Rudd Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3,013,235 (2024)
Total Assets: $35,818,572 (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies by program and trustee discretion
Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Kansas (scholarships) and select national initiatives (education, health policy, Jewish causes)

Contact Details

Address: 2416 E. 37th Street North, Wichita, KS 67219

Phone: (316) 847-4828

Overview

The Rudd Foundation was established in 1998 by Leslie Rudd, a Kansas native who became a successful vintner and entrepreneur in Napa Valley. Rudd, who passed away in 2018, created the foundation to honor Midwestern values of grit, determination, and work ethic that he credited for his success. With total assets of approximately $35.8 million and annual grant-making of over $3 million, the foundation focuses on improving individual lives through education, health policy, and community support. The foundation's philanthropic work spans from full-ride college scholarships for Kansas students to national initiatives supporting wine and culinary education, obesity research and policy, and Jewish causes. The foundation has grown significantly since its inception, with assets increasing from $2.4 million in 2011 to over $35 million by 2024, enabling expanded grant-making activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Rudd Foundation's grant-making occurs through several distinct areas:

Rudd Scholarship Program: Full-ride scholarships for Pell Grant-eligible Kansas high school students to attend Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, or Wichita State University. The program covers any remaining cost of attendance after all other aid, grants, and scholarships are applied. Since inception in 2017, the program has awarded over 200 full-ride scholarships representing approximately $20 million+ in financial commitments.

Wine and Culinary Education: The foundation provided the lead grant to establish the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America's St. Helena campus in 2003, which has since served over 15,000 students in professional wine education programs.

Health Policy and Obesity Research: Provided $5 million in seed funding to establish the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, originally at Yale University (2005) and now at the University of Connecticut. The center focuses on childhood obesity prevention, healthy food policy, and combating weight discrimination.

Community Initiatives in Kansas: Capital grants to Wichita-area organizations, including a $1 million leadership gift to League 42 Foundation for the Leslie Rudd Education Center, which provides after-school activities and learning opportunities for youth in Wichita.

Jewish Causes: Multi-year commitments to organizations including UJA Federation of New York's Upward Initiative, which supports food pantries and human services for people experiencing poverty in New York City.

Priority Areas

Education: College access for low-income Kansas students; professional education in wine, culinary, and hospitality industries; youth educational programs
Health and Wellness: Obesity research and prevention; healthy food policy; combating weight stigma and discrimination
Community Development: Programs benefiting the Wichita community and surrounding Kansas areas
Jewish Philanthropy: Support for Jewish organizations and causes nationally
Wine and Food Industry: Professional development and education for wine and culinary professionals

What They Don't Fund

Information about explicit exclusions is not publicly available. However, the foundation's giving is highly focused on the priority areas listed above, with most grants appearing to align with the founder's personal interests in education, wine/culinary arts, health policy, and Kansas community development.

Governance and Leadership

Specific information about current board members and trustees is not publicly available through the foundation's website or public filings. The foundation operates as a private foundation established by Leslie Rudd, who passed away in 2018.

Founder Legacy: Leslie Rudd (1941-2018) was a Wichita native and Wichita State University graduate who built Standard Beverage Company into Kansas's largest beverage distributor before expanding into wine, specialty food retail (Dean & DeLuca, Oakville Grocery), restaurants, and wineries in Napa Valley. He established the foundation to give back to his Kansas roots and support causes he was passionate about throughout his life.

The foundation is managed by LRICO Services LLC and operates with staff that coordinates the scholarship program and philanthropic initiatives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Rudd Foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants. Grant-making for organizations appears to occur through trustee discretion and invitation only. The foundation's significant grants have been directed to specific initiatives aligned with the founder's interests and values, often involving multi-year commitments or capital campaigns.

Scholarship Applications: The only publicly accessible application is for the Rudd Scholarship Program, which is open to Kansas high school seniors who qualify for Pell Grants. Applications are submitted through an online portal at webportalapp.com during designated application periods.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's approach to grant-making through trustee discretion, timelines likely vary depending on the nature and scope of the grant request.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed for organizational grants. For the scholarship program, the foundation awarded 140 scholarships in 2023, 132 in 2022, and 108 in 2021, though the total number of applicants is not published.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the lack of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that the Rudd Foundation operates primarily through trustee discretion without a public application process, the following factors appear relevant based on their giving patterns:

Alignment with Leslie Rudd's Values: The foundation's grant-making clearly reflects the founder's personal interests and Kansas roots. Projects that embody Midwestern values of grit, determination, work ethic, integrity, and community impact align with the foundation's mission.

Focus on Education and Opportunity: The foundation prioritizes initiatives that create educational opportunities, particularly for underserved populations. This is evident in both the scholarship program for Pell-eligible students and support for professional education in the wine and culinary industries.

Long-term Strategic Impact: Major grants appear to support transformational initiatives with lasting impact, such as establishing centers of excellence (Rudd Center for Wine Studies, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity) rather than short-term program funding.

Kansas Connection: For community grants, connection to Wichita and Kansas is clearly important. The scholarship program exclusively serves Kansas students, and community grants support Wichita-area youth and educational initiatives.

Personal Relationships: Given the private nature of the foundation's grant-making and its roots in Leslie Rudd's personal philanthropy, existing relationships with the foundation or individuals connected to Leslie Rudd's business enterprises may be relevant for consideration.

Capital and Infrastructure: Several major grants have supported capital campaigns and infrastructure development (Leslie Rudd Education Center at League 42, CIA Rudd Center facility) rather than ongoing operating support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - This foundation makes grants through trustee discretion and invitation only; direct unsolicited proposals are not accepted
Scholarship focus - The foundation's most active public-facing program is the Rudd Scholarship for Kansas students; organizational grants are much more limited and selective
Long-term commitments - The foundation appears to favor significant, multi-year commitments to establish programs or facilities rather than annual operating grants
Kansas roots matter - Connection to Wichita, Kansas, and the Midwest is a strong factor in grant decisions, particularly for community-focused initiatives
Alignment with founder's legacy - Projects that reflect Leslie Rudd's interests in education, wine/culinary arts, health policy, and Jewish causes are most likely to receive consideration
Strategic partnerships - Major grants have involved partnerships with established institutions (Yale/UConn, CIA, major universities) rather than smaller grassroots organizations
Relationship-based giving - Without a public application process, developing relationships with foundation leadership or board members would be necessary for consideration

References

Accessed: December 25, 2025