating support over one-time project grants, reflecting their trust-based philanthropy approach
  • Geographic priority critical: Organizations serving northeastern Montgomery County and lower Bucks County have the strongest chance of funding
  • Limited new grantee capacity: Due to multi-year commitments, the foundation can only accept a limited number of new partners annually—apply strategically
  • LOI screening is competitive: Monthly LOI review means only selected organizations are invited to submit full proposals, so the LOI must be compelling and aligned
  • Measurable outcomes matter: Emphasize creative approaches and measurable results in applications, as the foundation views grants as "investments" requiring return
  • Eligibility is strict: Must have at least two consecutive Form 990s and be current with IRS filings—newer organizations need not apply
  • Employee connection helps: The foundation supports employee giving and volunteerism; organizations where BLBB Advisors employees are involved may have an advantage

References

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