Bolduc Schuster Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,729,750 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (private foundation, no public application)
• Decision Time: Not applicable
• Grant Range: Median $10,000 (estimated range $1,000 - $100,000+)
• Geographic Focus: Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut only

Contact Details

• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Public Application: No public application process

Overview

The Bolduc Schuster Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in July 2022 by Robert L. and Roberta B. Bolduc following the sale of their Pride Stores convenience store chain. With assets of approximately $12.7 million and annual grant distributions of $1.7 million, the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting local charities in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut - the communities where the Bolduc family built their business. The foundation operates with a clear philosophy rooted in giving back to the communities that supported their success, with Bob Bolduc noting, "We make our money from the community, so we have the opportunity to support the community."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not maintain formal grant programs but distributes funds across several priority areas:

• Youth and Family Support: Variable amounts supporting organizations serving children in need
• Education Initiatives: Including direct support to schools ($1,000 per school in one documented distribution to 31 schools)
• Foster Care Programs: Major supporter of CHD's MaryAnne's Kids program

Priority Areas

• Children and families (primary focus)
• Education and youth development
• Foster care support
• People experiencing serious need
• Arts programs for youth (through Hope for Youth and Families)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation appears to exclude:

• Organizations outside Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut
• National or international charities
• Programs not directly serving children and families

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by two trustees:

• Robert L. Bolduc - Founder and former CEO of Pride Stores, sold to ArcLight Capital Partners in January 2022
• Roberta B. Bolduc - Co-trustee

Bob Bolduc has articulated the foundation's philosophy with statements including "Children have a right to be children" and emphasizes supporting "solid groups" with reliable management where impact can be directly observed in the community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they identify and select within their local community.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and the Bolducs' involvement in the community:

• The Bolducs are active supporters of CHD (Community Health Decisions) and maintain relationships with local nonprofits
• Bob Bolduc created the separate Hope for Youth and Families Foundation which operates the HOPE Center for the Arts in Springfield, MA
• They prioritize organizations with "solid" and reliable management
• Focus on demonstrable community impact in Western MA and Northern CT

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations are selected by trustees.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's known giving patterns and stated philosophy:

• Geographic alignment is essential - only organizations serving Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut are considered
• The Bolducs value organizations with proven track records and "solid" management
• Programs directly serving children, particularly those in foster care or experiencing serious need, align with core priorities
• The foundation supports both ongoing programs (like CHD's MaryAnne's Kids) and specific initiatives (school distributions)
• Personal relationships and community connections appear to be the primary pathway to funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based funder with no public application process - connections must be built through community involvement
• Hyper-local focus on Western MA and Northern CT is non-negotiable
• Children and family services are the clear priority, especially foster care support
• The foundation values proven organizations with strong management
• Median grant size of $10,000 suggests they support both smaller community needs and larger initiatives
• Consider connections through CHD, Square One, or other known recipient organizations
• The Bolducs' business background (Pride Stores) and community involvement provide context for their giving philosophy

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 data for EIN 87-4061521 (Accessed February 2024)
• CHD Website - "Bob and Roberta Bolduc: Supporting foster children and families" feature story
• BusinessWest - Articles on Bob Bolduc and Pride Stores sale (January 2022)
• Instrumentl Foundation Database - Bolduc Schuster Family Foundation profile (Accessed February 2024)
• CauseIQ - Foundation profile and grant analysis (Accessed February 2024)
• Hope for Youth and Families Foundation website (hyff.org) - Related foundation information