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Bruce Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,914,189
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: National, with focus on Illinois
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No public process

Contact Details

  • Address: 20 N Wacker Dr Suite 2414, Chicago, IL 60606
  • Phone: (312) 236-9162
  • EIN: 36-4257410

Overview

The Bruce Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 and located in Chicago, Illinois. As of 2024, the foundation manages assets totaling $23.4 million and distributed approximately $1.9 million in charitable grants. The foundation is led by the Bruce family, with R. Jeffrey Bruce serving as President, Secretary, and Treasurer, alongside Vice Presidents Susan M. Bruce and Elizabeth H. Bruce. The foundation focuses its grantmaking across diverse areas including education, social services, civic causes, health, and environmental conservation. In 2024, the foundation made 53 grants with a median grant size of $20,000. The foundation operates as a preselected grantmaking organization and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bruce Foundation operates a single discretionary grant program with no fixed application deadlines or cycles. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Median Grant: $20,000
  • Total Grants (2024): 53 grants totaling approximately $1.9 million

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports:

  • Education: Including higher education institutions such as Hillsdale College (received $500,000 in 2024)
  • Social Services: Supporting organizations like Beverly Farm ($100,000)
  • Civic Causes: Including Chicago Furniture Bank ($70,000), Hope for the Homeless ($60,000)
  • Environmental Conservation: Such as Grand Canyon Trust ($50,000)
  • Health Initiatives: Various health-related organizations
  • Human Services: Including support for rescue dogs and related services

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions have not been publicly documented. However, as a private family foundation making grants to preselected organizations, they do not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant requests from organizations with which they have no prior relationship
  • Individuals

Governance and Leadership

Key Officers (all positions unpaid):

  • R. Jeffrey Bruce: President, Secretary, and Treasurer (approximately 1 hour per week)

    • R. Jeffrey Bruce is associated with Bruce and Co., Inc., an investment advisory firm located at the same address as the foundation

  • Susan M. Bruce: Vice President (approximately 0.5 hours per week)

  • Elizabeth H. Bruce: Vice President (approximately 0.5 hours per week)

The foundation is structured as a family foundation with no paid staff. All officers serve on a volunteer basis and dedicate minimal hours to foundation governance, likely meeting periodically to review and approve grant recommendations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Bruce Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation makes grants on its own timeline to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as none are accepted.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Bruce Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, selecting charitable organizations based on:

  • Pre-existing relationships: The foundation's approach suggests grants are made to organizations already known to the trustees
  • Diverse but focused giving: The foundation supports a range of causes but appears to have established areas of interest in education, social services, civic causes, and environmental conservation
  • Range of grant sizes: The foundation has demonstrated flexibility in grant amounts, from $10,000 to $500,000, suggesting they tailor funding to the specific needs and scale of supported organizations
  • Long-term partnerships: Many private family foundations of this type develop ongoing relationships with grantees over multiple years

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Invitation-only grantmaking: Grants are made to preselected organizations at the trustees' discretion
  • Diverse portfolio: The foundation supports a range of causes from education to environmental conservation
  • Significant grant range: Awards range from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000
  • Family foundation structure: Decision-making rests with the Bruce family trustees
  • Consistent grantmaking: With approximately $1.9 million distributed annually across 53 grants, the foundation maintains steady charitable activity
  • Illinois connections: While the foundation supports national causes, there is a notable presence of Illinois-based organizations among recipients

References

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