The Rodney Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Fund's grants are described as general funding for 501(c)(3) charities, with recipients including public-policy institutes, legal advocacy groups, economic research bodies, and liberty-focused and student organisations, so a small charity should check whether its work fits one of those kinds of body.
- The filing says the Fund makes contributions to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an invitation or an existing link should not send one.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 37 grants fall between $20,000 and $200,000, and half were $70,000 or less, so a request in the lower part of that typical band is the most realistic size.
- Its giving is highly repetitive, with 94% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the earlier filing, so the route in is most likely through a relationship already formed.
- The filing names a contact and a telephone number and asks for a letter stating the charity's purpose, but it reports no submission deadline.
Overview
The Rodney Fund is a US private foundation based in West Bloomfield, MI.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Fund’s filings describe its grants as general funding for 501(c)(3) charitable organisations. Its recipients include public-policy institutes, legal advocacy organisations, economic research bodies, and liberty-focused and student organisations. The recorded purposes do not identify a more specific funding field. The filing says the Fund makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests. It lists a letter and the purpose of the charity as required information, and reports no submission deadline. The filings do not explain how recipients are chosen or set out further eligibility criteria.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia, California, Illinois, Michigan and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The filing lists a letter and the charity’s purpose as required information and names Leigh Rodney as the contact, with a telephone number provided.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 94% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 37 grants to organisations were $70,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 11%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations The Rodney Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 21 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $40,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Liberty Justice Center · General funding 501(c)3$200,0002023 tax year
- Institute for Justice · General funding 501(c)3$200,0002023 tax year
- Mackinac Center for Public Policy · General funding 501(c)3$200,0002023 tax year
- Pacific Legal Foundation · General funding 501c(3)$190,0002023 tax year
- Young Americans for Liberty · General funding 501(c)3$150,0002023 tax year
- Ayn Rand Institute · General funding 501(c)3$80,0002023 tax year
- NRW Legal Defense · General funding 501(c)3$80,0002023 tax year
- Foundation for Economic Education · General funding 501(c)3$80,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Steve Rude — Director
- Steven Thomas — Director
- Leigh Rodney — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,822,170 | $1,600,000 | $30,730,123 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,841,949 | $1,610,000 | $17,056,062 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to The Rodney Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (248) 352-8108
- West Bloomfield, MI
Applying to The Rodney Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (248) 352-8108
- West Bloomfield, MI