Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9,780,300 (2024)
• Total Assets: $176.8 million
• Grants Awarded: 320 grants (2024)
• Decision Time: 8-16 weeks
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $2,000,000 (typical awards)
• Median Grant: $25,000
• Program Grant Caps: $10,000 (P/Arts), $25,000 (Eager to Learn, New Era Writers)
• Geographic Focus: Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Washington, DC

Contact Details

Address: 515 N Flagler Dr Ste 500, West Palm Beach, FL 33401-4348

Phone: 561-508-3858

Email: info@ctbfoundation.org

Website: www.ctbfoundation.org

Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Overview

The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation was established in 2007 by Mrs. Cornelia Tarrant Bailey, daughter of U.S. Army Brigadier Generals and graduate of Wellesley College with an art history degree. The foundation was created after the passing of her husband Glenn W. Bailey, a Navy veteran and successful business leader. With total assets of approximately $176.8 million and annual giving of $9.78 million (2024), the foundation is dedicated to advancing the arts, education, and innovative initiatives that enrich lives through nature and the sciences. The foundation has received Platinum standing with Guidestar and Excellence standing with Nonprofits First, the top ratings a non-profit can receive. In 2024, the foundation made a significant $4M gift to expand STEM education at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, demonstrating their commitment to science education alongside their traditional focus on arts and education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers two pathways for funding:

1. Program Grants (Direct Application)

• P/Arts (Philanthropic Arts): Up to $10,000 per grant

  • Launched in 2019 to integrate art education into curricula and early childhood education
  • Supports non-profits, accredited schools, universities, and public agencies
  • Organizations can apply annually for up to three consecutive years
  • Focus on supporting disadvantaged students

• Eager to Learn: $5,000 - $25,000 per grant

  • Launched in 2020 with an initial $1M budget
  • College test prep assistance (SAT/ACT prep)
  • Expanded in 2022 to include trade school access
  • Partners with organizations providing trade career mentoring
  • Aims to close the achievement gap through innovative, flexible programs

• New Era Writers: Up to $25,000 per grant

  • At least 40 grants awarded annually
  • Supports any writing genre: journalism, fiction, poetry, prose, blogging, novels, autobiography, book reviews, comic strips, diaries, essays, fables
  • Strengthens writing and communication skills

• Veterans Assistance (Launched late 2024)

  • Supports mental health services, housing, and integration programs
  • Provides therapeutic support, service animals, and respite opportunities
  • Community-centered initiatives for veterans and their families

2. General Grants (Letter of Inquiry Process)

• For projects outside the four program areas but aligned with the foundation's mission
• No specified cap, though median grant is $25,000
• Typical award range: $2,000 - $2,000,000

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations and programs that:

• Arts: Art education, arts integration, cultural programming, and youth arts initiatives (Cornelia believed in "keeping the arts alive by igniting that passion in the hearts of our youth")

• Education: College test prep, trade school access, writing programs, STEM/STEAM education, early childhood education

• Environment: Conservation and beautification efforts, initiatives to reduce human environmental impact, programs to increase fresh and saltwater quality

• Health & Medical Research: High-mortality, under-funded diseases, specifically (but not exclusively) pancreatic and colon cancer

• Veterans: Support for wounded, recovering, and returning servicemen and women, therapeutic programming, service animals, respite locations

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Political organizations or lobbying groups
• Fraternal or civic organizations
• Foreign organizations
• Private foundations
• Organizations outside their geographic focus (Florida, New York, Connecticut, Washington, DC)
• Past projects or previous fiscal years

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by two co-trustees:

• Eileen J. Daly (Co-Trustee, Compensation: $577,411)
• Stephen G. Vogelsang, Esq. (Co-Trustee, Compensation: $346,447)

Eileen Daly has stated publicly that the foundation supports arts education programs through their P/Arts program, demonstrating their continued commitment to Cornelia Bailey's legacy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation offers two distinct application pathways depending on the type of grant sought:

For Program Grants (P/Arts, Eager to Learn, New Era Writers, Veterans):

• Apply directly through the program-specific application form on their website
• No Letter of Inquiry required
• Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
• Grant caps apply: $10,000 for P/Arts, $25,000 for other program grants

For General Grants:

1. Complete the online Eligibility Quiz at www.ctbfoundation.org
2. If answers show a good fit, you'll be redirected to the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) form
3. Submit LOI with project details
4. If approved by the Board, receive email with link to full grant application (approximately 8-12 weeks)
5. Complete and submit full application

Important Application Rules:

• Only one submission (LOI or program grant) per calendar year
• Organizations can receive funding only once per calendar year
• Cannot submit multiple LOIs or applications simultaneously
• Grantees who receive 4 consecutive grants are placed on a 2-year hold
• Applications can be saved and resumed within 90 days

Note: The foundation periodically closes applications when they reach maximum capacity. Check their website for current application status.

