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Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$54.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.8M
Decision Time
4mo

Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $54,127,095 (2023)
  • Total Assets: Nearly $1 billion (2023)
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board reviews (3-6 months typical)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $800,000 (some multi-million dollar grants to regular recipients)
  • Average Grant: $156,437
  • Geographic Focus: 70% national, 30% Wisconsin-based
  • Total Grants Since 1985: $1.3 billion

Contact Details

Website: www.bradleyfdn.org

Phone: (414) 291-9915

Address: 1400 N Water St, Suite 300, Milwaukee, WI 53202-4129

Grant Application System: bradley.smartsimple.com

Application Inquiries: applications@bradleyfdn.org

Overview

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, established in 1942 (originally as the Allen-Bradley Foundation), took its current name in 1985 following the acquisition of the Allen-Bradley Company by Rockwell International Corporation. With nearly $1 billion in assets and annual giving exceeding $54 million, the Foundation is one of America's largest conservative philanthropies. The Foundation's mission is to "restore, strengthen, and protect the principles and institutions of American exceptionalism." Under President and CEO Richard W. Graber (appointed 2016), the Foundation unveiled a 2023-2025 strategic plan emphasizing three priority areas: expanding school choice to empower parental decision-making, defending religious liberty against encroachments, and resisting progressive influence in key institutions such as universities and media outlets. The Foundation distributes approximately 346 grants annually, with 70% directed to national organizations and 30% supporting Wisconsin-based initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bradley Foundation operates through a unified grantmaking program with quarterly board reviews rather than separate grant streams. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $800,000, with an average award of $156,437. Some established partner organizations receive multi-million dollar grants annually.

Application Schedule:

  • Rolling Letter of Inquiry (LOI) acceptance
  • Quarterly full application deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15
  • Board reviews in May, August, November, and February respectively

Priority Areas (2023-2025 Strategic Plan)

Education & School Choice

  • Expanding parental decision-making in education
  • Support for charter schools and school choice programs
  • Educational freedom initiatives
  • Recent Wisconsin recipients include Christ-St. Peter Lutheran School

Religious Liberty

  • Legal defense of faith-based institutions
  • Conscience protections
  • Religious freedom advocacy

Institutional Reform

  • Countering progressive influence in universities
  • Support for media and research organizations
  • Constitutional order and limited government advocacy

Additional Focus Areas

  • Free market economics
  • Civil society organizations
  • Arts and culture (though de-emphasized from previous strategic plans)
  • Community development

The Foundation's grantmaking is guided by four core principles: Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society, and Informed Citizens.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations
  • Organizations not publicly supported under Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3)
  • Overhead or indirect costs
  • Projects outside their program interests (national security and foreign policy were de-emphasized in 2018)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Richard W. Graber - Appointed July 2016, has served on the Board of Directors since 2014. Graber previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

On donor intent: "At the Bradley Foundation, we take donor intent very seriously. Unlike many of the country's largest foundations today - such as Ford, Rockefeller, and Carnegie - our giving has always reflected our founders' philosophies and values."

On Wisconsin commitment: "Our mission first and foremost is to adhere to our founders' intent, and there's absolutely no doubt that the well-being of Milwaukee and Wisconsin were incredibly important to Lynde and Harry Bradley, and we're not going to change that."

On board succession: "The board of directors has to take very seriously successorship... At the Bradley Foundation, since the very beginning, directors have taken succession very, very seriously."

Board of Directors (11 members)

  • James T. Barry III
  • John Beagle
  • Paul Clement
  • Patrick English
  • Robert P. George
  • Richard Graber
  • Victor Davis Hanson
  • Cleta Mitchell
  • Art Pope
  • Reid Ribble
  • Eugene Scalia

All grant decisions are made by the Board of Directors (not staff), which meets quarterly.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation uses a mandatory two-step application process through its online SmartSimple grants management system at bradley.smartsimple.com:

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Submit through online system on a rolling basis (no deadlines)
  • Briefly describe the project seeking support
  • LOIs reviewed regularly, though immediate responses not guaranteed
  • Cannot skip this step to go directly to full application
  • Previous grant recipients must also submit LOIs

