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Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.2M
Grant Range
$25K - $17.0M

Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18,205,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $414.3 million
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $17,000,000
  • Median Grant: $75,000
  • Geographic Focus: Virginia (58% of US giving), with additional funding across 8+ other states
  • Status: Private Foundation (established July 2022)

Contact Details

Address: 2702 Monument Ave, Richmond, VA

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations through trustee discretion.

Overview

The Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation was established in July 2022 as a private grantmaking foundation following the death of Barbara Brunckhorst in late 2020. Barbara Brunckhorst was the daughter of Frank Brunckhorst, founder of Boar's Head Provisions Co. With assets of $414.3 million and annual giving of approximately $18.2 million, the foundation represents one of the most significant new philanthropic entities in Virginia. The foundation is led by Dr. R. Todd Stravitz, Barbara's son, a hepatologist and liver disease specialist whose personal medical expertise strongly influences the foundation's strategic focus on liver disease research and healthcare innovation. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed 46 individual grants totaling $38,185,000, with an average grant size of $958,158. The foundation has gained recognition for transformational gifts, including receiving the Outstanding Organizational Partner Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Virginia Chapter.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal application process. Grant amounts vary significantly based on strategic priorities:

  • Major Institutional Grants: $17,000,000+ (transformational gifts to establish research institutes and endowed positions)
  • Significant Grants: $100,000 - $5,000,000 (substantial program support)
  • Standard Grants: $25,000 - $100,000 (project-specific funding)

Application Method: Invitation only / trustee discretion

Priority Areas

The foundation's funding priorities strongly reflect the vision and expertise of its leadership:

Healthcare & Medical Research (Primary Focus)

  • Liver disease research and treatment
  • Metabolic health research
  • Medical research infrastructure and facilities
  • Endowed chairs and faculty positions in medical schools
  • Support for early-career medical researchers
  • Graduate and postdoctoral medical education programs

Environmental Conservation

  • Land conservation and environmental protection
  • Climate change initiatives
  • Environmental advocacy organizations

Higher Education

  • Medical and health sciences education
  • Graduate and postdoctoral programs
  • Research infrastructure at universities
  • Interdisciplinary approaches involving engineering, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and business

Geographic Emphasis

  • Strong preference for Virginia-based organizations (58% of US giving)
  • Within Virginia, concentration in Richmond area (55%), Alexandria (18%), and Bowling Green (9%)
  • National grants to specialized organizations aligned with mission

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, which effectively excludes organizations not already known to the trustees. Based on their funding patterns, the foundation does not appear to support:

  • General operating support for small community organizations
  • Arts and culture programs
  • Religious organizations
  • International programs
  • Individual scholarships (outside of institutional programs)
  • Organizations without a proven track record
  • Projects outside their strategic focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Richard Todd Stravitz, MD (Trustee, Compensation: $84,000) Dr. Stravitz is a hepatologist and liver disease specialist, the son of Barbara Brunckhorst, and the primary driving force behind the foundation's strategic direction. His medical expertise in liver disease has shaped the foundation's major philanthropic initiatives. He serves on the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (FAASLD).

Susan S. Kemp (Trustee, Compensation: $84,000) Serves as trustee with substantial involvement in foundation operations and grantmaking decisions.

Ansley S. Dowler (Trustee, uncompensated) Serves as trustee on the foundation's board.

Staff

Glen G. Besa (Grants Administrator, Compensation: $55,200) Manages the administrative aspects of the foundation's grantmaking operations.

Leadership Perspective

Dr. Stravitz has stated his commitment to honoring his mother's legacy through strategic philanthropy focused on advancing medical research and environmental conservation. The foundation's giving reflects both Barbara Brunckhorst's interests in environmental causes and Dr. Stravitz's professional focus on liver disease research.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the board's strategic priorities and existing relationships. In 2023, all 19 grant recipients (100%) were new grantees, indicating that the trustees actively identify and select new organizations to support rather than relying solely on repeat grantees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. Grants are made on a rolling basis as trustees identify organizations aligned with the foundation's mission.

Success Rates

Not applicable for external applicants. The foundation operates through trustee-initiated grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their funding patterns, the following insights may be valuable for organizations hoping to come to the foundation's attention:

1. Alignment with Trustee Expertise The foundation's largest grants have been in liver disease research, directly reflecting Dr. Stravitz's medical specialty. Organizations working in hepatology, liver disease, metabolic health, and related medical research appear to be highest priority.

2. Transformational Impact Potential The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make very large grants ($104 million to VCU, $25 million to AASLD Foundation) that can transform an institution's capacity. Projects that can articulate how major funding would create lasting change may be of interest.

3. Virginia Connections 58% of the foundation's US giving goes to Virginia organizations, with particular concentration in Richmond. Virginia-based institutions, especially those with connections to VCU or the Richmond medical community, appear to have stronger likelihood of consideration.

4. Institutional Credibility Grant recipients have included major universities, established medical associations, and recognized environmental organizations. The foundation appears to prefer working with established institutions with proven track records.

5. Environmental Conservation Beyond healthcare, the foundation has supported environmental causes including the Sierra Club Foundation, Southern Environmental Law Center, and The Nature Conservancy, reflecting Barbara Brunckhorst's interests.

6. Interdisciplinary Approaches The foundation's support for VCU specifically included investment in interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, nursing, pharmacy, social work, arts, and business alongside medical research.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The foundation operates entirely through trustee-directed grantmaking to preselected organizations
  • Liver disease research is the clear priority - The foundation's two largest public gifts ($104M and $25M) both focused on hepatology research and education
  • Think transformational, not incremental - Grant sizes range from $25,000 to $17,000,000 with median of $75,000, but the foundation has shown appetite for very large, institution-changing gifts
  • Virginia focus is strong - More than half of domestic giving stays in Virginia, particularly the Richmond area
  • Leadership expertise drives strategy - Dr. Stravitz's background as a hepatologist directly shapes funding priorities
  • New relationships are possible - 100% of 2023 grantees were new to the foundation, showing trustees actively seek out new organizations
  • Environmental conservation is secondary priority - While healthcare dominates, the foundation maintains commitment to environmental causes honoring Barbara Brunckhorst's interests

References

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