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Arthur N. Rupe Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.6M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Arthur N. Rupe Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,633,878 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 44 awards (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$219,000
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $225,000+
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board meetings (March, June, October)
  • Geographic Focus: National (with special focus on California for CNA programs)
  • Application Method: Letter of Inquiry only (no unsolicited proposals)

Contact Details

Office Location:
158 W. Gay Street, Suite 210
West Chester, PA 19380

Contact Information:

Overview

The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation was established in 1991 by Arthur N. Rupe, founder of legendary Specialty Records (which launched the careers of Little Richard and Sam Cooke) and Artex Oil Company. Inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame, Rupe channeled his business success into philanthropy focused on "achieving positive social change by shining the light of truth on critical and controversial issues." The foundation pursues this mission through support of scholarly studies, education, research, and public debate. Annual giving in 2023 was $9,633,878 across 44 awards. The foundation's work is concentrated in three primary areas: Caregiving (particularly for dementia patients and CNA training), Debate (promoting civil discourse on controversial issues), and Public Policy (supporting freedom-oriented think tanks and constitutional law). Arthur N. Rupe passed away in April 2022 at age 104, but the foundation continues his legacy of supporting critical thinking and evidence-based approaches to societal challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Dorothy Rupe Caregiver Program The foundation's caregiving work focuses on improving the lives of family caregivers providing at-home support to loved ones with dementia, as well as expanding the professional caregiver workforce.

Recent grants range from $45,000 to $225,000:

  • Respite for All Foundation: $225,000
  • Elizabeth Dole Foundation: $175,000
  • UCLA Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Program: $175,000
  • HFC: $125,000
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio: $125,000
  • Amazing Place Houston: $100,000
  • Dementia Friendly America: $100,000
  • Alzheimer's Los Angeles: $90,000
  • Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area: $50,000
  • Auberle Employment Institute: $45,000

California Community College CNA/HHA Training Programs Grants up to $60,000 are awarded to accredited California Community Colleges to support Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide training programs. In 2024, the foundation awarded $725,000 to 22 programs for the 2025-26 academic year. These grants focus on reducing student costs and improving program outcomes.

Debate Program The foundation prioritizes structured debates on current matters of genuine public controversy featuring expert advocates as debaters and sizeable live, in-person audiences. Past recipients include:

  • Intercollegiate Studies Institute
  • Federalist Society
  • Steamboat Institute
  • Institute for Humane Studies
  • Reason Foundation
  • Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation
  • Documentary project about high school debate in America

Public Policy Research The foundation supports national and state-based think tanks and freedom-oriented organizations whose scholars produce research affecting public policy. Also supports public interest law firms defending constitutional principles aligned with the foundation's mission.

Priority Areas

  • Family Caregiving: Respite programs and educational resources for family, professional, and volunteer caregivers of people with dementia
  • Healthcare Workforce Development: CNA and HHA training programs at California Community Colleges
  • Civil Discourse: Non-partisan debates accessible to general audiences on controversial social issues
  • Public Policy Research: Freedom-oriented scholarship and research reaching broad, influential audiences
  • Constitutional Law: Public interest legal work defending core constitutional principles
  • Time-Specific Projects: The foundation strongly prefers projects with defined timelines over ongoing operational support

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals (except specific scholarship programs)
  • Fundraising events
  • Conferences
  • Endowments
  • Capital campaigns
  • General operations or ongoing program support

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Jonathan Berry
  • Kimberly O. Dennis
  • James Huggins
  • Richard L. Hunt, C.P.A. †
  • Vanessa Mendoza
  • Matthew O'Brien
  • Beverly Rupe Schwarz, J.D.

Officers

  • Mark C. Henrie - President
  • Susan C. Van Aacken - Secretary
  • James Huggins - Treasurer

Founder's Philosophy

Arthur Rupe was a member of his high school debate team in 1934, a deeply formative experience that fostered his lifelong habit of critical thinking. He viewed debate as "a vital practice in a constitutional republic," believing it enables citizens to deliberate thoughtfully about public policy and "see through the rhetoric and deceptions of agenda-driven opinion-shapers." This commitment to evidence-based reasoning and civil discourse became central to the foundation's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
Prospective grantees must first submit a Letter of Inquiry through the foundation's online grant portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=rupe

Step 2: Committee Review
LOIs are reviewed regularly by the foundation's grant committee. This is an ongoing process, not tied to specific deadlines.

