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The Ray And Tye Noorda Foundation

Annual Giving
$20.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

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The Ray And Tye Noorda Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20.1 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Utah, with occasional national and international grants
  • Assets: $101.6 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 333 S 520 W Suite 101, Lindon, UT 84042

Phone: 801-225-6731

Email: info@rtnf.org

Website: www.rtnf.org

Application Portal: Online portal available at rtnf.org (applications are now accepted by invitation only; the open application system has been retired)

Overview

The Ray And Tye Noorda Foundation was established in 2000 by Ray Noorda, former CEO of Novell Technology and known as the "Father of Network Computing," and his wife Tye Noorda. Following Ray's passing in 2006, the foundation continues to honour the couple's legacy of generous philanthropy in Utah. With over $101 million in assets, the foundation envisions "a world where all people enjoy equal opportunities to achieve health, purpose and happiness." The foundation supports evidence-based programmes that alleviate suffering and provide educational support for disadvantaged people, both globally and locally. In recent years, RTNF has strengthened its institutional capacity by hiring its first programmatic staff, including Executive Director Brittany Erikson, who developed the foundation's grantmaking process, mission, values, and online application system from the ground up. The foundation made 39 awards in 2023, distributing $20.2 million in grants. The foundation has announced a planned spend-down by 2031.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation moved to an invitation-only model in late 2023, retiring its open application portal due to staffing and cash flow constraints as it prepares for a planned 2031 spend-down. Applications are accepted by invitation only; the foundation proactively identifies organisations it wishes to fund.

The foundation offers 1–2 year grant commitments at a time, with renewal opportunities available after reporting requirements are met. Grant amounts range from approximately $5,000 to $1 million, with an average grant size of $516,939 based on 2023 giving data.

Priority Areas

Core Focus Areas:

  • Higher Education: Scholarships, university programmes, and educational access initiatives
  • Health: Programmes addressing disease prevention and healthcare access
  • Human Services: Support for disadvantaged populations, including homeless youth
  • Environment and Climate: Efforts to eliminate fossil fuel use and explore alternative energy sources
  • Children and Youth: Programmes supporting vulnerable young people

Evidence-Based Approach: The foundation strongly emphasises data-driven, evidence-based interventions with rigorous impact evaluations. RTNF asks the critical question: "Is the intervention at least as effective as giving participants cash?" This reflects their high bar for demonstrating measurable impact.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Giving Green Fund: $1 million (2024) for climate initiatives including heavy industry decarbonisation, geothermal energy, alternative proteins, and advanced nuclear
  • IDinsight/CARE: $1.5 million for identifying and optimising interventions with sustainable scale potential
  • GiveDirectly: Multi-year support for cash transfer programmes
  • Volunteers of America Utah's Homeless Youth Resource Center
  • Bicycle Collective of Salt Lake City
  • ScenicView Academy

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, the foundation's focus on evidence-based programmes suggests they do not fund:

  • Programmes lacking rigorous impact evaluation
  • Organisations without clear strategic planning
  • Projects that cannot demonstrate scalability or sustainability

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Board Members:

  • Raye Noorda
  • Taylor Noorda
  • Brent Noorda

Officers:

  • Andy Noorda

Executive Leadership:

  • Brittany Erikson, Executive Director: As RTNF's first programmatic staff member, Erikson led development of the foundation's strategy and grantmaking process from the ground up. She has nearly a decade of experience in philanthropy with expertise in trust-based philanthropy, process development, and evidence-based giving. A Vanderbilt University graduate, she has positioned RTNF as a data-driven foundation focused on maximising impact.

Leadership Philosophy

Brittany Erikson's approach to grantmaking emphasises strategic partnerships: "The idea of giving to the Giving Green Fund that is operated by specialists in climate feels like we're expanding our philanthropic staff. Suddenly we have the Giving Green team and all the expertise they bring. It's like an extension of RTNF's own team members." This quote reveals the foundation's philosophy of leveraging external expertise to maximise impact beyond their internal capacity.

The foundation values self-determination and empowerment, preferring interventions that respect participants' ability to make their own decisions rather than prescribing predetermined solutions.

