Tull Fam Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $11,268,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $20,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Pittsburgh PA, Los Angeles CA, North American West

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.tullfamilyfoundation.com/
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Address: 227 W Monroe St Ste 5000, Chicago, IL 60606

Overview

The Tull Family Foundation, established as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation in 2013, is led by founders Thomas J. Tull and Alba V. Tull. With annual giving of $11.3 million in 2024 across 26 grants, the foundation focuses on advancing innovative ideas in education, conservation, and medical research. The foundation has made significant investments in Pittsburgh-area education and athletics, including a $20 million gift to Sewickley Academy and over $2 million supporting high school athletics in underserved communities. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, strategically identifying organizations that align with their mission of supporting groundbreaking work that traditional funders might overlook.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Team UP Initiative: $2,000,000+ (Supporting high school athletics in 9 Allegheny County school districts)
• Equipment Grant Program: Partnership with Pitch In For Baseball & Softball providing equipment to economically disadvantaged youth
• Fields for Kids: Partnership with Pirates Charities for field construction and maintenance
• Direct Institutional Grants: $100,000 - $20,000,000 (invitation-only)

Priority Areas

• Education: Grades 6-12 in economically challenged communities, emphasis on sports as educational tools
• Conservation: North American West and Greater Pittsburgh region wildlife and ecosystem protection
• Medical/Scientific Research: Pediatric neuroscience, infectious diseases, Rett syndrome research

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited requests
• Organizations outside their three focus areas
• Projects without innovative or groundbreaking components

Governance and Leadership

Thomas J. Tull (Co-Founder/Co-Trustee): Serves on boards of Carnegie Mellon University, Yellowstone Forever, and Baseball Hall of Fame. "Education is the great equalizer. Not only my education, but the expansion of my horizons and imagination about what was possible."

Alba V. Tull (Co-Founder/Co-Trustee): Chairs the foundation and serves on Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation Board, Rett Syndrome Research Trust Board, Carnegie Science Center, and The Jackie Robinson Foundation. "Our family is committed to supporting efforts across the education, medical and life science research, sports and conservation service sectors."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Medical and scientific research grants are primarily initiated by the founders. Organizations are identified through board connections, strategic partnerships, and founder networks.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies beneficiaries through several documented pathways:

• Board connections at Carnegie Mellon University, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Yellowstone Forever, and other institutions where the Tulls serve
• Partnership programs like Pirates Charities "Fields for Kids" and Pitch In For Baseball & Softball serve as entry points for youth sports organizations
• The foundation uses U.S. Census data to identify underserved communities for programs like Team UP Initiative
• Alba Tull has stated that personal connections matter - her involvement with Rett Syndrome research began through a friend whose daughter was diagnosed
• Geographic proximity to Pittsburgh or Los Angeles increases visibility, as the foundation actively monitors local needs

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations that have successfully received funding share these characteristics:

• Direct alignment with one of the three core focus areas, particularly combining education with athletics
• Located in or serving Pittsburgh/Allegheny County or Los Angeles communities
• Proposing innovative approaches that traditional funders might not support
• Connected through existing board relationships or partnership programs
• Serving economically disadvantaged populations with measurable impact potential
• The foundation particularly values programs that use sports as vehicles for education and community development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - focus efforts on relationship building through board connections and partnership programs
• Strong geographic preference for Pittsburgh area ($2M+ Team UP Initiative, multiple school grants) and Los Angeles
• Education grants often incorporate athletics - the foundation sees sports as powerful educational tools
• Medical research focus is highly specific: pediatric neuroscience, infectious diseases, and Rett syndrome
• Foundation makes very large grants ($1-20 million) to organizations with proven alignment
• Multi-year relationships are common - USA Basketball Foundation and Rett Syndrome Research Trust have received multiple grants
• Innovation and addressing gaps in traditional funding are key values

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Tull Fam Foundation Profile (EIN: 35-6932298), accessed February 2024
• Tull Family Foundation official website - https://www.tullfamilyfoundation.com/, accessed February 2024
• USA Basketball Foundation press releases on $5M (2025) and $3.5M (2022) gifts
• UPMC Children's Hospital Foundation announcement of $1M gift for Children's Neuroscience Institute (2022)
• Yellowstone Forever press release on $1M conservation gift
• Rett Syndrome Research Trust announcements on $1M (2021) and $500,000 (2023) grants
• Pittsburgh-area school district announcements on Team UP Initiative grants (2024)
• Pirates Charities Fields for Kids partnership announcements (2020)
• Pitch In For Baseball & Softball partnership providing $400,000 in equipment since 2018
• Grantmakers.io Profile - https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/356932298-tull-fam-foundation/