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Bradley Impact Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$49.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.5M
Decision Time
4mo

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Bradley Impact Fund Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $49,161,233 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board review (approximately 3-6 months from LOI to decision)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)
  • Application Method: Two-step process through affiliated Bradley Foundation

Contact Details

Website: https://www.bradleyimpactfund.org
Phone: (414) 291-2500
Email: applications@bradleyfdn.org (for grant applications through Bradley Foundation)
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Overview

Founded in February 2012, the Bradley Impact Fund Inc (EIN: 45-4678325) is the first donor-advised fund to be affiliated with a private foundation—specifically, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Operating as a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the organisation distributed $49.16 million in total expenses in 2023. The Bradley Impact Fund serves as a philanthropic vehicle for conservative donors, supporting individuals and nonprofit organisations that advance conservative ideas, public policy advocacy, and implementation locally, regionally, and nationwide. The organisation's grantmaking is guided by four core principles: Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society, and Informed Citizens. With a Four-Star rating (94%) from Charity Navigator, the Bradley Impact Fund maintains relationships with over 350 grantee organisations across the country. Notable recent grants include $27.1 million to America First Legal Foundation (2022) and $7.76 million to Turning Point USA (2022), demonstrating the fund's capacity for substantial awards alongside smaller grants to grassroots organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Bradley Impact Fund organises its grantmaking through four thematic funds aligned with its guiding principles:

  • Constitutional Order Fund: $5,000 - $1,500,000 - Supports organisations dedicated to advancing fidelity to the Constitution, with its principles of limited government, federalism, separation of powers, and individual liberties.

  • Free Markets Fund: $5,000 - $1,500,000 - Supports efforts to advance economic growth, foster strong families and communities, and educate citizens on free-market principles.

  • Civil Society Fund: $5,000 - $1,500,000 - Supports organisations committed to fundamental institutions including families, schools, churches, neighbourhoods, voluntary associations, and arts and cultural institutions that cultivate personal character, strengthen community bonds, and encourage citizenship.

  • Informed Citizens Fund: $5,000 - $1,500,000 - Supports organisations that research public policy and educate the public on policy issues from a conservative perspective.

Application Method: Two-step process (Letter of Inquiry, then Full Application) through the affiliated Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation's online system. Full applications have quarterly deadlines.

Priority Areas

Organisations seeking funding from the Bradley Impact Fund should align with these core focus areas:

  • Conservative public policy research and advocacy
  • Constitutional governance and limited government initiatives
  • Free-market economic education and advocacy
  • Educational freedom and school choice programmes
  • Strengthening civil society institutions (families, churches, voluntary associations)
  • Civic education and informed citizenship programmes
  • Cultural institutions promoting American exceptionalism
  • Grassroots conservative organising and implementation

Recent grant recipients (2022-2024) include America First Legal Foundation, Turning Point USA, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty ($172,500), Foundation for Government Accountability ($161,560), Texas Public Policy Foundation ($251,350), Racine Literacy Council ($50,000), and various Wisconsin-based organisations supporting sober living communities and local civic initiatives.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organisations that are not exempt from federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) and publicly supported under Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3)
  • Grants to individuals
  • Overhead or indirect costs
  • Non-section 501(c)(3) organisations
  • Projects that do not align with conservative principles and the four guiding principles (Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society, Informed Citizens)
  • Projects outside the foundation's ideological focus on limited government and American exceptionalism

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • John Beagle - Chair of the Board; co-founder and chair of the merger and acquisition advisory firm Grace Matthews
  • Phillip Prange - Treasurer; president of the Wisconsin Business Council
  • Stephen Einhorn - Board Member; senior partner at Capital Midwest Funds and member of the advisory council at Turning Point USA
  • Roger Ream - Board Member; president of the Fund for American Studies and board member of the Competitive Enterprise Institute

Executive Leadership

  • Gabe Conger - President; member of the Leadership Network at the American Enterprise Institute. Previously served as director of external relations at the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, advisor to the president for donor relations at the Heritage Foundation, and director of foundation and corporate relations at the Leadership Institute.

  • Kala Hill - Vice President for Programmes and Strategy; previously worked as development coordinator at the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and manager at the Charles Koch Foundation.

Leadership Philosophy: The board and leadership bring extensive experience in conservative philanthropy and are "united in their unwavering commitment to establishing the Impact Fund as the donor-advised fund of choice for conservative philanthropic investors across the country."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Bradley Impact Fund operates as a donor-advised fund where individual donors recommend grants to organisations. However, organisations seeking funding must apply through the affiliated Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation's two-step application process:

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Submit online at bradley.smartsimple.com
  • Brief description of the project for which support is being sought
  • No deadlines - reviewed on an ongoing basis
  • Required even for previous grant recipients
  • Email address must match your organisation's domain for registration
  • Contact applications@bradleyfdn.org for registration or administrative issues

Step 2: Full Application (if invited)

