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Ruane Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.3M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.6M
00

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.25 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected beneficiaries)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,560,000
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, Florida, Rhode Island (primary states)
  • Total Assets: $52.5 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 11941 Turtle Beach Road, North Palm Beach, FL 33408

Phone: 561-293-2914

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Ruane Family Foundation was established in 2013 as a private family foundation in North Palm Beach, Florida. With total assets of $52.5 million and annual charitable disbursements of $4.25 million (2024), the foundation primarily supports healthcare institutions, educational organizations, and community charities. The foundation is supported by Michael A. Ruane, founding owner, chair, and managing partner of Boston-based TA Realty, one of the nation's largest real estate investment advisory firms, and his wife Elizabeth J. Ruane. The foundation has demonstrated consistent growth in both assets and giving since its inception, with assets growing from $4.97 million in 2012 to over $52 million in 2024. The foundation's investment portfolio generates revenue primarily through dividends (83.7% of revenue), with 92.2% of expenses directed to charitable disbursements.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Major Grant Recipients (2024):

  • Massachusetts General Hospital: $1,560,196 - Support for lifesaving patient care, medical research, and caregiver education
  • Jupiter Medical Center: $1,000,203 - Deliver excellent and compassionate healthcare
  • Providence College: $1,000,192 - Operating funds, scholarships, sports programs

Grant Distribution: In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants with a median grant size of $25,000 and maximum grants exceeding $1.5 million.

Priority Areas

Healthcare: Major focus area, with substantial multi-year support for leading medical institutions including Massachusetts General Hospital and Jupiter Medical Center in Florida. Grants support patient care, medical research, and healthcare infrastructure.

Education: Significant support for educational institutions, particularly Providence College (Michael Ruane's alma mater), including scholarships, operating funds, and athletic programs.

Arts and Culture: Support for arts organizations and cultural institutions.

Community Support: Local charities and community organizations, particularly in Massachusetts, Florida, and Rhode Island.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests. Organizations outside their preselected beneficiary network are not considered for funding.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Michael A. Ruane - Founding trustee and principal supporter. Graduated from Providence College in 1971 and earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founding owner, chair, and managing partner of Boston-based TA Realty, founded in 1982. Served on the Providence College Board of Trustees for 13 years and was chairman from 2004-2012. Received Providence College's highest award, the Veritas Medal, in 2013.
  • Elizabeth J. Ruane - Co-trustee and philanthropic partner
  • Michael A. Bass - Trustee
  • John Curtis - Trustee

Compensation: No compensation is reported for trustees (2024 filing).

The Ruane family has been described by Providence College as "the most generous benefactors in the history of Providence College," having funded multiple facilities including the Ruane Center for the Humanities, the Ruane Friar Development Center ($30 million athletic facility), the Ruane Atrium of the Concannon Fitness Center, and the Michael A. Ruane Endowed Chair for Innovation in Business Education.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations with which the Ruane family has established relationships, primarily in Massachusetts (where Mr. Ruane's business is based), Florida (where the foundation is located), and Rhode Island (where Mr. Ruane attended college).

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made on a trustee-discretion basis rather than through an application review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from organizations outside their preselected beneficiary network.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - only preselected organizations receive funding.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear to characterize organizations that receive funding:

Established Relationships: All funded organizations have pre-existing connections to the Ruane family through personal, professional, or geographic ties. Major beneficiaries include institutions closely connected to the family's life and work.

Geographic Connections: Organizations in Massachusetts (TA Realty's headquarters), Florida (foundation's location and family residence), and Rhode Island (Michael Ruane's alma mater) receive priority.

Major Institutional Partners: The foundation favors substantial, multi-year commitments to leading institutions rather than numerous small grants. Three organizations received over $1 million each in 2024, representing approximately 82% of total giving.

Areas of Impact: Healthcare, education, and community support align with the foundation's documented giving patterns. Healthcare institutions receive the largest individual grants, particularly those focused on medical research and patient care.

Long-term Commitment: The foundation demonstrates sustained support for key beneficiaries over multiple years rather than rotating grant recipients frequently.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation is not accessible through traditional grant-seeking methods
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking - All funding goes to preselected organizations with established connections to the Ruane family
  • Major gift strategy - The foundation prefers large, transformational gifts to a small number of institutions rather than broad distribution of smaller grants
  • Geographic focus - Organizations in Massachusetts, Florida, and Rhode Island (locations connected to the family's business and personal life) receive priority
  • Healthcare and education emphasis - These two sectors receive the majority of funding, with Massachusetts General Hospital, Jupiter Medical Center, and Providence College as anchor beneficiaries
  • Trustee discretion - All funding decisions are made by the board of trustees without external applications or formal review processes
  • Not suitable for cold outreach - Organizations without pre-existing relationships to the Ruane family should not pursue this foundation

References

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