The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 39-6037928 · since 1943bradleyfdn.org·California, District of Columbia, New York, United States, Virginia, Wisconsin·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$56.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$10,000 to $300k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$100k

Typical grant (median)

361 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Your project fits best if it clearly relates to the foundation's four themes of Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society and Informed Citizens, which the filing says include support for families, schools, churches, neighbourhoods and arts and cultural institutions.
About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $10,000 and $300,000, with a median of $75,000, so a request in that range is typical, although its largest grant has been about $6,600,000.
Start with a virtual letter of inquiry briefly describing the project, since full applications are invited only if the project falls within its programme interests; full applications are due February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, while letters are considered on an ongoing basis.
Repeat giving is strong, with 85% of grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, a share of dollars rather than of grants, and this is no reason not to approach it if your work fits.
Individuals should not apply, and an organisation seeking mainly overhead or indirect costs will not fit, while an organisation must be a 501(c)(3) publicly supported under Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) to be eligible.

Overview

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is a US private foundation based in Milwaukee, WI.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Bradley Foundation’s grantmaking is guided by four principles: Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society and Informed Citizens. It supports the study, defence and practice of individual initiative and ordered liberty, and the institutions that cultivate people capable of self-government. Its stated interests encompass limited government, federalism, individual liberties and the rule of law; private enterprise, entrepreneurship and voluntary exchange; and research and public education about conditions for economic growth and prosperity. It also supports families, schools, churches, neighbourhoods, voluntary associations, arts and cultural institutions, and educational efforts to prepare citizens for a free society. Applicants must be tax-exempt organisations under Section 501(c)(3) and publicly supported under Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3).

Themes

Constitutional Order
Free Markets
Civil Society
Informed Citizens

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Wisconsin, California, District of Columbia, Virginia, New York and the United States.

What They Don't Fund

Grants to individuals
Overhead or indirect costs

How to apply

Eligible organisations begin with a virtual letter of inquiry that briefly describes the project. If the project falls within the Foundation’s programme interests, the organisation may be invited to submit a full application.

Deadlines:

Full applications are due quarterly: February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15.
Letters of inquiry are considered on an ongoing basis.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,113 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Wisconsin33%

California17%

District of Columbia12%

Virginia7%

New York6%

Arizona2%

6 other states: 11%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 12%

The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
<1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

361 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $100k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 361 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%

$1k–$2.5k3%

$2.5k–$5k1%

$5k–$10k1%

$10k–$25k8%

$25k–$50k12%

$50k–$100k24%

$100k–$250k34%

$250k–$500k13%

$500k–$1M3%

$1M and over1%

Median $100k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Caroline D Bradley Association of Scholars · To support the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship program
$6,620,0002024 tax year
Bradley Impact Fund · To support general operations
$3,200,0002024 tax year
Historic Haymarket Milwaukee I · To support a capital campaign
$2,000,0002024 tax year
Encounter for Culture and Education · To support Encounter Books
$1,000,0002024 tax year
Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education · To support educational institutes, centers, and programs at universities
$800,0002024 tax year
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty · To support general operations
$750,0002024 tax year
Foundation for the Constitution · To support the Center for the Constitution
$685,0002024 tax year
Concordia University Wisconsin Foundation · To support the Free Enterprise Center
$500,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

C Culver (Thru 0424) — Director
Kim Magnan — Director for Human Resources & Administrative Services
Dionne King — Director of Operations
Mark Rhode — Director of Finance
Alicia Manning — Vice President for Programs
P English — Chairman & Director
P Clement — Director
J Beagle — Director
J Barry — Vice Chairman & Director
Stephen A Langlois — Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
Richard W Graber — President
E Scalia — Director
R Ribble — Director
J A Pope — Director
C Mitchell — Secretary & Director
V Hanson — Director
R George — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$63,824,563	$49,822,750	$991,872,820	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$68,861,089	$54,127,095	$987,072,699	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$68,888,306	$56,482,360	$993,446,884	Filing for 2024 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.