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Harvey and Phyllis Sandler Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$0.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.4M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $822,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% for new applicants
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely; average $51,391
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Florida (Boca Raton area), with grants across CA, CO, DC, FL, NJ, NY

Contact Details

The foundation does not maintain a public website or application portal. The foundation is led by the Sandler family:

  • President: Robin Rubin (daughter of Harvey and Phyllis Sandler)
  • Vice President: Amy Ross (daughter of Harvey and Phyllis Sandler)
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Gary Rubin
  • Location: Boca Raton, FL

Overview

The Harvey and Phyllis Sandler Foundation Inc was established in 1993 as a private family foundation. With total assets of approximately $8.7 million (2024) and annual grantmaking of approximately $822,000, the foundation honors the legacy of Harvey Sandler (1942-2020) and Phyllis Sandler (1940-2023). The foundation focuses on causes close to the Sandler family's heart, including social work education, cancer research and treatment, Jewish community services, and healthcare institutions in South Florida. Harvey Sandler's philanthropic journey began over 20 years ago when he was diagnosed with brain cancer and vowed to support local causes. Over their lifetimes, the Sandlers personally donated over $60 million to Boca Raton area institutions, with the family foundation continuing their legacy through strategic grantmaking led by their daughters Robin Rubin and Amy Ross.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes strategic grants primarily in the following areas:

Major Recipients (2024):

  • FAU Foundation: $440,000 (supporting the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work)
  • Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County: $118,000
  • Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation: $88,830
  • Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Foundation: $36,680

The foundation awarded 16 grants in 2024 with an average grant size of $51,391, though grant amounts vary significantly based on the relationship and project scope.

Priority Areas

Based on historical giving patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Healthcare & Medical Research

  • Cancer research and treatment facilities
  • Children's hospitals
  • Hospital foundations and medical centers

Social Work Education

  • Scholarships for social work students
  • Support for Florida Atlantic University's Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work
  • The Robin Rubin Mindfulness and Wellness Center
  • Substance Misuse, Mental Health and Research Center

Jewish Community Services

  • Jewish Federation programs
  • Jewish Community Centers
  • Synagogues and Jewish educational institutions
  • Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services

Community Enhancement

  • Organizations serving vulnerable populations
  • Social service agencies
  • Cultural and educational institutions in Boca Raton area

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not specify explicit exclusions, but historical patterns suggest:

  • Organizations outside their geographic focus (primarily South Florida)
  • Causes without personal connection to the Sandler family
  • National organizations without local South Florida impact

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by family members who serve without compensation:

Robin Rubin - Director and President Robin is the daughter of Harvey and Phyllis Sandler. She earned her master's degree in social work from FAU and taught part-time at FAU's School of Social Work. She lives in Boca Raton with her husband Gary and has three children (Jordan, Jonathan, and Bella) and grandchildren. Robin launched the annual "Phyllis Sandler Heart of Social Work" event in 2010, which has raised over $500,000 in scholarship support.

Amy Ross - Director and Vice President
Amy is the daughter of Harvey and Phyllis Sandler. Like her sister, she earned her degree in social work from FAU. Amy is married to David Ross.

Gary Rubin - Director and Secretary/Treasurer Gary is Robin's husband and serves as the foundation's financial officer.

Other Sandler Family Members: Larry Schnurmacher, Ricky Sandler, and Andrew Sandler (Harvey and Phyllis's other children) remain active in the family's philanthropic legacy, particularly supporting Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services.

Family Philanthropic Philosophy

Phyllis Sandler believed in "the power of social workers to change our world for the better" and recognized that 65% of social work students rely on financial aid, driving the family's commitment to social work education.

Harvey Sandler's approach to philanthropy was deeply personal: his giving began after his brain cancer diagnosis over 20 years ago when he "vowed to begin supporting local causes." This personal experience shaped the family's commitment to healthcare and cancer research.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Harvey and Phyllis Sandler Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded through trustee discretion. The foundation appears to make grants primarily to:

  1. Organizations with which the Sandler family has longstanding relationships
  2. Institutions in Boca Raton and South Florida where family members are personally involved
  3. Causes that align with the family's core values in healthcare, social work, and Jewish community services

The foundation has a 12% acceptance rate for new applicants, suggesting they occasionally support new organizations, but these likely come through personal connections or referrals.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with trustee-discretion grantmaking, decisions are likely made on a rolling basis throughout the year rather than through scheduled grant cycles.

Success Rates

  • New Applicant Success Rate: 12% (2024 data)
  • Total Grants Awarded: 16 grants in 2024
  • The foundation awarded $822,255 in 2024 across multiple organizations

Reapplication Policy

No formal reapplication policy exists. Organizations with established relationships with the family (such as FAU Foundation, Jewish Federation, and Boca Raton Regional Hospital) receive consistent multi-year support.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, research into their grantmaking reveals:

Relationship-Based Giving The foundation's largest grants go to organizations where family members have deep personal involvement. Robin Rubin and Amy Ross both earned social work degrees from FAU before the family made their $7 million naming gift. Personal experience and engagement precede major funding.

Causes Born from Personal Experience Harvey Sandler's brain cancer diagnosis catalyzed decades of support for cancer research and treatment. The family's Jewish heritage drives substantial support for Jewish community institutions. This pattern suggests the family supports causes they understand intimately.

Long-Term Partnerships Major recipients like FAU Foundation, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, and Boca Raton Regional Hospital receive consistent support over many years. The foundation values sustained relationships over one-time grants to new organizations.

South Florida Focus While the foundation has made grants across several states (CA, CO, DC, FL, NJ, NY), the majority of funding goes to Boca Raton and South Florida organizations where the family resides and is actively engaged.

Family Legacy Continuation Following Harvey's death in 2020 and Phyllis's death in 2023, their daughters Robin and Amy have maintained the family's philanthropic commitments, particularly the annual "Phyllis Sandler Heart of Social Work" event and support for institutions their parents championed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This is a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion to organizations with personal connections to the Sandler family
  • Geographic focus is primarily South Florida - Particularly Boca Raton and surrounding Palm Beach County communities
  • Three core funding areas dominate: Social work education (especially FAU), healthcare institutions (especially cancer-related), and Jewish community organizations
  • Relationship-driven philanthropy - The foundation supports organizations where family members are personally involved, serve on boards, or have direct engagement
  • Multi-year commitments - Major recipients receive consistent support over time rather than one-time grants
  • Average grant size of $51,391 but with significant variation - Major institutional partners receive six-figure grants while smaller organizations receive more modest support
  • For organizations seeking funding: Building relationships with the Sandler family members (particularly Robin Rubin and Amy Ross) through South Florida nonprofit networks, social work community, Jewish community institutions, or healthcare sector is essential

References

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