Sudarsky Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $923,000 (2024)
• Assets: $16.5 million
• Grant Range: $4,000 - $100,000
• Median Grant: $20,000
• Number of Grants: 29 annually
• Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut

Contact Details

Address: 8 Barnstable Road, West Newton, MA 02465
Contact: Betty Sudarsky Bradley
EIN: 83-1362706
Note: No website or email available. Applications should be submitted by letter.

Overview

The Sudarsky Family Foundation Inc. is a private independent foundation established by the Sudarsky family, with deep roots in Hartford, Connecticut, and strong connections to medicine, law, and education throughout the Northeast. Operating from West Newton, Massachusetts, the foundation manages approximately $16.5 million in assets and distributes nearly $1 million annually in grants.

The foundation's philanthropic approach reflects the family's diverse interests spanning education, human services, arts and culture, and Jewish institutional support. The family's commitment to education is particularly notable, with multi-generational connections to institutions like Loomis Chaffee School, Dartmouth College, Yale Law School, and Harvard Medical School. The foundation focuses its giving primarily in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut, supporting organizations that align with the family's legacy of public service and cultural enrichment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grantmaking: $4,000 - $100,000 per grant (median $20,000)
  • Application Method: Letter of inquiry, rolling basis
  • Decision Process: Board review and approval required
  • No fixed deadlines or application cycles

Priority Areas

Education

• Independent schools and preparatory education
• Higher education institutions
• Educational programs and scholarships
• Joseph S. Sudarsky Memorial Scholarship Fund at Hartford Foundation

Arts & Culture

• Museum exhibitions and programming at Jewish cultural institutions
• Chamber music and classical music organizations
• Contemporary art and American crafts
• Documented support for The Jewish Museum (NYC) exhibitions

Human Services

• Social welfare programs
• Community support organizations
• Organizations serving vulnerable populations

Philanthropy & Grantmaking

• Support for other foundations and community giving programs

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation appears to focus exclusively on:

• Organizations within MA, NY, and CT (unlikely to fund outside tri-state area)
• Established institutions rather than startup organizations
• Arts, education, and human services rather than environmental or health research

Governance and Leadership

Board Members:

Lewis D. Sudarsky, MD - Director Distinguished neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Harvard Medical School graduate (1974) with over 50 years in neurology, specializing in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders. Son of founders Joseph and Gay Sudarsky.

Betty Sudarsky Bradley - Contact Person/Director Based in West Newton, MA. Primary contact for grant inquiries. Loomis Chaffee alumna (1969).

Deborah Sudarsky Wherry - Director Brooklyn, NY resident. Loomis Chaffee alumna (1974).

Family Legacy: The foundation honors Joseph S. Sudarsky (1918-2012), a Yale Law School graduate, WWII Purple Heart recipient, and prominent Hartford attorney, and Edith "Gay" Sudarsky (1923-2015), a Connecticut College graduate and longtime Loomis Chaffee trustee. The family's philanthropic tradition extends through the related R. David Sudarsky Charitable Foundation Trust, supporting medical research and arts institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process in the traditional sense. Grants are made at the board's discretion, though they do accept unsolicited inquiries.

Submit letters of inquiry to: Betty Sudarsky Bradley
8 Barnstable Road
West Newton, MA 02465

Include in your letter:

• Organization's mission and 501(c)(3) status
• Specific project requesting funding
• Budget and other funding sources
• Expected impact and outcomes
• Most recent financial statements
• Board of directors list

Decision Timeline

• Rolling review process - no fixed deadlines
• Board approval required for all grants
• Approximately 29 grants awarded annually

Success Rates

Specific success rates not available. Foundation makes 26-33 grants annually from approximately $923,000 in total giving.

Reapplication Policy

No documented policy. Standard private foundation practice suggests waiting at least one year after decline before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Connection Critical: Organizations must be based in or serving Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New York. The family's ties to Greater Boston, Hartford, and NYC are strongest.

Established Organizations Preferred: Documented recipients include recognized institutions like The Jewish Museum and A Far Cry orchestra. Startup organizations unlikely to receive support.

Modest Request Amounts: With a median grant of $20,000, most competitive requests fall between $10,000-$30,000 for specific projects rather than general operating support.

Family Values Alignment: Applications should demonstrate connection to:

• Educational excellence and student development
• Cultural enrichment, particularly classical music and museums
• Jewish heritage and cultural preservation
• Public service and community welfare

Personal Connections Matter: As a small, family-run foundation, relationships with board members or referrals from previously funded organizations may be beneficial.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Letter format allows storytelling - No forms mean you can craft a compelling narrative directly to the board
• $20,000 is the sweet spot - Request amounts should align with median grant size for best chances
• Tri-state restriction is firm - Don't apply if outside MA, NY, or CT
• Jewish cultural institutions have advantage - Strong documented support for Jewish museums and programs
• Educational pedigree matters - Foundation values institutions with strong academic reputations
• Apply when ready - Rolling deadline means no need to wait for specific cycles
• Family-run means personal - Small staff suggests importance of relationship-building and personal connection

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Sudarsky Family Foundation Inc (EIN 83-1362706). Accessed March 3, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831362706

• Grantmakers.io Profile: Sudarsky Family Foundation Inc. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v1/831362706

• Instrumentl: Sudarsky Family Foundation Inc. 990 Report. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/sudarsky-family-foundation-inc

• A Far Cry Orchestra: Supporters Page. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.afarcry.org/thank-you

• The Jewish Museum: Exhibition Support Documentation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/

• Loomis Chaffee Magazine, Summer 2015: Sudarsky Family History. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://issuu.com/loomischaffee/docs/loomis_chaffee_magazine_sum_2015/

• Hartford Courant: Joseph S. Sudarsky Obituary, 2012. Accessed March 3, 2026.

• U.S. News & World Report: Dr. Lewis R. Sudarsky Profile. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://health.usnews.com/doctors/lewis-sudarsky-327045

• Brigham and Women's Hospital: Parkinson's Research Support. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://give.brighamandwomens.org/fueling-parkinsons-care/