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Stewart J. Rahr Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $2.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,418,589 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Response times vary; "takes a while to respond"
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,500,000 (typically $10,000 - $100,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily U.S., with concentration in Northeastern states

Contact Details

Address: 725 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Phone: 212-724-7241

Email: info@rahrfoundation.org

Website: https://www.rahrfoundation.org

Overview

The Stewart J. Rahr Foundation was established in 2011 by billionaire philanthropist Stewart Rahr following the sale of his pharmaceutical wholesaling company, Kinray Inc., to Cardinal Health for $1.3 billion in 2010. The foundation focuses on supporting youth, education, and medical research, with disease research accounting for more than half of its annual giving. In 2023, the foundation awarded $5.4 million in grants to 20 organizations. The foundation takes a proactive approach to grantmaking, with the majority of funding staff-identified, though it does accept unsolicited applications through an online form. Stewart Rahr, who suffered from polio as a child, is particularly moved by causes related to children's health and has become the largest donor in Make-A-Wish Foundation history with a $10 million pledge to Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on a rolling basis with online applications accepted throughout the year. While most funding is staff-identified and proactive, qualified 501(c)(3) organizations may submit applications via the foundation's website.

Grant Range:

  • Minimum: $5,000
  • Maximum: $2,500,000
  • Typical Range: $10,000 - $100,000
  • Multi-million dollar grants occasionally awarded to major disease research organizations

Priority Areas

Disease Research and Medical (Primary Focus - over 50% of giving):

  • Prostate cancer research and treatment
  • Melanoma research
  • Kidney diseases (including NephCure Foundation)
  • AIDS research and treatment
  • Lyme disease research
  • General medical research initiatives

Other Funding Areas:

  • Youth organizations and programs
  • Education initiatives
  • Jewish causes and organizations
  • Veterans causes and services
  • Music and art therapies
  • Children's wish-granting programs

Geographic Focus:

  • Primarily supports U.S.-based organizations
  • Strong focus on Northeastern United States
  • Kinray's historical service area (served over 2,000 pharmacies in the Northeast)

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct grants to individuals (as a private foundation, they can only fund 501(c)(3) organizations)
  • Organizations not in compliance with 501(c)(3) requirements
  • Organizations not aligned with the foundation's mission of supporting youth, education, and medical research

Governance and Leadership

Founder: Stewart J. Rahr - Billionaire philanthropist and former owner of Kinray Inc., the largest privately owned pharmaceutical distributor in the world. Rahr graduated from New York University and briefly attended NYU Law School before taking over his family's pharmacy business. Under his leadership, the business grew from $50,000 in sales to over $5 billion in annual revenues by 2010.

Leadership Philosophy: Stewart Rahr has stated, "Each day of my life I am guided by the reality, sadly to say, that tomorrow I will have one less day to make a difference in this world." He also noted, "I just feel that I'm compelled; that I have a responsibility to give back to those less fortunate."

Management: The foundation's assets are managed by an executive management team and staff who proactively identify the majority of funding opportunities. Public records indicate the foundation has professional staff but specific names and titles of board members or trustees are not publicly disclosed.

Giving Approach: Stewart Rahr is known for responsive and immediate philanthropy. In one documented instance, upon hearing about an 8-year-old with kidney disease, he "donated $100,000 on the spot to the Nephcure Foundation. No hesitation whatsoever, no questions asked."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis through an online grant application form available on their website at www.rahrfoundation.org.

Application Steps:

  1. Complete the online grant application form with all required fields
  2. Ensure your organization is a 501(c)(3) in good standing
  3. Verify alignment with the foundation's mission and vision
  4. Submit application through the website
  5. Receive email confirmation that your request has been reviewed

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) organization in good standing
  • Must align with foundation's purpose, mission, and vision
  • Applications accepted without discrimination based on age, race, disability, religion, sex, or national origin

Important Note: While the foundation accepts unsolicited applications, the majority of their funding is proactive and staff-identified. According to Inside Philanthropy, applicants "may need to connect with foundation staff through other avenues to be recognized."

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. After submission, applicants receive prompt email confirmation that their request has been reviewed. However, the foundation is described as "a relatively approachable funder but takes a while to respond." Specific timeframes for final decisions are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

2023: 20 grants awarded 2022: 61 grants awarded 2021: 24 grants awarded

Specific application-to-award ratios and success percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is publicly documented. Organizations are encouraged to contact foundation staff directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Core Priorities: Disease research organizations, particularly those focused on prostate cancer, melanoma, kidney disease, AIDS, and Lyme disease, receive the largest grants. The foundation has provided a $5 million gift supporting the largest international team of scientists in the history of prostate cancer studying the genomics of aggressive disease.

Organizational Size Considerations:

  • Large, established disease research organizations tend to receive multi-year funding in the millions
  • In non-health areas (education, Jewish causes, veterans, arts), the foundation tends to support smaller organizations with which staff likely maintain personal connections

Connection to Foundation Values: Stewart Rahr's personal experiences, particularly suffering from polio as a child, influence his giving. He is especially moved by causes related to children's health and wellbeing.

Demonstrated Impact: Recent notable recipients include:

  • Prostate Cancer Foundation (millions in multi-year support)
  • Melanoma Research Alliance Foundation
  • FasterCures
  • NephCure Foundation
  • Global Lyme Alliance
  • Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR)
  • Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York ($10 million historic pledge)

Staff Relationships: Given that the majority of funding is staff-identified and proactive, establishing connections with foundation staff is valuable. The foundation invites grantseekers to complete their contact form but notes that connecting through other avenues may be beneficial.

Quick Response to Compelling Cases: Stewart Rahr is known for immediate, responsive giving when moved by specific cases, as evidenced by his on-the-spot $100,000 donation to NephCure Foundation upon hearing about a child with kidney disease.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Proactive Grantmaking Dominates: Most funding is staff-identified rather than application-driven; building relationships with foundation staff is valuable
  • Disease Research Priority: Over 50% of giving goes to disease research, with multi-million dollar grants available for established research organizations in prostate cancer, melanoma, kidney disease, AIDS, and Lyme disease
  • Size Matters by Sector: Large grants ($100,000+) typically go to major health research organizations, while smaller grants support education, veterans, Jewish causes, and arts programs
  • Rolling Basis: No deadlines mean you can apply anytime, but expect longer response times
  • Personal Connection: Stewart Rahr's personal experiences (polio as a child, pharmaceutical background) influence giving priorities; causes related to children's health resonate strongly
  • 501(c)(3) Requirement: Only organizations in good standing with IRS compliance can receive grants; no grants to individuals
  • Multi-Year Potential: Leading recipients receive ongoing, multi-year support rather than one-time grants

References

Quote sources:

  • Stewart Rahr quote "Each day of my life I am guided by the reality..." from 2013 Make-A-Wish Foundation event
  • Stewart Rahr quote "I just feel that I'm compelled..." from philanthropic profile
  • $100,000 on-the-spot donation to NephCure Foundation documented in philanthropic profiles
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