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Burnham Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.6M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,623,331 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, with some national grants

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd Wilmington, DE 19809

Note: The foundation does not provide public contact information for grant inquiries as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Burnham Family Foundation was established in December 2013 and is based in New York. As of 2024, the foundation holds total assets of $75,077,835 with annual revenue of $25,147,421 and charitable disbursements of $2,623,331. The foundation is led by R. Bradford Burnham III, co-founder of Union Square Ventures, a prominent New York venture capital firm. The foundation focuses on supporting New York-based organizations in education, environmental conservation, arts and culture, and social justice. In 2024, the foundation made 45 grants with a median grant size of $30,000. The foundation operates as a private family foundation and makes contributions only to preselected organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

2024 Grant Range:

  • Median Grant: $30,000
  • Maximum Grant: $200,000
  • Total Grants: 45 awards

Priority Areas

Based on 2024 giving patterns, the foundation supports:

  • Environmental Conservation: Including habitat restoration and mitigation projects (e.g., Billion Oyster Project - $155,499)
  • Arts and Culture: Supporting arts organizations and cultural institutions (e.g., Lighthouse Works Inc - $276,303 total)
  • Education: Focusing on teacher development and literacy programs
  • Social Justice: Supporting organizations working on equity and justice issues
  • Community Development: Local New York nonprofits and community organizations (e.g., New City Parks Inc - $200,000)

Geographic Focus:

  • Predominantly New York-based organizations
  • Limited grants to organizations in California, Georgia, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not publish guidelines, specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, as a small private family foundation, they do not fund:

  • International organizations (outside preselected relationships)
  • Individual scholarships or grants
  • Endowments or capital campaigns (outside existing relationships)

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

R. Bradford Burnham III - Trustee/President Brad Burnham is the co-founder of Union Square Ventures, one of the top-performing venture capital firms in the United States. He has been involved in technology and investment since his time at AT&T, where he served as General Partner at AT&T Ventures. Burnham has a BA in Political Science from Wesleyan University and lives in New York City with his family. He has demonstrated interest in the intersection of technology and philanthropy, having hosted discussions about how technology impacts charitable giving.

Mary Buttrick Burnham - Trustee/Secretary & Treasurer Mary Buttrick Burnham serves as co-trustee and handles the foundation's administrative and financial oversight.

Sofia Garcelon - Executive Director As Executive Director, Sofia Garcelon manages the day-to-day operations of the foundation and receives compensation of $166,042 (2024). She is responsible for grant administration and program management.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Burnham Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This means they do not review grant applications from organizations that approach them directly.

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, R. Bradford Burnham III and Mary Buttrick Burnham, based on their personal knowledge of organizations and their alignment with the foundation's interests.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations rather than through an application review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Burnham Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding from the foundation share these characteristics:

Funded Organization Profile:

  • Strong track record in their field
  • Based primarily in New York (especially New York City)
  • Working in environmental conservation, education, arts/culture, or social justice
  • Demonstrable impact and professional operations
  • Often receive general operating support, indicating trust in organizational leadership

Recent Grant Recipients (2024) include:

  • New City Parks Inc ($200,000) - Community development
  • Billion Oyster Project ($155,499) - Environmental restoration focused on New York Harbor
  • Lighthouse Works Inc ($276,303 total in multiple grants) - Arts and culture programming

Grant Characteristics:

  • Majority of grants are designated as "General & Unrestricted," suggesting the foundation trusts grantee organizations to use funds where most needed
  • Multi-year relationships appear common, with organizations receiving multiple grants
  • Grant sizes typically range from $25,000-$100,000, with exceptional grants up to $200,000

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications; they only fund preselected organizations
  • Strong New York focus: Nearly all grants go to New York-based nonprofits, particularly those in New York City
  • Relationship-driven: The foundation's giving reflects the trustees' personal interests and connections in technology, education, and environmental sectors
  • Unrestricted support preferred: The majority of grants are general operating support, indicating confidence in organizational leadership
  • Mid-sized grants: Typical grants range $25,000-$100,000, with the median at $30,000
  • Connection to tech sector: Given Brad Burnham's role at Union Square Ventures, organizations at the intersection of technology and social impact may align with foundation interests
  • Environmental focus: Significant support for environmental conservation, particularly projects related to New York's natural resources

References

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