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Robert W Duggan Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.3M
000

Robert W Duggan Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,340,040 (2022)
  • Total Assets: $91.1 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Information not publicly available
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California and New York, with emphasis on educational institutions
  • Application Method: Invitation only/no public application process

Contact Details

Address: 611 S Fort Harrison Ave 306, Clearwater, FL 33756-5301

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website, email, or phone contact for grant applications.

Overview

The Robert W Duggan Foundation was established in 2018 as a private family foundation directed by trustee Robert W. Duggan, a billionaire biotech entrepreneur who made his fortune through the sale of Pharmacyclics to AbbVie for $3.5 billion. With assets totaling $91.1 million as of 2024, the foundation operates as a private grant-making entity that makes strategic donations primarily to educational institutions and causes aligned with the founder's personal interests. The foundation made 6 grants totaling $1,340,040 in 2022, focusing on cities including Santa Barbara, Stanford, Los Angeles, San Mateo, and the Bronx. Robert Duggan has been a trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation since 1989 and has a long history of supporting educational initiatives, particularly in science, mathematics, and engineering.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Recent giving patterns indicate support for:

  • Higher Education: Particularly the UCSB Foundation and other California universities
  • Educational Endowments: Including faculty chair positions and academic departments
  • Educational Infrastructure: Support for specialized facilities and research institutes

Priority Areas

Based on Robert Duggan's documented philanthropic interests:

  • Higher Education: Strong preference for UC Santa Barbara and California universities
  • STEM Education: Mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering programs
  • Research Institutes: Energy efficiency and specialized academic departments
  • Athletic Programs: University athletics at UCSB
  • Religious Studies: Including Tibetan Buddhism studies
  • Drug-Free Education: Through Scientology-affiliated organizations
  • Biotech and Health Research: Cancer treatment, anti-microbial therapeutics, longevity research, and stem cell research

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's giving history suggests they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established geographic focus (California and New York)
  • Unsolicited applications from organizations without prior relationships
  • General operating support for organizations outside their priority areas
  • International organizations (focus is domestic US)

Governance and Leadership

Robert W. Duggan - Trustee and Foundation Director

Robert Duggan (born 1944) is an American billionaire entrepreneur and biotech executive who served as CEO of Pharmacyclics Inc. from 2009 to 2015, leading the company to FDA "breakthrough therapy" recognition and approvals for cancer treatments for lymphoma and leukemia. As a UCSB alumnus, Duggan has maintained deep ties to the university since 1989 as a trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation. His philanthropic philosophy emphasizes supporting educational excellence, particularly in STEM fields, and organizations aligned with his personal values. He dedicates minimal time to foundation administration and receives no compensation for his trustee role.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Robert W Duggan Foundation operates as a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion. Grants are awarded to organizations that align with the founder's established philanthropic interests and existing relationships, particularly UC Santa Barbara and California educational institutions.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, does not maintain a website or public contact information for grant inquiries, and does not publish application guidelines or deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the trustee on a timeline determined internally.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only structure, the following factors characterize successful grant recipients:

  • Strong Educational Mission: Organizations must demonstrate excellence in higher education, particularly in STEM fields
  • California Connection: Geographic proximity and alignment with California institutions, especially UC Santa Barbara
  • Alignment with Founder's Interests: Connection to biotech, cancer research, energy efficiency, mathematics, physical sciences, or religious studies (particularly Tibetan Buddhism)
  • Institutional Credibility: Established universities and research institutions with proven track records
  • Pre-existing Relationships: Organizations already known to the foundation or within the trustee's professional and personal networks
  • Endowment Potential: Projects that create lasting impact through endowed positions or facilities

The foundation's giving pattern shows a preference for major institutional gifts rather than numerous small grants, with an average grant size of approximately $223,340 based on 2022 data.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates through trustee discretion only
  • UCSB is Primary Beneficiary: UC Santa Barbara has been the primary recipient of Duggan's philanthropy since 1989, including endowed chairs and facility support
  • STEM Focus: Strong preference for mathematics, life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and biotech-related programs
  • California Geographic Priority: Funding concentrated in California institutions, particularly in Santa Barbara, Stanford, Los Angeles, and San Mateo
  • Large Institutional Grants: The foundation appears to make fewer, larger grants to established institutions rather than many small grants
  • Scientology Affiliation: The founder is a major donor to the Church of Scientology, which may influence funding decisions for drug-free education and related causes
  • Limited Transparency: Minimal public information available about specific grant amounts, application criteria, or decision-making processes

References

Research completed December 22, 2025

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