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Stuller Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M
Decision Time
1mo

Stuller Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.5M (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 30-45 days after application deadline
  • Grant Range: Under $10,000 - $1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Six-parish Acadiana region (Louisiana)
  • Total Assets: $137.6M

Contact Details

Address: Lafayette, LA
Phone: (337) 735-8894
Email: stullerfoundation@stuller.com
Website: www.stullerfoundation.org

Pre-Application Support: For grant requests exceeding $10,000, applicants MUST contact the Foundation to schedule a meeting before completing an application.

Overview

The Stuller Family Foundation was established in 1994 by Matthew G. Stuller Sr., founder and CEO of Stuller, Inc., North America's largest fine jewelry manufacturer and distributor. Since its inception, the foundation has invested over $70 million in charitable causes, serving more than 400 organizations across the Acadiana region of Louisiana. With assets totaling $137.6 million and annual giving of approximately $3.5 million, the foundation focuses on improving society by supporting educational initiatives, assisting the needy and sick, and building regional religious capacity. The foundation is Christian-based and operates with a philosophy of making strategic investments in organizations that can create meaningful social impact across multiple sectors. The foundation's leadership emphasizes responsiveness to evolving community priorities and fostering collaboration among nonprofits.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation accepts grant applications three times per year with specific grant cycles. Organizations are limited to one funded grant per calendar year.

Grant Types:

  • General Operating Grants: Under $10,000 - $100,000+ (submitted through online Grant Application Form)
  • Capital Campaign Grants: $25,000 - $1,000,000+ (submitted through Capital Campaign Form, require quarterly reporting)

Recent Grant Examples:

  • $1,000,000 for the Stuller Healthy Living Center (Miles Perret Cancer Services, 2025)
  • $1,600,000+ to Hospice of Acadiana (for Calcutta House construction, Food with Love program kitchen, and campus expansion)
  • Nearly $1,000,000 for Parc Sans Souci inclusive playground (Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, 2024)
  • $25,000 to Prime Time Head Start for facility expansion (2024)

Priority Areas

The foundation partners with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across a broad range of sectors:

  • Education: School construction, educational programs, quality education access for all children
  • Religious/Faith-Based: Church construction, faith-based initiatives, ecclesiastical causes
  • Health & Human Services: Cancer support, hospice care, trauma services, serving the needy and sick
  • Youth Development: Youth programs, early childhood education
  • Environmental Stewardship: Conservation and environmental initiatives
  • Arts & Culture: Regional arts and cultural programs
  • Animal Welfare: Animal rescue and welfare organizations

Executive Director Chuck LaGrange explains the broad approach: "When we support education, health care, the arts, social services and human services, we're tinkering in the fringes of a variety of different areas. But we're also trying to build resilience for these organizations so that the social impacts aren't getting any smaller."

Geographic Restrictions

Grants are ONLY awarded to organizations whose programmatic impact benefits the following six-parish area:

  • Acadia Parish
  • Lafayette Parish
  • Iberia Parish
  • St. Landry Parish
  • St. Martin Parish
  • Vermilion Parish

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not make grants to:

  • Individuals
  • Athletic teams
  • Political organizations
  • Charitable organizations not in good standing with the IRS
  • Organizations whose programmatic impact does not benefit the six-parish Acadiana region

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Matthew G. Stuller Sr. (Founder & Trustee)
  • Catharine O. Stuller (Trustee)
  • Alexandra Graham Stuller (Trustee)
  • Matthew Stuller Jr. (Trustee)
  • Lauren Stuller (Trustee)

Note: All trustees serve without compensation

Executive Leadership:

  • Michael G. Dehart, President
  • Chuck LaGrange, Executive Director

Leadership Philosophy:

Matthew Stuller is known for the phrase: "I am a humble steward of God's gifts," reflecting the foundation's faith-based approach to philanthropy.

Chuck LaGrange emphasizes investment over charity: "We look at our funding not just as grants but as investments in the people and causes that we feel can have the greatest social impact — and create meaningful change — in our community."

On the foundation's collaborative approach: "While there are a lot of nonprofits that work in different spaces, when they work collectively, they have the ability to really drive impact. Focusing on that wide range of nonprofits allows us to make a broader, more meaningful impact."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts grant applications three times per year through online application forms on their website (www.stullerfoundation.org).

