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The Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$11.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $25.0M

The Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,951,465 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not formally structured - rolling review
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $25,000,000 (typical community grants $5,000-$10,000; major institutional gifts in millions)
  • Geographic Focus: Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont, with significant support for Dartmouth College
  • Total Assets: $1.64 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: Hanover, NH
EIN: 30-0363118

How to Apply: Send a letter outlining your needs to Dorothy Byrne (mailing address available through public records)
Note: No telephone calls please. No website or public email address.

Overview

The Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation Inc was established in 1999 in Delaware by Dorothy Byrne and her late husband John J. "Jack" Byrne, the legendary insurance executive who rescued GEICO from bankruptcy in 1976 and was described by Warren Buffett as the "Babe Ruth of insurance." Jack Byrne passed away in March 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. Since 2003, the foundation has given away more than $72 million, with the majority supporting nonprofits in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont. In 2007, the foundation absorbed the assets of The Byrne Foundation, Inc. The foundation's giving strategy is notably personal and streamlined, with Dorothy Byrne continuing to lead the foundation from her home in Hanover with the assistance of an accountant and one staff member. The foundation operates with minimal bureaucracy, intentionally designed to relieve small nonprofits of time-consuming grant application burdens. In 2016 alone, the foundation distributed $11.9 million to 358 nonprofits in the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but focuses on three primary areas:

1. Dartmouth College Community Support

  • Major gifts ranging from $2 million to $25 million
  • Recent examples include $25 million for the Byrne Family Cancer Research Institute (2022) and $20 million for the Jack Byrne Scholars Program in Math and Society (2015)
  • Support for campus buildings, academic programs, and student scholarships

2. Cancer Research and Healthcare

  • $10 million for the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (2014)
  • $2 million operating endowment for the Palliative Care Center (2021)
  • $25 million for Byrne Family Cancer Research Institute at Norris Cotton Cancer Center (2022)
  • Matching grants for cancer research fundraising events

3. Upper Valley Community Nonprofits

  • Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines
  • Typical grants: $5,000-$10,000 for community organizations
  • Supports hundreds of organizations annually across social services, arts, education, housing, and community development
  • Application method: simple one-page letter describing needs

Priority Areas

  • Social Services: Homeless shelters, low-income housing, food security programs
  • Healthcare: Medical facilities, palliative care, cancer research
  • Education: Schools, educational programs, scholarship support
  • Arts & Culture: Museums, cultural organizations, restoration projects
  • Community Development: Upper Valley organizations serving local residents

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the foundation focuses exclusively on:

  • Upper Valley region of NH/VT (with exceptions for Dartmouth College and cancer research)
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • Organizations demonstrating efforts to raise funds from other sources

Governance and Leadership

Dorothy Byrne - Founder and Leader
Dorothy Byrne personally reviews all grant requests and makes funding decisions. She is described as "a wise thinker and caring philanthropist committed to the well-being of the Upper Valley community" who believes that "community is at the heart of the well-being of people." She operates with a low profile, and many organizations she has supported for years have never met her in person. She designed the simplified application process to reduce burdens on small nonprofits.

Robert Snyder - Accountant/Director
Assists with foundation administration and has stated: "There's no intention for anything to change from the pattern that's been going on."

Background on Jack Byrne (1931-2013):
Jack Byrne was CEO of GEICO starting in 1976, where he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround that caught Warren Buffett's attention and led to Berkshire Hathaway's eventual acquisition of the company. His board memberships included American Express, Martin Marietta, The International Special Olympics, and The National Symphony Orchestra. The foundation received its largest contribution of $42.2 million in 2013, the year of his death.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The application process is intentionally simple and personal:

  1. Write a one-page letter outlining your organization's needs
  2. Mail the letter to Dorothy Byrne in Hanover, NH
  3. No telephone calls - the foundation requests written communication only
  4. No application deadline - rolling review throughout the year
  5. No follow-up reporting required - operates on an "honor system"

There are no formal application forms, no online portal, and no website. The simple process was designed by Dorothy Byrne to reduce administrative burdens on small nonprofits that typically operate with limited staff.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no structured timeline. Decisions are made by Dorothy Byrne as she reviews letters. No specific decision timeframes are publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

In 2016, the foundation awarded grants to 358 organizations. In 2015, 323 organizations received funding. Success rates and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received funding can and do receive support in subsequent years. Many Upper Valley nonprofits have been beneficiaries since the 1990s, indicating that repeat funding is welcomed. No waiting periods or restrictions on reapplication are documented.

Application Success Factors

Based on documented funding patterns and statements from foundation representatives and grant recipients, the following factors appear important:

1. Demonstrate Fundraising Efforts from Other Sources
Dorothy Byrne prefers to support organizations that are actively seeking funding from multiple sources rather than relying solely on the foundation. The foundation frequently uses matching grant strategies to incentivize broader fundraising.

Example: The foundation provided a $500,000 matching grant for the Prouty fundraiser supporting Norris Cotton Cancer Center and offered to match Upper Valley Haven donations dollar-for-dollar up to $200,000.

2. Geographic Alignment
Strong preference for Upper Valley organizations serving local communities in New Hampshire and Vermont. As one source noted, "grants each year help literally hundreds of community organizations across the Upper Valley."

3. Keep it Simple and Genuine
According to Dolores Struckhoff of the Enfield Shaker Museum: "She works it like an honor system." A one-page letter is sufficient - extensive proposals are not necessary or expected.

4. Community Focus
The foundation values organizations that strengthen community well-being. Dorothy Byrne's stated belief that "community is at the heart of the well-being of people" guides funding decisions.

5. Operating on a Shoestring
The simplified process was specifically designed to help small nonprofits with limited administrative capacity, suggesting these organizations are priority recipients.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Upper Valley Haven (annual support covering 8-10% of budget, hundreds of thousands annually since 1993)
  • Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care ($10 million capital, $2 million endowment)
  • Byrne Family Cancer Research Institute ($25 million in 2022)
  • Jack Byrne Scholars Program in Math and Society at Dartmouth ($20 million in 2015)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Keep it brief: A one-page letter describing your needs is sufficient and preferred over lengthy proposals
  • Emphasize fundraising efforts: Show that you're actively seeking support from multiple sources - the foundation favors matching grants
  • Geographic fit matters: Unless you're Dartmouth College or working in cancer research, you should be serving the Upper Valley region of NH/VT
  • No follow-up burden: The foundation operates on an honor system with no reporting requirements, making it an efficient funder for small organizations
  • Be patient and persistent: The foundation supports many organizations year after year - building a relationship over time is valued
  • Demonstrate community impact: Align your request with the foundation's core belief that community is central to well-being
  • Respect the process: No phone calls - submit your letter and wait for a response without follow-up pressure

References

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