Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $492,500 - $2,579,452 (varies significantly by year)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $3,000 - $1,000,000+
Geographic Focus: National with emphasis on Seattle/Washington State and global health initiatives
Total Assets: $69 million (as of 2024)

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
PO Box 15
Pennington, NJ 08534-0015

EIN: 91-6525838
Foundation Type: Private Independent Foundation (501(c)(3))
Tax-Exempt Since: July 2001

Note: This foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries. No email or phone number is publicly available.

Overview

The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation, established in 2001, is a private family foundation headquartered in Pennington, NJ, with strong ties to the Seattle, Washington area. With total assets of approximately $69 million as of 2024, the foundation has shown remarkable growth from $6.5 million in assets in 2020. Annual charitable disbursements range from approximately $500,000 to $2.6 million depending on the year, with 12-13 grants typically awarded annually. The foundation is led by co-trustees Robert L. Muglia, a former Microsoft executive and CEO of Snowflake Computing, and Laura Ellen Muglia, a dedicated global health advocate who serves on the board of Episcopal Relief & Development and Duke Global Health Institute's board of advisors. The foundation focuses primarily on global health and development, with particular emphasis on women's empowerment, malaria prevention, Episcopal Church-related initiatives, and education. The foundation's approach combines both modest annual grants (averaging $40,000-$50,000) with occasional transformative major gifts exceeding $1 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. There are no formal grant programs with published guidelines or application deadlines.

Typical Grant Range: $3,000 - $1,000,000+

Median grant: approximately $10,000-$40,000
Average annual grants distributed: 12-13 awards
Occasional major transformative gifts of $1 million or more for strategic initiatives

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants and the trustees' stated interests, the foundation prioritizes:

Global Health & Development:

Women's health and empowerment programs, particularly violence prevention
Malaria prevention and distribution of insecticide-treated nets
Programs serving the world's poorest populations
Health initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and developing regions (Liberia, Burundi, Honduras, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia)

Episcopal Church & Faith-Based Initiatives:

Episcopal Relief & Development programs
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral (Seattle)
Diocese of Olympia projects
Faith leader training to address gender-based violence
Church-wide health and development campaigns

Education & Research:

Duke Global Health Institute (particularly the Paul Farmer Endowment Fund supporting undergraduate fieldwork)
Educational facilities and programs
Global health research

Local Seattle/Washington Organizations:

Community development projects
Policy research (Washington Policy Center)
Educational institutions (Seattle University)
Cultural and civic organizations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's documented giving patterns suggest they do not fund:

Organizations outside their established networks and relationships
General operating support for large established institutions (preference for specific programs)
Projects without clear alignment to global health, education, or Episcopal mission
Commercial ventures or for-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees:

Robert L. Muglia - Co-Founder and Co-Trustee

Former Senior Vice President, Server & Business Tools at Microsoft (1990-2011)
Former CEO of Snowflake Computing (2014-2019)
Currently serves on multiple technology company boards including Fivetran, Fauna, Pinecone, JuliaHub, and RelationalAI
B.S. in Computer and Communication Science, University of Michigan (1981)
Author of "The Datapreneurs"

Laura Ellen Muglia - Co-Founder and Co-Trustee

Board member, Episcopal Relief & Development (since 2016, representing Diocese of Olympia)
Board of Advisors, Duke Global Health Institute
Former Co-Chair, NetsforLife Inspiration Fund (successfully co-led campaign raising $5 million for malaria prevention across the Episcopal Church, 2010-2012)
Led Diocese of Olympia's One-for-One Malaria Net Challenge (raised $350,000)

On their philanthropy, Laura Ellen Muglia stated: "I have seen firsthand how Episcopal Relief & Development creates long-term, sustainable change for the most vulnerable people."

On their gift to Saint Mark's Cathedral, Laura Ellen Muglia shared: "Participating in this project has been a blessing in our lives. It is our fervent hope and prayer that having full access to this historic and beautiful property will enable the people of St. Mark's to chart the next stage of how they want to live, love, and serve in the world."

Compensation: Neither trustee receives compensation for their foundation service.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Grants are awarded through:

Direct trustee initiative and personal relationships
Engagement with organizations where the trustees serve on boards or advisory committees
Long-standing partnerships with institutions aligned with their mission
Strategic giving through their established network in the Episcopal Church and global health communities

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT: The following strategies are based on the foundation's documented funding patterns and the trustees' known affiliations:

Episcopal Church Network:

Active participation in Episcopal Relief & Development programs
Engagement with the Diocese of Olympia (their home diocese)
Involvement in church-wide campaigns and initiatives (historically NetsforLife)
Connection to Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle

Global Health Community:

Participation in Duke Global Health Institute programs and events
Programs demonstrating commitment to serving the world's poorest populations (aligning with Paul Farmer's philosophy)
Focus on women's health, malaria prevention, or violence against women and girls

Board Connections:

Organizations where Laura Ellen Muglia serves (Episcopal Relief & Development, Duke Global Health Institute advisory board)
Seattle-area Episcopal and civic organizations

Demonstrated Success:

Track record in global health and development
Evidence-based programs with measurable impact
Initiatives addressing religious and cultural biases affecting women and girls
Long-term, sustainable approaches (not short-term relief)

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature, decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis as trustees identify strategic opportunities.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists. However, the foundation has demonstrated commitment to multi-year support for strategic partners like Episcopal Relief & Development and Saint Mark's Cathedral.