Decision Timeline

• LOI Review: At least 8 weeks, typically 8-12 weeks
• Program Application Review: Up to 12 weeks
• Full Application to Grant Determination: Approximately 16 weeks total from LOI submission
• Board Meetings: Monthly from February to October
• Notification: By email to original application submitter

Success Rates

• LOI Approval Rate: Approximately 35% of Letters of Inquiry are approved to move forward to full application
• 2024 Activity: 320 grants awarded
• 2023 Activity: 226 grants awarded

The foundation reviews all applications for alignment with their current funding priorities and budget availability.

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful Applicants: Can reapply in a subsequent calendar year (no specific waiting period mentioned beyond the one-year limitation)
• Successful Grantees: Must wait one calendar year before applying again
• Four-Time Consecutive Grantees: Placed on automatic 2-year hold
• Multi-Year Grants: Available on case-by-case basis, but not for new grantees; program grants (P/Arts, Eager, New Era) are strictly one-year grants
• Grant Reporting Requirement: Must submit grant report within one year of award letter; failure to report means no future grants will be awarded

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented guidance and priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Mission Alignment The Board reviews all applications to determine if the prospective grantee's project and mission align with the foundation's current funding priorities. Explicitly connect your work to their stated priorities in arts, education, environmental health, medical research, or veteran support.

2. Geographic Fit Organizations must serve residents in Florida, New York, Connecticut, or Washington, DC. The founders particularly supported Jupiter, Florida; Darien, Connecticut; and New York City.

3. Innovation and Flexibility For programs like Eager to Learn, the foundation seeks organizations "designing programs geared towards closing the achievement gap and being innovative and flexible" that "seek to form bonds within the communities they serve."

4. Measurable Impact The foundation focuses on supporting programs with "potential to make a meaningful and measurable impact." Applications should clearly articulate expected outcomes and how success will be measured.

5. Professional Development Components The P/Arts program particularly values proposals that include professional development for educators alongside arts integration.

6. Community Engagement The foundation values grassroots organizations and programs that build strong community connections, reflecting Cornelia Bailey's legacy of supporting local youth programs.

7. Technical Compliance

• Do NOT use ALL CAPS anywhere on the form
• Format dollar amounts as: $00,000 (no decimal places)
• Use dollar signs and commas
• Follow the exact date format shown on forms
• Carefully follow all directions to avoid delays or denial

8. Complete Applications

• Ensure all required fields are completed
• Material changes after 30 days of submission must be emailed to info@ctbfoundation.org
• Can edit submissions using the "edit this submission" link

9. Realistic Timelines Do not apply if the project needs immediate funding. The foundation does not fund past projects or previous fiscal years, and decision timelines are 8-16 weeks.

10. Quality Grant Reporting Previous grantees must submit reports within one year. No future grants will be awarded without proper reporting, so demonstrating good stewardship matters.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Know the pathway: Program grants (capped at $10,000-$25,000) have direct application; general grants require LOI process first. Choose the appropriate pathway for your project size and fit.

• Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations serving Florida, New York, Connecticut, or Washington, DC are eligible. Don't apply if you're outside these states.

• One shot per year: You can only submit one application per calendar year, so choose wisely between program grants and general grants. Make it count.

• 35% LOI approval rate means strong competition: Only about one-third of Letters of Inquiry are approved for full application. Your LOI must clearly demonstrate mission alignment and measurable impact.

• Plan for 16-week timeline: From LOI submission to grant determination takes approximately 4 months. Factor this into your project planning.

• Technical details matter: Formatting errors (ALL CAPS, incorrect dollar formats) can delay or result in denial. Follow submission guidelines exactly.

• Multi-year funding exists but not for newcomers: If you're a new applicant, plan for one-year funding. Build a relationship first before requesting multi-year support.

• Cornelia's legacy guides decisions: The foundation honors Cornelia Bailey's passion for arts, education, and supporting local youth. Applications that reflect her values of "keeping the arts alive by igniting that passion in the hearts of our youth" resonate strongly.

• Report or lose future funding: Grant reporting is mandatory within one year. Failure to report means you won't receive future grants, so build reporting into your grant management process.

• Monitor application windows: The foundation closes applications when they reach capacity. In 2025, they closed applications after reaching maximum submissions. Apply early in the calendar year when possible.

References

• Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Official Website. www.ctbfoundation.org. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Application Submission Guidelines." Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. https://www.ctbfoundation.org/application-submission-guidelines. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Frequently Asked Questions." Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. https://www.ctbfoundation.org/ctbfoundationfaqs. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "About." Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. https://www.ctbfoundation.org/about. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust." ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/656474256. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust | 990 Report." Instrumentl. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/cornelia-t-bailey-charitable-tr. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust / Eileen J Daly Ttee." Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/cornelia-t-bailey-charitable-trust-eileen-j-daly-t,886220451/. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "CORNELIA T BAILEY CHARITABLE TRUST | Foundation Profile & Grants." Grantable. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/cornelia-t-bailey-charitable-trust-us-foundation-886220451. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Bailey Foundation builds runway for future scientists: $4M gift will expand STEM education at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute." University of Florida Foundation. https://www.uff.ufl.edu/your-impact/bailey-foundation-builds-runway-for-future-scientists/. Accessed February 4, 2026.
• "Cornelia T. Bailey Charitable Trust." Foundation Directory, Candid. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=CORN196. Accessed February 4, 2026.