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Don And Linda Brodie Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.2M
Grant Range
$50K - $10.0M

Don And Linda Brodie Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.17 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies by year; 18 grants totaling $3.5 million in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: Philadelphia region and Florida, with emphasis on Jewish organizations
  • Foundation Assets: $27.3 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 1650 Market St Ste 1200, Philadelphia PA 19103-7391 (administrative office); foundation also operates from Delray Beach, Florida

Website: No public website available

Email: Not publicly listed

Phone: Not publicly listed

Note: This is a private family foundation that does not appear to have a public application process. Contact information is limited to what appears on IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Overview

The Don And Linda Brodie Family Foundation was established in June 2019 following the sale of Purolite, the pharmaceutical and industrial resin manufacturing company co-founded by Don Brodie and his brother Steve in 1981. The foundation was created after Ecolab acquired Purolite for $3.7 billion in 2021. With assets of $27.3 million, the foundation distributed $7.17 million in charitable grants in 2024 and $3.5 million in 2023. The foundation is led by co-managing trustees Don B. Brodie and Linda A. Brodie, along with trustee Penninah Brodie (likely their daughter). The Brodies, who divide their time between the Philadelphia Main Line area and Florida, have been married for over 38 years and have three children and four grandchildren. Their philanthropic focus centers primarily on Jewish organizations and family services, most notably their transformational $10 million gift to create The Linda & Don Brodie FamilyMatters Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Linda serves as Chair of the FamilyMatters Board, demonstrating hands-on leadership involvement in their charitable giving.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

This is a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Grant activity has expanded significantly since inception:

  • 2024: $7.17 million in charitable disbursements
  • 2023: $3.5 million across 18 grants
  • 2022: 11 grants awarded
  • 2021: 4 grants awarded
  • 2020: 4 grants awarded
  • 2019: 2 grants awarded (inaugural year)

Priority Areas

Based on publicly available information about their major gifts:

Jewish Family Services: Major support for JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options) and its expansion FamilyMatters network, serving children and families impacted by abuse, neglect, trauma, or developmental disabilities

Child and Family Welfare: Organizations supporting vulnerable children, foster care, adoption services, and family strengthening programs

Jewish Community Development: Support for Jewish Federation initiatives and Jewish communal organizations in both the Philadelphia region and South Florida

Likely Additional Areas: Given Don Brodie's business background in pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing, and the family's broader Jewish community involvement, the foundation likely supports additional causes in these sectors, though specific grant recipients beyond FamilyMatters/JAFCO have not been publicly disclosed.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified, though as a small private family foundation, they likely do not fund:

  • Organizations outside the Jewish community or family services sectors
  • International projects (focus appears to be Philadelphia region and Florida)
  • General operating support to large, well-funded institutions
  • Projects without clear connections to their philanthropic interests

Governance and Leadership

Don B. Brodie - Co-Managing Trustee Don Brodie co-founded Purolite with his brother Steve in 1981, starting from modest beginnings and building it into one of the world's largest biotech and pharmaceutical resin manufacturers. After selling the $400 million company to Ecolab for $3.7 billion in 2021, Don established this family foundation. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from West Virginia University in 1969 and served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Development at Purolite, where he created the company's first products. Don is active in Jewish philanthropy, particularly through the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, where he has served as a keynote speaker on the intersection of entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Linda A. Brodie - Co-Managing Trustee Linda Brodie serves as Co-Managing Trustee of the foundation and Chair of the FamilyMatters Board. She has been married to Don for over 38 years and is deeply involved in hands-on leadership of their philanthropic initiatives. The Brodies are Main Line Philadelphia residents who also maintain strong connections to South Florida.

Penninah Brodie - Trustee Listed as a trustee on the foundation's IRS filings; likely one of Don and Linda's three adult children involved in continuing the family's philanthropic legacy.