Application Success Factors

While this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their funding philosophy is valuable for organizations operating in their priority areas:

Alignment with Trustee Values:

Women's Empowerment: The Muglias have stated they believe they have "a responsibility to help empower women to thrive"
Sustainable Change: Laura Ellen Muglia specifically values organizations creating "long-term, sustainable change for the most vulnerable people"
Serving the Poorest: Support for the Paul Farmer Endowment Fund indicates alignment with Farmer's commitment to serving the world's poorest populations
Faith-Based Action: Strong preference for programs that engage faith leaders and communities in addressing social issues

Demonstrated Program Quality:

Evidence of impact in global health or development
Programs addressing root causes, not just symptoms (e.g., training faith leaders to change cultural norms around violence against women)
Multi-country or large-scale initiatives with proven models
Organizations with strong governance and established track records

Geographic Focus:

While global in scope, strong preference for: Sub-Saharan Africa for health programs, Episcopal Church networks nationally, Seattle/Washington state for local giving
International programs should demonstrate connection to Episcopal networks or major global health institutions

Relationship-Based Giving:

Nearly all documented grants flow to organizations where the trustees have direct board involvement or long-standing relationships
Participation in their networks (Episcopal Church, Duke Global Health Institute) appears essential

Strategic vs. Operational:

Major gifts ($1 million+) support specific funds or capital projects with transformative potential
Smaller grants appear to support ongoing programs within trusted partner organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Applications: This foundation exclusively makes grants through trustee initiative and invitation. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.
Relationship Essential: All documented grants flow through established relationships, particularly Episcopal Church networks and global health institutions where Laura Ellen Muglia serves on boards.
Two Giving Tiers: The foundation makes both modest annual grants ($10,000-$50,000 range) and occasional transformative gifts ($1 million+) for strategic initiatives that align closely with trustee passions.
Women's Empowerment Core: Violence against women and girls, women's health, and economic empowerment are central priorities, consistently funded across multiple initiatives.
Episcopal Connection Critical: The majority of documented grants support Episcopal Relief & Development, Saint Mark's Cathedral, Diocese of Olympia, or Episcopal Church-wide initiatives.
Global Health Focus: Programs must demonstrate commitment to serving the world's poorest populations, with evidence-based approaches and sustainable models, particularly in malaria prevention and women's health.
Quality Over Quantity: With only 12-13 grants annually from a $69 million foundation, the Muglias are highly selective, favoring deep partnership with fewer organizations over broad distribution.

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation (EIN 91-6525838)
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/916525838
Accessed January 2026
Episcopal Relief & Development Press Release - "Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation Make Gift to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls"
https://www.episcopalrelief.org/press-resources/laura-ellen-and-robert-muglia-family-foundation-make-gift-to-combat-violence-against-women-and-girls/
Accessed January 2026
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral - "Robert and Laura Ellen Muglia Present the Largest Gift in Saint Mark's History" (November 2020)
https://saintmarks.org/2020/11/robert-and-laura-ellen-muglia-present-the-largest-gift-in-saint-marks-history/
Accessed January 2026
Inside Philanthropy - "Bob and Laura Ellen Muglia"
https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/bob-and-laura-ellen-muglia
Accessed January 2026
Charity Navigator - Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation Profile
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/916525838
Accessed January 2026
Instrumentl - Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation 990 Report
https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/laura-ellen-and-robert-muglia-family-foundation
Accessed January 2026
Episcopal Relief & Development - "NetsforLife Inspiration Fund Exceeds Goal to Fight Malaria"
https://www.episcopalrelief.org/press-resources/netsforlife-inspiration-fund-exceeds-goal-to-fight-malaria/
Accessed January 2026
Duke Global Health Institute - "Fund Named for Paul Farmer to Support Undergraduate Global Health Fieldwork"
https://globalhealth.duke.edu/news/fund-named-paul-farmer-support-undergraduate-global-health-fieldwork
Accessed January 2026
Cause IQ - Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/laura-ellen-and-robert-muglia-family-foundation-34,916525838/
Accessed January 2026
Episcopal News Service - "Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation makes gift to Episcopal Relief & Development"
https://episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/laura-ellen-and-robert-muglia-family-foundation-makes-gift-to-episcopal-relief-development-to-combat-violence-against-women-and-girls/
Accessed January 2026