The Boler Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,267,500 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A - Invitation only
• Decision Time: Trustee discretion
• Grant Range: $326,750 average (2023); Major gifts $5M-$35M documented
• Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Illinois, Ohio, Indiana

Contact Details

No public website, email, or phone number available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Boler Family Foundation, established in 1987 by John M. and Mary Jo Boler, is a private grantmaking foundation with approximately $46 million in assets. Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, the foundation distributed $3.27 million through 10 grants in 2023. The foundation was created by the founder of The Boler Company, a successful family-owned automotive systems manufacturing company founded in 1977. The foundation has demonstrated significant capacity for transformational giving, with documented major gifts ranging from $5 million to $35 million to select institutions. Operating on an invitation-only model, the foundation focuses its philanthropy on education, healthcare, autism, and children with special needs, with a particular emphasis on Catholic educational institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed giving with no formal grant programs. Recent documented major gifts include:

• John Carroll University: $5 million (2025), $10 million (2018)
• University of Notre Dame: $10 million for Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases
• Valley Health System: $35 million (2018)

Priority Areas

• Education (particularly Catholic higher education)
• Health and healthcare
• Autism research and support
• Children with special needs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by members of the Boler family:

• Matthew Boler - President/CEO of The Boler Company; Northwestern MBA and Engineering Management degrees
• Jill (Judy) Boler McCormack - Trustee; Notre Dame graduate; veterinarian in Glen Ellyn, IL; member of Notre Dame's College of Science Advisory Council
• Christine Boler - Matthew's wife; involved in foundation decisions
• Dan McCormack - Jill's husband; veterinarian; involved in foundation decisions

The foundation was established by the late John M. Boler (John Carroll University, 1956) and his wife Mary Jo (Lombardo) Boler.

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 explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are made at the sole discretion of the foundation's board of trustees.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, organizations that have successfully received funding typically have:

• Personal connections to Boler family members through alumni networks at John Carroll University or University of Notre Dame
• Relationships through The Boler Company's business and civic networks in the Chicago/Schaumburg area
• Board members who serve on Notre Dame's College of Science Advisory Council alongside Jill Boler McCormack
• Connections through Catholic institutional networks, particularly in higher education

The foundation appears to value long-term relationships, as evidenced by multiple major gifts to the same institutions over many years.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at trustee discretion throughout the year. The foundation files annual 990-PF returns in May.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation only model

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only model, success factors are based on observed giving patterns:

• The foundation has shown strong preference for Catholic educational institutions where family members are alumni (John Carroll University, University of Notre Dame)
• Multi-million dollar gifts suggest the foundation prefers transformational projects over general operating support
• Recipients like John Carroll's Boler College of Business and Notre Dame's Boler-Parseghian Center show the family values naming opportunities that create lasting legacy
• The foundation's support for rare disease research at Notre Dame and focus on autism/special needs indicates responsiveness to innovative healthcare initiatives
• Long-term institutional relationships are valued - both John Carroll and Notre Dame received multiple major gifts over time

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only foundation requiring existing relationships - cold outreach will not be successful
• Focus on building connections through the Boler family's existing philanthropic networks at John Carroll University and University of Notre Dame
• The foundation has capacity for truly transformational gifts ($5M-$35M) for the right strategic partnerships
• Catholic institutional identity and values alignment appear important based on giving history
• The foundation makes relatively few grants annually (10-19), focusing on strategic impact rather than broad distribution
• Consider connecting through The Boler Company's business networks in the Chicago/Schaumburg area
• Patient relationship-building over years is likely required before consideration for major support

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings 2009-2023. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/366854134
• Candid Foundation Directory - Foundation profile and grant information. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BOLE004
• John Carroll University News - "$5 Million Gift from Boler Family Foundation" March 2025
• University of Notre Dame News - "Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases" establishment announcement
• Cause IQ - Organizational data for The Boler Family Foundation. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-boler-family-foundation,366854134/
• Instrumentl - 990 Report Analysis. Accessed March 11, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-boler-family-foundation