Compensation: None of the trustees receive compensation for their foundation service.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Don And Linda Brodie Family Foundation is a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications. As a relatively new foundation (established 2019), the Brodies appear to identify charitable opportunities through:

  • Direct personal involvement: Linda serves as Board Chair of FamilyMatters, indicating they support organizations where they have direct leadership engagement
  • Trustee-directed giving: The three family trustees identify and approve all grant recipients
  • Relationship-based philanthropy: Major gifts like the $10 million to FamilyMatters suggest grants flow to organizations where the family has established relationships
  • Community connections: Ties to Jewish Federation networks in both Philadelphia and South Florida likely inform their grantmaking

The foundation does not maintain a public website, publicized grant guidelines, or published application procedures.

Getting on Their Radar

FamilyMatters/JAFCO Connection: The Brodies have demonstrated exceptional commitment to JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options) and its expansion FamilyMatters network. Linda chairs the FamilyMatters Board, and they donated $10 million to create The Linda & Don Brodie FamilyMatters Center (28,000 sq ft facility) in King of Prussia. Organizations working in child welfare, foster care, adoption services, and family strengthening within the Jewish community sector may find alignment.

Jewish Federation Networks: Don Brodie has been a keynote speaker for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County's Business & Professional Division, discussing the intersection of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Organizations connected to Jewish Federation initiatives in Philadelphia or South Florida may have pathways to connection.

Board Leadership Opportunities: The Brodies appear to give transformationally to organizations where they take leadership roles. Linda's Board Chair position at FamilyMatters demonstrates this pattern. Organizations seeking major donors who will also provide governance leadership may appeal to their philanthropic approach.

Geographic Focus: The foundation operates from both Philadelphia (Main Line area) and Delray Beach/South Florida. Organizations in these regions serving Jewish communities or family services may have geographic alignment.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private family foundation with only three trustees, decisions are likely made on a rolling basis as opportunities align with family interests rather than on a fixed calendar.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize their demonstrated philanthropic approach:

Transformational, Not Transactional: The $10 million gift to create The Linda & Don Brodie FamilyMatters Center represents transformational philanthropy—creating permanent infrastructure rather than making small annual grants. Their approach appears to focus on fewer, larger commitments.

Leadership Engagement: Linda serves as Board Chair of FamilyMatters, not merely as a donor. The Brodies seek hands-on involvement in organizations they support, contributing expertise and governance alongside financial resources.

Jewish Community Focus: Both major documented gifts support Jewish organizations (JAFCO/FamilyMatters, Jewish Federation). The foundation appears dedicated to strengthening Jewish communal infrastructure.

Family Services and Child Welfare: Their signature gift supports an organization serving children and families impacted by trauma, abuse, neglect, and developmental disabilities. This represents a clear priority area aligned with protecting vulnerable children.

Multi-Generational Approach: With three children and four grandchildren, and Penninah Brodie serving as a trustee, the foundation appears to be building a multi-generational philanthropic legacy. Organizations that can articulate long-term impact may resonate.

Regional Ties: The Brodies maintain strong connections to both the Philadelphia Main Line and South Florida communities. Geographic proximity and local impact appear important.

From Success to Significance: Don Brodie has publicly discussed how entrepreneurship and philanthropy intersect, suggesting the foundation views charitable giving as an extension of their business success and a responsibility that comes with wealth creation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT an accessible funder for cold applications: The Don And Linda Brodie Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and has no public application process
  • Relationship-based giving: All grants appear to flow through personal connections, board involvement, and Jewish Federation networks in Philadelphia and South Florida
  • Transformational scale: The $10 million FamilyMatters gift suggests they prefer fewer, larger commitments over many small grants (18 grants totaling $3.5M in 2023 averages $194,000 per grant)
  • Jewish community priority: Documented giving focuses on Jewish organizations and causes, particularly family services and child welfare
  • Hands-on leadership model: Linda chairs the FamilyMatters board—they seek governance roles, not just donor recognition
  • Geographic sweet spots: Philadelphia Main Line area and South Florida (Delray Beach/Boca Raton region)
  • Family foundation structure: With only three trustees (Don, Linda, and Penninah), decisions rest with a small family group, making relationship cultivation essential

References

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