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Cyrus Tang Foundation

Annual Giving
$15.4M
Grant Range
$600K - $1.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15,393,910 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Variable (project-dependent)
  • Grant Range: $600,000 - $1,000,000+ (major grants to universities)
  • Geographic Focus: China and United States (transnational partnerships)
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 8960 Spanish Ridge Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89148 Phone: 702-734-3700 Email: tang@tangfoundation.org Website: www.cyrustangfoundation.org / www.tangfoundation.org

Overview

The Cyrus Tang Foundation was established in 1995 (formally) by entrepreneur and philanthropist Cyrus Tang (1930-2018), who immigrated to the United States from Suzhou, China in 1950. The foundation operates with total annual giving of approximately $15.4 million (2023), focusing on supporting initiatives that create "a more caring society" through investments in education, healthcare, and community development. The foundation primarily supports transnational partnerships between Chinese and American universities, with a particular emphasis on projects that benefit disadvantaged communities in China while fostering cross-cultural understanding. As of 2024, the foundation has provided scholarships to 14,256 students in Chinese universities, built 251 primary schools in impoverished rural areas of China (1996-2003), and supported major research initiatives at leading institutions including the University of Chicago, RAND Corporation, and Fudan University. The foundation operates as a private independent foundation and does not accept unsolicited grant applications, instead working through an established network of trusted university partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, they identify and fund strategic projects through their network of trusted university partners. Recent major grants include:

  • University Research Partnerships: $600,000 - $1,000,000 (multi-year grants to support collaborative research between Chinese and US universities)
  • Healthcare Innovation Projects: $900,000 (three-year grant to University of Chicago Medicine and Tongji University for community healthcare improvements)
  • Cultural Education Initiatives: $1,000,000 (three-year grant to Field Museum for K-12 Asian history curriculum development)
  • Student Scholarships: Awards to approximately 2,800 college students annually across 21 key universities in China

Priority Areas

Education

  • Scholarships and fellowships for Chinese university students (43,000+ awards to 12,000+ students to date)
  • Cross-cultural educational programs and curriculum development
  • Research partnerships between US and Chinese universities
  • Teacher training programs
  • K-12 educational initiatives focused on Asian history and cultural understanding

Healthcare

  • Public health research and infrastructure (e.g., ¥120 million endowment for Cyrus Tang Public Health Research Institute at Fudan University)
  • Community-based healthcare delivery models
  • Mental health screening and intervention development
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine research using both Eastern and Western methodologies
  • Medical training and capacity building

Community Development

  • Programs fostering civic engagement and community service
  • Cross-cultural understanding and US-China relations
  • Projects addressing social challenges in disadvantaged communities
  • Cultural heritage preservation and education

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's approach is highly selective and focused on:

  • Projects outside their three core areas (education, healthcare, community development)
  • Individual requests unrelated to established university partnerships
  • Organizations without demonstrated track records or existing relationships
  • Projects without potential for measurable, sustainable impact
  • Single-country initiatives (preference for transnational US-China partnerships)

Note: The foundation explicitly states "The Foundations do not accept unsolicited request of donations."

Governance and Leadership

Founder: Cyrus Chung-Ying Tang (1930-2018) - Entrepreneur who founded Tang Industries in 1970 and established the foundation in 1995

Current Leadership:

  • Patrick Liang, Executive Director - Has been with the foundation for over 25 years; also serves as Managing Director-China for Tang Industries Inc. Holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2009). Based in Las Vegas, NV.

Key Personnel: Ben Rivera (listed in association with the foundation's Las Vegas address)

Foundation Philosophy (from founder Cyrus Tang):

"I believe success in life is not based in assets gained or knowledge acquired. It is how we make use of what we have to contribute to society."

Tang also advised future philanthropists to "find a cause or causes that they are passionate about, rather than what is fashionable at the time."

Patrick Liang on funding priorities (regarding Field Museum grant):

"We are delighted to support The Field Museum's initiative to extend the impact of the Cyrus Tang Hall of China to K-12 classrooms."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Cyrus Tang Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, letters of inquiry, or direct applications from organizations.

Instead, the foundation identifies and funds projects through:

  • An established network of trusted partners in higher education in China and the US
  • Strategic relationships with universities and research institutions
  • Proactive identification of initiatives that align with the foundation's mission
  • Long-term institutional partnerships developed over years

The foundation approaches philanthropic work with a business-like mindset, seeking projects with "measurable returns" and potential for sustainable impact beyond initial foundation support. They are selective in their support, targeting "those who are deserving of help and who have demonstrated initiative."

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made on a strategic, relationship-based model rather than application cycles. Projects appear to be developed collaboratively with partner institutions over extended periods.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. In 2023, the foundation made one major award totaling $15.4 million, indicating they make focused, substantial investments rather than numerous smaller grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no formal application or reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Cyrus Tang Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis through trusted university partners, the traditional concept of "application success factors" does not apply. However, examining their funded projects reveals what attracts foundation support:

Institutional Characteristics:

  • Established, prestigious universities with strong track records
  • Institutions with existing connections to both China and the United States
  • Organizations demonstrating long-term commitment to the foundation's priority areas
  • Partners capable of matching or leveraging foundation investments for greater impact

Project Characteristics Based on Recent Grants:

  • Transnational partnerships: Nearly all major grants support collaboration between Chinese and US institutions (e.g., University of Chicago-Tongji University, UCI-Beijing Normal University)
  • Innovation in traditional fields: Projects that bring new approaches to established challenges (e.g., ECHO telehealth model adapted for China, digital mental health tools)
  • Scalability and sustainability: Initiatives with potential to grow beyond initial funding and create lasting change
  • Multi-year commitments: Recent major grants are three-year commitments ($600,000-$1,000,000), suggesting preference for sustained engagement over one-time support
  • Community-centered approaches: Projects serving disadvantaged populations or addressing equity issues
  • Measurable outcomes: Alignment with founder's business-like approach seeking "measurable returns"

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • University of Chicago Medicine + Tongji University: $900,000 to establish first ECHO Hub in China for community healthcare improvement
  • UCI + Beijing Normal University: $600,000 for mental health screening/intervention development addressing stigma and worker shortages
  • Field Museum: $1,000,000 for K-12 Asian history curriculum development promoting cultural empathy

Foundation's Stated Priorities:

  • Supporting students based on "scholastic achievements, financial needs, exemplary conduct and civic involvement"
  • Seeking "passionate problem solvers to create a more caring society"
  • Preference for projects that "raise awareness" and encourage other institutions to improve quality of life

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct application pathway exists - This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application methods; they work exclusively through established university partnerships
  • Focus on building institutional relationships - If your organization has connections with major universities in the US or China that work with the foundation, those relationships are your pathway
  • Think transnational - Nearly all major grants support US-China partnerships; single-country projects appear less likely to receive support
  • Demonstrate measurable impact - The foundation's business-like approach emphasizes projects with clear, quantifiable outcomes and potential for sustainable growth
  • Major grants only - Recent giving patterns show large, focused investments ($600,000-$1,000,000+) rather than numerous smaller grants
  • Long-term engagement - Multi-year commitments are standard; be prepared to demonstrate sustained institutional capacity
  • Priority on education and healthcare - While community development is supported, education and healthcare dominate the grant portfolio, particularly projects addressing challenges in disadvantaged Chinese communities

References

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