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Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.3M

Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,263,629 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 32 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $13,655,751 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National (Illinois, California)
  • Application Method: No public application process - invitation only
  • Accepts Unsolicited Applications: No

Contact Details

Location: Beverly Hills, CA
EIN: 36-4201771
Tax Status: Private Independent Foundation (501(c)(3))

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or publish contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation was established in February 1998 by Pamela Buffett and her late husband Fred "Fritz" Buffett in memory of their daughter, Rebecca Susan Buffett, who died in 1978 at age 7 from a congenital heart condition. The foundation is a private family foundation based in Beverly Hills, California, with reported assets of approximately $13.7 million and annual giving of over $6 million in 2023.

The foundation is led by Pamela Buffett (President and Treasurer), with Allen Greenberg serving as Secretary and Susie Buffett as Director. All leadership roles are unpaid positions. Fred Buffett, who passed away in 1997 after fighting kidney cancer, was a first cousin to Warren Buffett and a humanitarian known for his passion for helping others.

The foundation focuses its grantmaking primarily on education, health, and human services, with geographic concentration in Illinois and California. Notable past giving includes a major undisclosed gift to the University of Nebraska Medical Center that helped establish the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, making Pamela Buffett the lead donor in the $323 million facility.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation without formal grant programs or application cycles. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected charitable organizations.

Focus Areas:

  • Education: Scholarships for higher education and support for educational programs
  • Health: Medical research and healthcare facilities, particularly cancer-related initiatives
  • Human Services: Organizations serving people with mental illness, underprivileged children, and vulnerable populations

Known Grant Recipients (based on available information):

  • Buffett Early Childhood Fund
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center (Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center)
  • Northstar Foundation
  • Girls Inc.
  • Organizations serving people with mental illness

Priority Areas

  • Medical research and healthcare facilities, particularly cancer treatment centers
  • Educational opportunities and scholarships
  • Services for underprivileged children
  • Mental health services and support
  • Early childhood development programs

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation making grants to preselected organizations, the foundation does not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant requests
  • Organizations outside their established focus areas of education, health, and human services
  • Organizations outside Illinois and California geographic focus

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership (all positions unpaid):

  • Pamela Buffett - President and Treasurer
  • Allen Greenberg - Secretary
  • Susie Buffett - Director

About the Leadership: Pamela Buffett is a 1964 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences. She worked in education, teaching kindergarten and first and second grades at St. Athanasius School in Evanston, Illinois, for 10 years. She currently resides in Beverly Hills, California, with her husband, Dusty Fleming. Pamela is also known for her significant philanthropy in cancer research and treatment, establishing the Fred & Pamela Buffett Place with Thresholds in Chicago that provides services for people in need.

The foundation reflects Pamela's late husband Fred's vision of helping others. According to those who knew the family, their daughter Rebecca's death and Fred's own battle with cancer deeply influenced the family's commitment to healthcare and supporting vulnerable populations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing relationships with organizations aligned with the foundation's mission in education, health, and human services.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. The foundation made 32 grants in 2023, 31 in 2022, and 40 in 2021, all to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from organizations they have not already selected.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Seeking Funding: As this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no formal application process. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, identifying and selecting organizations that align with their mission areas of education, health, and human services in Illinois and California.

Organizations that have received funding typically have:

  • Strong alignment with the foundation's core focus areas (education, health, human services)
  • Established track records in serving underprivileged children, mental health populations, or advancing medical research
  • Geographic presence in Illinois or California
  • Pre-existing relationships or connections with the foundation's leadership

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Applications: The Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and makes all grants to preselected organizations
  • Family Foundation Focus: This is a private family foundation with strong personal connections to health (particularly cancer), education, and vulnerable populations
  • Geographic Concentration: Giving is focused nationally but concentrated in Illinois and California
  • Consistent Grantmaking: The foundation makes 30-40 grants annually totaling over $6 million, demonstrating steady commitment to their charitable priorities
  • Memorial Mission: The foundation was established in memory of the founders' daughter who died young, and reflects the family's commitment to helping others facing health challenges and educational needs
  • Health Focus: Significant support for cancer research and treatment, mental health services, and medical facilities
  • Education Priority: Support for scholarships and educational programs serving underprivileged populations

References

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