← Back to US Funders Directory

Brian And Sheila Jellison Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.5M
Grant Range
$500K - $25.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10.5 million (2025)
  • Total Assets: $84.1 million (2025)
  • Geographic Focus: National (concentrated in Florida, Indiana)
  • Grant Range: $500,000 - $25,000,000+ (major gifts)
  • Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 773, Ramsey, NJ 07446

Tax ID (EIN): 83-2115946

Note: The foundation does not provide public contact information for grant inquiries. They operate on an invitation-only or trustee-discretion basis.

Overview

The Brian and Sheila Jellison Family Foundation was established in 2018 by Sheila Jellison and her three daughters—Christina Jellison Mucha, Michelle Jellison, and Hilary Jellison Simonds—shortly before the death of Brian D. Jellison, former CEO and Chairman of Roper Technologies. Since its founding in May 2019, the foundation has distributed over $10 million annually, focusing on cancer care, financial literacy and higher education, and communities with special meaning to the family. The foundation's approach is deeply personal, rooted in Brian's 50-year business career that grew Roper Technologies' market capitalization from $1.5 billion to over $30 billion, and the family's experience navigating his cancer diagnosis. With total assets exceeding $84 million, the foundation makes transformational gifts ranging from $500,000 to over $25 million to select institutions.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Cancer Care and Research

  • Cancer institute development and infrastructure
  • Cancer vaccine research and clinical trials
  • Comprehensive cancer patient support services
  • Programs that help people "overcome cancer-related challenges"

Financial Literacy and Higher Education

  • Free enterprise education
  • Financial literacy programs, particularly free public courses
  • University business school support
  • Student scholarships and study abroad programs
  • Educational infrastructure and technology

Disaster Relief and Community Support

  • Hurricane and natural disaster recovery (particularly in Sarasota, Florida region)
  • Immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts
  • Community resilience programs
  • Support for local communities "of special interest to the family"

Notable Recent Grants

  • $25 million to Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation (2020) for the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute
  • $16 million to Indiana University Kelley School of Business (2020) for financial literacy courses, living-learning center, and facilities
  • $2 million matching gift to Cancer Vaccine Coalition (2025) for breast cancer vaccine clinical trials
  • $1 million in matching gifts to Community Foundation of Sarasota County (2024) for hurricane relief
  • $500,000 matching gift to Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund (2022) following Hurricane Ian

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly stated, the foundation's giving is highly focused on their three core areas. The foundation appears to concentrate on:

  • Major institutional partnerships rather than small grants
  • Initiatives in geographies connected to the family (Florida, Indiana, New Jersey)
  • Projects aligned with Brian Jellison's legacy in business education and the family's cancer experience

Governance and Leadership

President: Sheila Jellison (widow of Brian D. Jellison)

Vice Presidents:

  • Christina Jellison Mucha (daughter)
  • Michelle Jellison (daughter)

Secretary: Hilary Jellison Simonds (daughter)

The foundation operates as a close-knit family organization with all leadership positions held by immediate family members. No compensation is reported for any officers, indicating this is a volunteer-led family foundation.

Leadership Philosophy

The family's philanthropic approach is deeply rooted in personal experience and values. As Sheila Jellison stated to Dr. Brown at Sarasota Memorial: "Most of all, you gave us hope. When dealing with cancer, hope is the most important element." Daughter Hilary noted, "We are a family that is always there for each other above everything else," which reflects their collaborative decision-making approach.

On education, Sheila has said: "Education was first and foremost to Brian. Given an education in the field you want to pursue opens all kinds of doors."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Brian and Sheila Jellison Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model, with grants awarded through family leadership decisions rather than competitive applications.

Based on their giving history (14 awards in 2024, 13 in 2023), the foundation makes approximately 10-15 grants annually, typically to established institutions with which they have developed relationships or connections to the family's personal interests and geography.

Grant recipients appear to be identified through:

  • The family's direct connections to institutions (Brian's alma mater Indiana University, their local healthcare system in Sarasota)
  • Strategic initiatives aligned with their mission that come to the foundation's attention
  • Community needs in regions important to the family
  • Institutional partnerships for major capital projects

Organizations seeking support should not submit unsolicited proposals. Any potential relationship would need to develop organically through the family's existing networks and interests.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, the following factors characterize their successful grants:

Alignment with Family Values and Experience

The foundation's largest grants directly reflect the family's personal journey—cancer care honoring Brian's battle with the disease, financial literacy reflecting his business leadership success, and support for Indiana University where Brian graduated in 1968.

Transformational Impact Potential

The foundation favors major, transformational gifts that create lasting change:

  • The $25 million cancer institute gift was the largest in Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation's history at the time
  • The $16 million to IU Kelley provides free financial literacy courses to thousands
  • The $2 million breast cancer vaccine grant was the first major donation to jumpstart the Cancer Vaccine Coalition

As daughter Michelle observed about the cancer center: "You don't need a fancy building to do medicine well, yet there's something beautiful about the Radiation Oncology Center"—suggesting the family values both functional excellence and meaningful symbolism.

Geographic Connections

Successful recipients have strong ties to:

  • Sarasota, Florida (family's current residence)
  • Indiana (Brian's educational roots)
  • New Jersey (foundation's registered address in Ramsey, NJ)

Providing Hope and Opening Doors

The family's stated values emphasize:

  • Hope: Particularly for cancer patients, as Sheila emphasized hope as "the most important element"
  • Access: Free financial literacy courses ensure education "opens all kinds of doors" regardless of ability to pay
  • Comprehensive support: Cancer care that addresses emotional and navigation needs, not just medical treatment

Matching and Leverage Opportunities

Several recent grants have been structured as matching gifts:

  • $500,000 match for Season of Sharing hurricane relief
  • $500,000 match for Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
  • $2 million matching gift for Cancer Vaccine Coalition

This suggests the family values initiatives that can mobilize additional community support and maximize impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists: This foundation is not accessible through traditional grant applications. They identify and approach organizations aligned with their mission.

  • Focus on transformational giving: The foundation makes relatively few grants (10-15 annually) but at significant dollar amounts, favoring major institutional partnerships over numerous small grants.

  • Personal connection is paramount: All major grants tie directly to the family's biography—Brian's cancer journey, his business leadership career, his education at Indiana University, and their Sarasota community.

  • Three clear pillars: Cancer care, financial literacy/higher education, and meaningful local communities. Projects must fit squarely within these areas.

  • Values-driven decision making: Look for hope, access, opening doors, comprehensive support, and family togetherness in their funding choices.

  • Geographic concentration: Florida (especially Sarasota) and Indiana are priority regions with family connections.

  • Institutional credibility matters: Recipients include major cancer centers, established universities, and respected community foundations—not emerging or grassroots organizations.

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Join the Launch ListLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory