The Sumner Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,111,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: National with emphasis on New Jersey

Contact Details

• Website: None available
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Address: 77 Homestead Rd, Califon, NJ 07830

Overview

The Sumner Family Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2016 with total assets of approximately $139 million as of 2024. The foundation distributed $3.1 million through 23 grants in 2023, ranging from $5,000 to $1 million. As a private family foundation, it operates exclusively through trustee discretion, funding only preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The foundation's giving patterns suggest a focus on social justice, healthcare, food security, and arts/literary support, with particular attention to organizations serving New Jersey communities alongside national initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Based on 2023 grant distributions:

• Major Grants: $300,000 - $1,000,000 (food security, criminal justice reform)
• Mid-Level Grants: $50,000 - $150,000 (healthcare, social services)
• Smaller Grants: $5,000 - $30,000 (arts, data/technology for social good)

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant patterns:

• Food security and hunger relief
• Criminal justice reform and bail reform
• Healthcare and hospital support
• Arts and literary support for writers
• Data-driven social impact initiatives
• Direct cash assistance programs
• Human rights and democracy

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but based on grant patterns, the foundation does not appear to fund:

• Individual requests
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Political campaigns or lobbying
• Endowments or capital campaigns

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates as a private family foundation filing Form 990-PF annually. Specific trustee and officer names are not publicly available through standard nonprofit databases. The foundation maintains a low public profile with no website or published leadership information.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Sumner Family Foundation explicitly states in its tax filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations they have independently identified.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - organizations are preselected by trustees.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates by invitation only.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations should note:

• The foundation has shown consistent support for certain organizations year over year
• Grant sizes vary significantly, suggesting tailored support based on organizational needs
• The foundation appears to value both local (New Jersey) and national impact
• Focus areas align with progressive social causes and evidence-based interventions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Sumner Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications
• With $139 million in assets and $3.1 million in annual giving, this is a significant but inaccessible funder for most organizations
• The foundation shows particular interest in New Jersey-based organizations, especially in the areas of food security and healthcare
• Grant amounts vary widely from $5,000 to $1 million, suggesting flexibility in supporting different organizational capacities
• The foundation's giving patterns suggest progressive values with focus on social justice, direct aid, and systemic change
• Organizations working in criminal justice reform, food security, or data-driven social impact may align with foundation interests, though direct approach is not possible

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF data for The Sumner Family Foundation Inc (EIN: 47-4017008). Accessed March 2024.
• Charity Navigator profile for The Sumner Family Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/474017008. Accessed March 2024.
• Cause IQ nonprofit profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-sumner-family-foundation,474017008/. Accessed March 2024.
• Grantmakers.io foundation profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/474017008-the-sumner-family-foundation-inc/. Accessed March 2024.
• Instrumentl 990 Report for The Sumner Family Foundation Inc. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-sumner-family-foundation-inc. Accessed March 2024.