Step 3: Invitation to Submit Full Proposal
If the project aligns with the foundation's mission and funding interests, the foundation will either request additional information or invite submission of a full proposal.

Exception for California CNA Programs:
Accredited California Community Colleges seeking CNA/HHA program funding do not need to submit an LOI. They may submit proposals directly for consideration at the foundation's March board meeting.

Decision Timeline

Board Meetings: The foundation holds three board meetings per year:

  • March
  • June
  • October

Final grant decisions are made at these quarterly board meetings. The timeline from LOI submission to decision varies depending on when the LOI is submitted relative to the board meeting schedule and how quickly the applicant can prepare a full proposal if invited.

Success Rates

With 44 awards made in 2023 from $9,633,878 in total giving, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. However, specific data on the number of applications received or success rates is not publicly available. The requirement for LOIs before full proposals suggests a competitive process with an initial screening mechanism.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Given the LOI-based system, organizations may submit new letters of inquiry for different projects or revised approaches.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Preferences

Time-Specific Projects Over Ongoing Support
The foundation explicitly states it "prefers to fund time-specific projects rather than general operations or ongoing program support." Successful applications should clearly define project timelines, deliverables, and measurable outcomes with a beginning and end date.

Video Documentation for Debate Grants
For debate-related projects, the foundation prioritizes debates that include "video documentation for online viewership" in addition to live audiences. This reflects the founder's commitment to broad public education.

Alignment with Founder's Values
The foundation seeks projects that advance "critical thinking" and help citizens "see through the rhetoric and deceptions of agenda-driven opinion-shapers." Successful applications demonstrate commitment to evidence-based inquiry, intellectual rigor, and civil discourse rather than advocacy for predetermined positions.

CNA Program Success Factors
For California Community College CNA programs, the foundation focuses on "reducing student costs and improving program outcomes." Applications should demonstrate how funding will address barriers to student completion and employment.

Recent Funding Patterns

The foundation's recent caregiving grants show particular interest in:

  • Scalable solutions: Support for projects with nationwide dissemination potential (e.g., Alzheimer's Los Angeles educational video series)
  • Workforce development: Programs providing CNA training and job placement for underserved populations
  • Respite care expansion: Geographic expansion of proven respite care models
  • Educational resources: Development of training materials for caregivers

For debate and public policy work, the foundation has supported:

  • Established organizations: Many recipients are well-known institutions (Federalist Society, Reason Foundation)
  • Academic settings: Debates hosted at universities and colleges
  • Documentary work: Media projects that preserve and share debate content

Strategic Approach

Organizations should note that the LOI system allows the foundation to maintain control over its grantmaking agenda. The foundation appears to seek out work that aligns closely with its specific mission areas rather than responding to broad community needs. Successful applicants likely demonstrate deep expertise in one of the foundation's three focus areas and propose projects that advance the foundation's particular vision of social change through truth-seeking and evidence.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Submit LOI first, not full proposal: The foundation's process requires an initial Letter of Inquiry through their online portal before any full proposal can be submitted. Do not send unsolicited full proposals.

  • Emphasize time-specific deliverables: Frame your project with clear beginning and end dates, measurable outcomes, and specific deliverables. General operating support requests will not be competitive.

  • Align with founder's intellectual legacy: Projects should demonstrate commitment to critical thinking, evidence-based inquiry, and helping citizens evaluate information objectively. The foundation values intellectual rigor over advocacy.

  • Consider the quarterly board cycle: With board meetings only in March, June, and October, plan your LOI submission timing carefully to allow for committee review and potential full proposal development before the next board meeting.

  • For CNA programs, apply directly: California Community Colleges seeking CNA/HHA training support can bypass the LOI process and submit proposals directly for March board consideration.

  • Geographic considerations: While the foundation operates nationally, CNA program funding is restricted to California Community Colleges, reflecting the founder's California roots and commitment to that state's healthcare workforce.

  • Demonstrate scalability or broad impact: Recent grants suggest the foundation favors projects that can reach beyond a single community, whether through video documentation, nationwide dissemination, or replicable models.

References

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