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Crane Fund For Widows And Children

Annual Giving
$4.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,000,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by subsidiary/location
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $5,000 (typical individual grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Communities where Crane Company and its subsidiaries operate globally

Contact Details

Email: cranecharitablefunds@craneco.com
Toll-Free Phone: 1-888-855-1100
Direct Phone: 203-554-5899
Website: www.rtcranefunds.org

US and Canada Headquarters:
140 Sylvan Avenue, Suite 110
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632-2554

UK Office:
Epsilon House, Epsilon Terrace, West Road
Ipswich, IP3 9FJ
Phone: +01 473 276176

Germany/Hungary/Slovenia Office:
Crane Fund Deutschland, Heerdter Lohweg 63-71
40459 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 5956-157

Overview

The Crane Fund for Widows and Children (CFWC) was established in 1924 as part of the Crane Charitable Funds network, building on founder R.T. Crane's 1914 vision to care for employees and their communities. The fund operates as a unique employee-driven corporate giving campaign that unites Crane associates worldwide to provide assistance to underserved populations. With annual distributions exceeding $4 million, CFWC supports nonprofit organizations in communities where Crane Company and its subsidiaries—including aerospace & electronics, process flow technologies, and engineered materials divisions—conduct business. The fund distributed nearly $25 million total in 2024 when combined with the other Crane Charitable Funds. R.T. Crane's founding philosophy that "a loyal employee gives something besides his labor and the employer should recognize that" continues to guide the fund's approach to corporate social responsibility. In 2023, Crane Holdings separated into Crane Company and Crane NXT, but both entities continue supporting the Crane Charitable Funds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grant Program: $1,000 - $5,000 per organization

  • Employee-nominated grants to local nonprofits
  • Distributed annually through Crane's operating units worldwide
  • Rolling nominations through employee channels

Educational Scholarships: Variable amounts

  • Scholarships for financially needy students whose parents are deceased or unable to provide for their education
  • Administered through educational institutions

Priority Areas

The fund focuses on supporting organizations that address:

  • Food insecurity - food banks, meal programs, feeding initiatives
  • Affordable housing - Habitat for Humanity and similar organizations
  • Education - schools, scholarships, educational programming
  • Healthcare - medical assistance, cancer support organizations
  • Environmental protection - conservation and sustainability initiatives
  • Animal welfare - rescue and protection organizations
  • Disaster relief - through partnerships with Red Cross, Americares, World Central Kitchen
  • Social services - organizations serving vulnerable populations including single mothers, pregnant women, abuse victims, and those experiencing poverty

Recent Grant Recipients (2021 Example)

Examples from Crane Pumps & Systems include:

  • Rustic Hope (support for single mothers)
  • Pink Ribbon Girls (breast and gynecologic cancer support)
  • The Bethany Center (food and clothing bank)
  • Midwest Food Resources (food access)
  • Bikers Against Child Abuse, Oklahoma Chapter
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Project H.O.O.D. in Chicago (ending cycles of poverty, violence, and incarceration)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the fund prioritizes:

  • Organizations serving communities where Crane operates
  • Direct service organizations (rather than advocacy or research)
  • Organizations nominated by Crane employees

Governance and Leadership

Board Structure: The Crane Fund is administered by a Board of Trustees appointed by Crane Company's Board of Directors. The fund also has a Pension Committee appointed by the same board.

Key Philosophy: The fund operates on R.T. Crane's 1904 declaration that "a loyal employee gives something besides his labor and the employer should recognize that." This ethos continues to guide the fund's employee-centric approach to philanthropy.

Quote from Leadership: "We are proud to be part of a Crane culture that knows the importance of strong corporate citizenship." - Meggan Pavlick, Crane A&E HR Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This fund does not have a traditional public application process. Instead, the Crane Fund for Widows and Children operates through an employee nomination system. Grants are awarded as follows:

  • Employee Nominations: Each year, Crane associates are given the opportunity to nominate nonprofit organizations in their local communities
  • Decentralized Distribution: Most contributions are channeled through individual operating units of Crane Co. and its subsidiaries
  • Geographic Connection: Organizations must serve communities where Crane Company operates or where Crane associates have direct connections
  • Qualifying Organizations: Recipients must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits (or equivalent foreign organizations) that provide direct assistance to underserved populations

Getting on Their Radar

Since this fund operates exclusively through employee nominations, organizations seeking support should:

Build connections with Crane employees in your community: The fund explicitly operates in communities where Crane has facilities. Crane Company operates through multiple divisions including Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials, with locations across the United States and internationally (including UK, Germany, Hungary, and Slovenia operations).

Contact the fund to inquire about Crane operations in your area: Email cranecharitablefunds@craneco.com or call 1-888-855-1100 to ask if Crane has operations or employees in your community. Their contact form includes a "Funding Request" option for inquiries.

Understand Crane's geographic footprint: In one year, Crane A&E alone made donations to 109 organizations across 8 communities where they operate. Different Crane subsidiaries may have different nomination cycles and processes.

Decision Timeline

Timeline varies by operating unit and location. Based on available information:

  • Annual nomination cycles at most locations
  • Decisions made at the subsidiary/operating unit level
  • Grant presentations typically occur after the nomination and approval process

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. Success likely depends on:

  • Strength of employee nomination
  • Alignment with fund priorities
  • Organization's geographic connection to Crane operations

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can be nominated annually by Crane employees. There does not appear to be a restriction on repeat grants for organizations that continue to serve their communities effectively.

Application Success Factors

Since CFWC operates through employee nominations rather than direct applications, success factors are unique:

Geographic proximity to Crane operations is essential: The fund explicitly states that contributions are made to "organizations serving the local communities" of Crane operations. Organizations outside these communities are not eligible.

Direct service model preferred: The fund emphasizes organizations that "provide direct assistance to the underserved populations." Recipients include food banks, shelters, and hands-on service providers rather than advocacy organizations.

Employee passion and connection matters: The fund is described as "employee-driven contributions" where associates "give more to causes they are passionate about." Strong employee champions appear critical to success.

Alignment with fund priorities: Review the priority areas listed above. Organizations addressing food insecurity, affordable housing, education, health, environmental protection, and animal welfare receive funding.

Demonstrated community impact: Grant recipients showcase specific programs - such as Pink Ribbon Girls providing "healthy meals, housecleaning, rides to treatment and peer support" for cancer patients. Concrete, measurable impact resonates with the fund.

Typical grant range: Based on documented examples, individual grants typically range from $1,000-$5,000, with Crane Pumps & Systems distributing over $45,000 to multiple organizations in a single year.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This fund is not accessible through traditional grant applications - you must have a Crane employee champion to nominate your organization
  • Geographic connection is non-negotiable - your organization must serve a community where Crane operates or where their associates have direct connections
  • Focus on building relationships with Crane employees in your area - attend local business events, chamber of commerce meetings, and community gatherings where you might meet Crane associates
  • Contact the fund directly to inquire about Crane's presence in your community - use cranecharitablefunds@craneco.com or call 1-888-855-1100
  • Emphasize direct service to underserved populations - the fund prioritizes organizations providing hands-on assistance rather than advocacy or research
  • Grant amounts are modest but meaningful - expect $1,000-$5,000 per nomination, which aligns with grassroots community organizations
  • Multiple Crane entities may operate in your area - Crane Pumps & Systems, Crane A&E, and other subsidiaries may have separate nomination processes

References

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