James And Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $488,300 (2022)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)
Geographic Focus: Primarily United States
Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: Morristown, NJ 07960 Secondary Address: 785 Saint Annes Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32967 EIN: 65-0829807

Note: Contact information for direct inquiries is not publicly available. This is a private foundation with no public application portal.

Overview

The James And Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation Inc was established in 1999 by James Balog and his wife Alvina Bartos Balog. James Balog (1928-2019) was a Penn State alumnus (class of 1950, chemistry and physics) who rose to prominence in both the pharmaceutical and financial services industries. After beginning his career at Merck & Co., he moved to Wall Street and became vice chairman at investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert, Inc., eventually retiring as chairman of the board at Lambert Brussels Witter Group. He also had lifelong involvement with U.S. healthcare policy, chairing the presidential committee that led to the passage of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act and serving on several commissions appointed by President Reagan.

Classified as a Private Grantmaking Foundation (NTEE code T20), the foundation distributes grants annually to various educational, cultural, and social service organizations. In 2022, the foundation made 61 awards totaling $488,300. The foundation is supported by Alvina Balog and has no full-time employees. The foundation files IRS Form 990-PF annually, as required for private foundations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The James And Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs with application processes. The foundation has demonstrated support for:

Education: The foundation has a strong connection to education, particularly supporting:

Bishop School
Penn State University (James Balog was the primary driver behind Penn State's Science B.S./M.B.A. accelerated five-year degree program and endowed scholarship programs for students in this program)

Arts and Culture: The foundation has supported cultural institutions including:

Denver Art Museum (acquisition funding for photography works)

Social Services: The foundation has provided support to organizations including:

AbilityPath (organization supporting families of children with special needs)
Raphael House (social services organization)

Grant Activity

2022: 61 awards
2021: 53 awards
2020: 47 awards
2019: 55 awards

The foundation demonstrates consistent grantmaking activity, with the number of awards ranging from the high 40s to low 60s annually.

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation operating without a public application process, information about explicit funding exclusions is not publicly available.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is supported by Alvina Balog, widow of founder James Balog. James Balog passed away in 2019 after being married to Alvina Bartos Balog for 68 years.

James Balog's Philanthropic Philosophy: As described in Penn State's Eberly College of Science publications, James Balog believed strongly in giving back and never forgot his roots. Born to Ukrainian immigrant parents in the coal-mining town of Vintondale, Pennsylvania, his rise to the top of the U.S. financial and healthcare industries informed his commitment to educational access. He was particularly passionate about programs that combined science and business education, believing this interdisciplinary approach prepared students for leadership roles in both fields.

The foundation's sons, including Stephen Balog, have continued the family's philanthropic tradition by endowing the James Balog Memorial Scholarship for science students from Cambria County through the Balog Foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The James And Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation operates as a private foundation with grants awarded through trustee discretion. Grants are typically made to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships or that align with the founders' known areas of interest.

Organizations seeking support should not submit unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them. Grants appear to be initiated by the foundation's trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing relationships within the nonprofit sector.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees on an ongoing basis rather than through a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation made 61 grants in 2022 from an undisclosed number of trustee-considered opportunities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's grantmaking history, organizations that may align with the foundation's interests include:

Educational Institutions: Particularly those focused on:

Science and business education
Scholarship programs for students from modest backgrounds
Interdisciplinary programs combining technical and business skills
Support for students from Pennsylvania (particularly Cambria County region)

Cultural Organizations: Particularly those focused on:

Visual arts and photography
Art acquisition and museum programming

Social Service Organizations: Particularly those providing:

Family support services
Services for children with special needs
Community-based social services

Geographic Connections: Organizations with connections to:

New Jersey (foundation's primary location)
Florida (secondary foundation location)
Pennsylvania (James Balog's home state and Penn State)

The foundation's past giving suggests a preference for established organizations with clear missions and measurable impact in education, arts, and social services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates through trustee-directed grantmaking
Education Focus: Strong emphasis on educational institutions, particularly those combining science and business education
Founder's Legacy: Grants reflect James Balog's values of educational access, interdisciplinary learning, and giving back to communities
Consistent Grantmaking: The foundation maintains steady annual giving with 47-61 grants per year
Private Foundation Structure: As a private foundation with no staff, grantmaking decisions are made by trustees/family members
Relationship-Based: Grants appear to go to organizations with established relationships or clear connections to the foundation's areas of interest
Diverse Portfolio: While education is primary, the foundation also supports arts/culture and social services

References

GuideStar Profile: James and Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/65-0829807 (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Cause IQ: James and Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/james-and-alvina-bartos-balog-foundation,650829807/ (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Instrumentl: James And Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation Inc 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/james-and-alvina-bartos-balog-foundation-inc (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Penn State Eberly College of Science: "James Balog: A life in science and business" (Summer 2019). https://science.psu.edu/science-journal/summer-2019/james-balog-life-science-and-business (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Penn State University News: "Eberly's integrated B.S./MBA program combines science and business." https://www.psu.edu/news/eberly-college-science/story/eberlys-integrated-bs-mba-program-combines-science-and-business (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory: Obituary for James Balog. https://www.strunkfuneralhome.com/obituary/james-balog (Accessed December 18, 2025)
AbilityPath Annual Reports (2020-2021 and 2021-2022) listing James and Alvina Bartos Balog Foundation as donor. https://abilitypath.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AP_AnnualReport_2021_web.pdf and https://abilitypath.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AP-AnnualReport_2022.pdf (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Raphael House Annual Report 2008-2009. https://www.guidestar.org/ViewEdoc.aspx?eDocId=9991198&approved=True (Accessed December 18, 2025)
Denver Art Museum: 2023 Acquisitions announcement (Bartos Balog Foundation listed as acquisition funding source). https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/press/release/denver-art-museum-announces-2023-acquisitions (Accessed December 18, 2025)