Application Process & Timeline

Invitation-Only Process

Since late 2023, the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation has operated on an invitation-only basis, having retired its open application portal. The foundation proactively identifies organisations it wishes to fund; unsolicited proposals are not accepted. If portfolio space opens in future, the foundation may engage in confidential scoping to avoid wasting prospective partners' time.

Eligibility Requirements: Organisations considered by the foundation must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Additional requirements apply:

  • Utah-based organisations: Operating budgets exceeding $350,000
  • Non-US organisations: Operating budgets of $5–20 million annually
  • Organisations should be supported by aligned peer funders who demonstrate value alignment, rigorous due diligence, and recent programme visits (within 3 years)
  • Grant requests should represent 5–8% of a programme or organisation budget

Due Diligence Process (By Invitation): Organisations invited to apply will participate in:

  • Submission of additional internal strategy documents
  • Proposed milestone discussions
  • Conversations with key staff and board members
  • Possible site visits

Grant Commitments

The foundation offers 1–2 year commitments at a time, with renewal opportunities available afterward. Single-year funding recipients face approximately an 18-month wait before eligibility for additional support, due to reporting timelines.

Historical Context

Prior to late 2023, RTNF operated a semi-annual open application cycle with an average success rate of 10–15% of applicants receiving funding. In 2023, 39 organisations received grants, distributing $20.2 million.

Reapplication Policy

As the foundation is invitation-only, organisations cannot directly apply for funding. Organisations that have previously received support and are interested in renewal should maintain their relationship with the foundation and continue to meet reporting requirements, as renewal opportunities are available after the initial grant period.

Application Success Factors

What RTNF Looks For

1. Evidence-Based Impact RTNF sets a high bar for demonstrating measurable outcomes. Applications should include:

  • Rigorous impact evaluations with specific data
  • Clear evidence that the intervention works
  • Comparison to alternative interventions (including cash transfers as a benchmark)
  • Research-backed approaches

2. Strategic Planning & Scalability Successful applications demonstrate:

  • Clear 3-5 year organisational vision with specific milestones
  • Pathways to scale and broad impact potential
  • Well-developed strategies, not aspirational goals
  • Potential for "game-changing" impact in beneficiaries' lives

3. Strong Leadership & Team RTNF evaluates:

  • Leaders who are passionate, capable, and motivated
  • Expertise in respective fields
  • Talented, qualified staff surrounding leadership
  • Organisational capacity to execute ambitious plans

4. Financial Sustainability Organisations must show:

  • Environmental and financial sustainability plans
  • Diversified funding sources
  • Clear path to independence from RTNF support
  • No expectation of becoming reliant on RTNF funding long-term

5. Alignment with Self-Determination Values The foundation prefers interventions that:

  • Empower participants to make their own decisions
  • Respect individual agency and choice
  • Avoid paternalistic, prescriptive approaches
  • Support human dignity and self-determination

Application Tips

  • Be Data-Driven: Include specific metrics, evaluation results, and rigorous evidence throughout your application
  • Show Your Strategy: Don't just describe programmes—demonstrate strategic thinking about organisational growth and impact expansion
  • Prove Sustainability: Address how you'll maintain impact beyond RTNF funding
  • Emphasise Expertise: Highlight leadership credentials and team qualifications in your field
  • Request Feedback: If the foundation has previously declined to proceed with your organisation, seeking feedback where possible can help strengthen your future positioning

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only: The foundation no longer accepts unsolicited applications; it proactively identifies organisations to engage
  • Planned spend-down by 2031: The foundation is in its final grant-making phase, with an increasing focus on renewal partners
  • Evidence is non-negotiable: Include specific data and impact evaluations; vague claims will not succeed in this data-driven environment
  • Utah connection helpful but not required: While primarily focused on Utah, RTNF makes national and international grants for exceptionally strong proposals
  • Leverage the feedback opportunity: If the foundation has previously declined to proceed, requesting feedback can significantly strengthen future positioning
  • Demonstrate independence: Show clear plans for financial sustainability without ongoing RTNF dependence—they want to catalyse, not perpetually support
  • Budget requirements apply: Utah-based organisations need operating budgets exceeding $350,000; non-US organisations need budgets of $5–20 million

References

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