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Saul Brandman Foundation

Annual Giving
$26.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $20.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26.9 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Trustee discretion
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $20,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: California, National, Israel

Contact Details

  • Phone: 310-777-8395
  • Address: 9595 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 606, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
  • Application Method: No public application process - invitation only

Overview

The Saul Brandman Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1973 with approximately $241 million in assets and $26.9 million in annual charitable disbursements. Founded by businessman Saul Brandman (1925-2008) and now led by Joyce Brandman, the foundation focuses on healthcare (particularly lung health and cancer care), education, senior care, support for people with disabilities, and Jewish causes. Joyce Brandman has publicly committed to giving away all foundation assets during her lifetime, making transformational gifts that create lasting impact. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, funding only preselected organizations with which they have established relationships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants ranging from $10,000 to $20 million, with an average grant size of approximately $790,000. All grants are made through trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Priority Areas

  • Healthcare: Lung health research, cancer care, pulmonary disease, medical centers
  • Education: University programs, scholarships (especially for veterans)
  • Senior Care: Geriatric research, PACE programs, senior day care
  • Support for People with Disabilities: Hearing and seeing eye dog programs
  • Jewish Causes: Israeli institutions, Jewish community organizations
  • Military Veterans: Scholarship programs and support services

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only funds preselected charitable organizations chosen by trustees.

Governance and Leadership

  • President: Joyce Brandman (Full-time, actively involved in foundation operations)
  • CFO/Secretary: Hilton Chodorow
  • Directors: Mark Rubin, Michelle Rubin

Joyce Brandman stated about their philanthropic approach: "There's nothing more important than our research" (regarding the $20 million UCLA lung health gift). She actively participates in the organizations they fund, volunteering at Cedars-Sinai counseling breast cancer patients and traveling annually to Guatemala with HELPS International.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on grant patterns, the foundation identifies beneficiaries through:

  • Joyce Brandman's personal involvement and volunteer work (she volunteers at Cedars-Sinai and travels with HELPS International)
  • Existing relationships with major institutions where the Brandmans have longstanding connections
  • Organizations addressing causes related to the Brandmans' personal experiences (Saul Brandman's COPD motivated the UCLA lung health center)
  • Trustee networks and recommendations

Decision Timeline

Grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only funding model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through invitation only, organizations cannot apply directly. However, based on funding patterns:

  • Established Track Record: Recipients like UCLA, Hebrew University, and Cedars-Sinai had proven impact before receiving major gifts
  • Personal Connection: Many funded organizations have direct connections to Joyce Brandman's volunteer work or personal interests
  • Transformational Impact: The foundation favors substantial gifts that create lasting change ($20M for UCLA lung center, $10M for Chapman University)
  • Alignment with Founder's Experience: Projects addressing health issues the Brandmans personally faced (like COPD) receive priority
  • Long-term Relationships: Many recipients receive multiple grants over years (Hebrew University received support for multiple projects since 2010)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - do not submit unsolicited proposals
  • The foundation makes transformational gifts averaging $790,000, with capacity for $20+ million mega-gifts
  • Joyce Brandman is actively involved in philanthropy and has committed to giving away all $241 million in assets during her lifetime
  • Focus areas directly connect to the Brandmans' personal experiences and Jewish heritage
  • Organizations with existing relationships receive ongoing support across multiple years
  • The foundation values naming opportunities that honor Saul Brandman's memory
  • Building relationships through shared networks or volunteer opportunities where Joyce Brandman is active may be the only path to consideration

References

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