Step 2: Full Application (by invitation only) If the LOI demonstrates alignment with Foundation program interests, organizations are invited to submit a full application including:

  • Thorough project description, objectives, and significance
  • Qualifications and roles of participants
  • Organizational IRS exemption letter
  • Current budget and audited financials
  • IRS Form 990
  • Board roster
  • Supporting materials (reports, studies, brochures)

Registration Requirements:

  • Users must register with organizational email addresses (not personal emails)
  • Multiple staff members from the same organization may access the system
  • Contact applications@bradleyfdn.org for access issues

Important Note: "The Foundation's staff does not have the capacity to discuss potential projects in advance of the submission of a letter of inquiry or full application." The LOI process serves as the preliminary screening mechanism.

Decision Timeline

Full Application Deadlines:

Application DeadlineBoard Review Meeting
February 15May
May 15August
August 15November
November 15February

Typical Timeline: 3-6 months from LOI submission to final decision, depending on when the LOI is submitted and which quarterly deadline is met. Applications may occasionally be deferred to a later board meeting.

Decision-Making: All grant decisions are made by the 11-member Board of Directors during quarterly meetings, not by program staff.

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose acceptance rates or success statistics. In 2023, the Foundation made 346 grants totaling $54,127,095. Given the competitive nature of major foundations distributing over $10 million annually, success rates are likely modest, though specific percentages are unavailable.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation's public materials do not specify a reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations may submit LOIs on a rolling basis, suggesting that reapplication is permitted, though timing and restrictions are not documented.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Four Core Principles The Foundation emphasizes that projects must clearly align with their guiding principles: Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society, and Informed Citizens. As noted in their application guidance, "many worthwhile projects do not fall within the Foundation's program interests."

Strategic Plan Priorities (2023-2025) Applications demonstrating direct impact in the three strategic priorities stand the strongest chance:

  • School choice expansion and parental empowerment in education
  • Religious liberty defense and faith-based institution support
  • Institutional reform to counter progressive influence in universities and key institutions

Thoroughness and Clarity The Foundation states: "Ensuring that applications are thorough and clear will facilitate better decision-making regarding funding." Full applications should include:

  • Comprehensive project descriptions with clear objectives
  • Evidence of participant qualifications
  • Complete supporting documentation
  • Materials that strengthen the case for support (studies, reports, brochures)

Conservative Philosophical Alignment The Foundation's commitment to "American exceptionalism" and conservative principles pervades all grantmaking. CEO Richard Graber's emphasis on donor intent signals that successful applications must demonstrate philosophical alignment with the founders' values.

Wisconsin Connection (for state/local grants) For the 30% of funding directed to Wisconsin organizations, demonstrating benefit to Milwaukee and Wisconsin communities aligns with the founders' intent, as Graber noted: "the well-being of Milwaukee and Wisconsin were incredibly important to Lynde and Harry Bradley."

Complete All Required Fields Application guidance emphasizes: "Ensure that all required fields are completed accurately, and complete all required fields in the application form."

Use the LOI Process Strategically The Foundation views the LOI as an opportunity for organizations to "gauge fit before investing time in a full application." Organizations should use this stage to clearly articulate alignment with Foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Mandatory two-step process: All applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry before being invited to submit a full application—no exceptions, even for previous recipients.

  • Conservative philosophical alignment is essential: The Foundation's commitment to "American exceptionalism," constitutional order, free markets, and the 2023-2025 strategic priorities (school choice, religious liberty, institutional reform) must be evident in applications.

  • Quarterly decision cycle requires planning: With board meetings four times annually and deadlines on the 15th of February, May, August, and November, applicants should plan submissions 3-6 months before funds are needed.

  • No pre-application consultations available: Staff cannot discuss projects before LOI submission, making the written LOI critical for conveying alignment and project merit.

  • Wisconsin organizations have dedicated allocation: Thirty percent of funding supports Wisconsin-based organizations, honoring the founders' commitment to their home state.

  • Thoroughness matters: Complete, clear applications with comprehensive supporting materials facilitate board decision-making and demonstrate organizational capacity.

  • Donor intent drives all decisions: CEO Richard Graber's emphasis on adhering to the founders' philosophies and values means successful applications must reflect conservative principles and the Foundation's core mission.

References

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