  • Quarterly deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15
  • Must include thorough project description, objectives, significance, and participant qualifications
  • Required documentation: IRS exemption letter, current budget, audited financial statements, Form 990, board roster
  • Applications typically reviewed at the corresponding quarterly board meeting

Important Notes:

  • Foundation staff cannot discuss projects in advance of LOI submission - "The letter of inquiry step is designed for that purpose"
  • Previous grantees cannot skip the LOI step
  • New organisations must register through the online system with verified email addresses
  • Plan ahead to have adequate time to prepare full applications before quarterly deadlines

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Review: Ongoing - no specific timeline disclosed
  • Full Application to Board Review: Submitted applications reviewed at quarterly board meetings:
    • February 15 deadline → May board meeting
    • May 15 deadline → August board meeting
    • August 15 deadline → November board meeting
    • November 15 deadline → February board meeting
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 3-6 months from LOI submission to final decision, depending on when LOI is submitted and whether a full application is invited
  • Decision Authority: Board of directors makes all funding decisions; programme staff review applications but do not have decision-making authority

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, grant activity data provides some context:

  • 254 awards made in 2023
  • 224 awards in 2022
  • 205 awards in 2021
  • Growing grantmaking activity with total giving of $133.6 million in 2023, representing a 99.7% increase versus 2021

The Bradley Impact Fund maintains relationships with over 350 grantee organisations nationwide, suggesting selective but ongoing relationships with vetted organisations.

Reapplication Policy

  • Previous grant recipients must still submit a new Letter of Inquiry for each project
  • No waiting period specified for unsuccessful applicants
  • The two-step process (LOI followed by full application if invited) applies to all applicants regardless of previous relationship with the foundation

Application Success Factors

Based on the Bradley Impact Fund and Bradley Foundation's documented guidance and recent grantmaking patterns, the following factors significantly increase application success:

1. Strong Ideological Alignment The organisation explicitly states support for "conservative ideas, public policy advocacy and implementation." Projects must clearly align with one or more of the four guiding principles: Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society, or Informed Citizens. The foundation emphasises that "many worthwhile projects do not fall within the Foundation's programme interests," making ideological fit the primary screening criterion.

2. Clear Connection to Mission The Bradley Impact Fund's mission is to "restore, strengthen, and protect the principles and institutions of American exceptionalism." Applications should explicitly connect proposed projects to this overarching goal and demonstrate how they advance conservative principles in practical ways.

3. Organisational Effectiveness and Track Record The organisation's board selects recipients based on "a rigorous examination process that includes an analysis of the organisation's effectiveness in its field of interest; the organisation's creativity and past results; the potential of focused, special projects; the organisation's accountability and transparency with funds."

4. Strategic Use of the LOI The foundation designed the Letter of Inquiry step to be "not onerous" while providing enough information to determine project fit. Applicants should use the LOI strategically to test whether their project aligns with current programme interests before investing time in a full application.

5. Comprehensive Full Application When invited to submit a full application, provide "a thorough description of the project, its objectives and significance, and the qualifications and roles of participants, plus any additional materials the applicant thinks will strengthen the case for support."

6. Scalability and Impact Potential Recent grants range from $50,000 to local Wisconsin organisations to $27.1 million for national advocacy organisations, suggesting the fund values both grassroots implementation and high-impact national initiatives. Demonstrate how your project achieves meaningful impact at its scale.

7. Transparency and Financial Accountability The rigorous examination process includes analysis of "accountability and transparency with funds." Ensure all required documentation (audited financial statements, Form 990, organisational budget) demonstrates sound financial management.

8. Conservative Network Connections Board and staff have extensive connections to conservative organisations including Heritage Foundation, Leadership Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Charles Koch Foundation, and Fund for American Studies. Organisations already active in conservative policy and advocacy networks may have an advantage.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Ideological fit is paramount: Only organisations advancing conservative principles aligned with Constitutional Order, Free Markets, Civil Society, or Informed Citizens should apply. The foundation is explicit that many worthy projects fall outside their programme interests.

  • Use the two-step process strategically: Submit a Letter of Inquiry before investing significant time - there are no LOI deadlines, and this step screens for alignment with current programme interests.

  • Plan for quarterly cycles: Full applications have fixed quarterly deadlines (Feb 15, May 15, Aug 15, Nov 15) with board review 3 months later. Build adequate preparation time into your timeline.

  • Demonstrate effectiveness and accountability: The rigorous selection process emphasises organisational track record, creativity, financial transparency, and past results. Ensure your application showcases proven impact.

  • Think both big and local: Recent grants range from $50,000 for local Wisconsin initiatives to $27 million for national advocacy organisations. Projects at any scale are considered if they demonstrate meaningful conservative impact.

  • No advance consultations available: Foundation staff cannot discuss projects before LOI submission. The LOI itself serves this screening function, so craft it carefully to clearly communicate alignment with foundation priorities.

  • Technical compliance matters: Email addresses must match organisational domains for registration, all required documentation must be submitted, and applications must use the online system at bradley.smartsimple.com. Contact applications@bradleyfdn.org with any technical questions.

References

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