Application Process:

  1. For requests under $10,000: Complete and submit the appropriate online application form
  2. For requests exceeding $10,000: REQUIRED - Contact the Foundation to schedule a meeting to review the request BEFORE completing the application
  3. Submit application before the grant cycle deadline

Application Forms:

  • Grant Application Form: For general operating support and program grants
  • Capital Campaign Form: For capital projects and infrastructure needs

Contact for Pre-Application Consultation:

Decision Timeline

  • Decision Period: 30-45 days following each grant cycle's application deadline
  • Notification Method: All applicants are contacted via email regarding Board outcomes and decisions
  • Grant Cycles: Three per year (specific deadlines available on website)

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation has served over 400 organizations since 1994 with $70 million in total giving, demonstrating sustained commitment to multiple grantees over time.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are limited to one funded grant per calendar year. This means:

  • Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in subsequent grant cycles within the same year
  • Organizations that receive a grant must wait until the following calendar year to apply again
  • Organizations can apply in multiple grant cycles per year until they receive funding

CRITICAL: Failure to submit required post-grant reports (Grant Impact Report or quarterly reports for capital campaigns) may result in ineligibility for future grant requests.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and recent funding patterns, the following factors appear to be important:

1. Geographic Alignment is Non-Negotiable

Your organization's programmatic impact must clearly benefit one or more of the six designated parishes (Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion). Applications from organizations outside this region will not be considered.

2. Demonstrate Collective Impact

The foundation values organizations that work collaboratively. Chuck LaGrange emphasizes that nonprofits working collectively "have the ability to really drive impact." Applications should highlight:

  • Partnerships with other Acadiana nonprofits
  • How your work complements (rather than duplicates) existing services
  • Collaborative approaches to community challenges

3. Schedule the Required Pre-Application Meeting (for $10K+ requests)

For grant requests exceeding $10,000, the pre-application meeting is mandatory, not optional. This is an opportunity to:

  • Present your project directly to foundation staff
  • Receive feedback before investing time in a full application
  • Demonstrate your organization's leadership and vision
  • Build a relationship with the foundation

4. Frame Funding as Investment, Not Charity

The foundation explicitly views grants as "investments in the people and causes that...can have the greatest social impact." Applications should:

  • Emphasize measurable outcomes and social impact
  • Show how funding will create meaningful, lasting change
  • Demonstrate organizational capacity to leverage the investment effectively

5. Show Alignment with Current Community Priorities

LaGrange notes the foundation aims to be "responsive, relevant and focused and aligned with what the community priorities are." Recent funding trends show increased support for:

  • Health and wellness infrastructure (Stuller Healthy Living Center)
  • Inclusive community spaces (accessible playground at Parc Sans Souci)
  • Early childhood education (Prime Time Head Start)
  • Organizations addressing gaps created by federal funding cuts

6. Maintain Strong IRS Standing

The foundation explicitly excludes organizations "not in good standing with the IRS." Ensure your 501(c)(3) status is current and compliant before applying.

7. Plan for Robust Post-Grant Reporting

The foundation takes reporting seriously. Grant recipients must:

  • Submit a Grant Impact Report within one year of receiving funds
  • Complete quarterly reports (for capital campaign grants)
  • Understand that failure to report results in ineligibility for future funding

Applications should demonstrate your organization's capacity for data collection, outcome measurement, and transparent reporting.

8. Faith-Based Organizations Welcome

With historical roots in supporting ecclesiastical causes and a Christian-based mission, faith-based organizations (churches, religious schools, faith-based social services) are explicitly encouraged to apply. The foundation has funded church construction, religious education, and faith-based humanitarian initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application meetings are mandatory for requests over $10,000 - schedule early and use this as an opportunity to build relationship and receive guidance
  • One grant per organization per year - make your application count; you won't have another opportunity until the next calendar year if funded
  • Geographic focus is strict - only apply if your programmatic impact clearly benefits one or more of the six designated Acadiana parishes
  • Collaboration is valued - demonstrate how your organization works with others to create collective impact rather than working in isolation
  • Think investment, not charity - frame your request around measurable social impact and meaningful community change
  • Post-grant reporting is consequential - failure to submit required reports (Grant Impact Report within one year; quarterly reports for capital grants) will disqualify you from future funding
  • Wide range of funding levels - the foundation makes grants from under $10,000 to over $1 million; match your request to the project scope and demonstrate appropriate stewardship
  • Decision timeline is relatively fast - expect notification within 30-45 days of the grant cycle deadline, allowing for timely planning

References

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