Hadley And Marion Stuart Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5.6 million
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $1,400,000
• Geographic Focus: Colorado-based with national reach

Contact Details

No public contact information available. The foundation does not maintain a public website, phone number, or email address.

Overview

The Hadley and Marion Stuart Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1988 by the heirs of the founder of Carnation Milk Products Co. (later the Carnation Company). With assets of approximately $113.1 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes around $5.6 million annually through approximately 21 grants per year. Led by siblings Nan and Brett Stuart from Longmont, Colorado, the foundation operates without a public application process, making grants only to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation is best known for its extraordinary commitment to veterinary cancer research, particularly at Colorado State University's Flint Animal Cancer Center, where the Stuart family has contributed approximately $22 million since 1983.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grants only:

• Major Transformational Gifts: Up to $1,400,000 (occasional large commitments to long-term partners)
• Standard Grants: $95,000 median (typical annual support)
• Smaller Grants: $10,000 minimum (for smaller organizations or projects)

Priority Areas

• Veterinary Cancer Research and Treatment (primary documented focus)
• Animal health and welfare
• Colorado-based organizations (though not exclusively)
• Additional undisclosed areas (foundation supports 21 organizations annually but specific focus areas beyond veterinary medicine are not publicly documented)

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented. However, as an invitation-only funder, they effectively exclude any organization without existing relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

• Nan Stuart - Co-leader, based in Longmont, Colorado
• Brett Stuart - Co-leader, based in Longmont, Colorado

The foundation was established by E. Hadley Stuart, heir to the founder of the Carnation Company. Following their father's passing, Nan and Brett Stuart have continued his philanthropic legacy, particularly his passion for veterinary medicine sparked by his own golden retriever's cancer treatment at Colorado State University in 1983.

Nan Stuart has stated that she and her brother are motivated to "continue their father's interest in veterinary training, cancer treatment and leading-edge research."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Hadley and Marion Stuart Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees (Nan and Brett Stuart) to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's documented history and focus, organizations working in veterinary medicine, particularly cancer research, may consider:

• The foundation has maintained a 37+ year relationship with Colorado State University's Flint Animal Cancer Center, demonstrating their commitment to long-term partnerships
• The Stuart family's personal connection to veterinary cancer care (stemming from E. Hadley Stuart's experience with his golden retriever's treatment) suggests they value organizations with personal significance
• Their support of CSU's Flint Animal Cancer Center, which Dr. Stephen Withrow calls the "House that Hadley Built," indicates they appreciate being recognized as foundational supporters

Decision Timeline

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

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

As an invitation-only funder, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their documented giving patterns:

• Long-term commitment: The foundation's 37+ year support of CSU demonstrates they value sustained partnerships over one-time grants
• Personal connection: The foundation's origin story with E. Hadley Stuart's golden retriever shows they support causes with personal meaning
• Transformational impact: Their $10 million gift to CSU in 2014 (the largest in the center's history) shows willingness to make game-changing investments
• Excellence in field: Their support of CSU's internationally recognized cancer center suggests they seek out best-in-class organizations
• Family legacy alignment: Current leaders explicitly state they aim to continue their father's interests in veterinary training and cancer research

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only foundation with no public application process - do not send unsolicited requests
• Primary documented focus is veterinary cancer research, with approximately $22 million given to CSU's Flint Animal Cancer Center since 1983
• Foundation makes approximately 21 grants annually totaling $5.6 million, with a median grant of $95,000
• Led by second-generation family members who explicitly aim to continue their father's philanthropic legacy
• Demonstrates strong preference for long-term partnerships with transformational potential
• Colorado connection appears beneficial but not required
• Building relationships with current grantees, particularly in veterinary medicine, may be the only pathway to consideration

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hadley And Marion Stuart Foundation (EIN: 946607854). Accessed March 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/946607854
• Cause IQ - Hadley and Marion Stuart Foundation Profile. Accessed March 2026.
• Colorado State University News - "$10 Million Gift to CSU's Flint Animal Cancer Center is the Largest in its History" (2014)
• The Denver Post - "CSU's animal cancer center receives $10 million gift" (2014)
• GuideStar/Candid - Organization Profile 94-6607854. Accessed March 2026.
• IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022-2024)