The Brunson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $50+ million in assets
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Variable (recent grants include $15 million to UC Irvine)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles area with select national grants
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation only/trustee discretion

Contact Details

Address: 12006 Talus Pl, Beverly Hills, CA 90210-1327
Phone: 310-228-7651
Website: Not available
Email: Not publicly available

The foundation does not appear to have a dedicated website or public application portal.

Overview

The Brunson Foundation was established in 1995 in California and received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in 2019 (EIN: 95-4531132). With assets exceeding $50 million, the foundation represents the philanthropic legacy of Robert M. Brunson, a pioneering entrepreneur and civic leader, and his wife Erika Brunson, an internationally known interior designer and animal welfare advocate. Upon their deaths, they entrusted their estate to the Brunson Foundation, which is now managed by the DeBoard family (James and Cynthia DeBoard), longtime business partners and friends. The foundation has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 90%, demonstrating strong accountability and financial performance. The foundation focuses on three core areas: animal welfare (particularly spay and neuter services), education for young people, and medical research (particularly vision-related research).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Brunson Foundation operates through three primary program areas:

Animal Welfare and Spay/Neuter Programs: The foundation promotes animal welfare by providing spay and neuter services and making distributions to organizations focused on animal welfare, sterilization research, and spay and neuter operations. The foundation has funded major initiatives including SPAY4LA (founded in 2010) and has supported organizations like FixNation and the Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNPLA). Through partnership with Michelson Found Animals, the foundation has contributed to over $11 million in seed funding for spay/neuter programs and committed over $1 million to open the first new privately funded no-cost and low-cost spay/neuter and pet wellness center in Los Angeles in more than 15 years.

Education: The foundation advances education by making distributions to organizations operating educational programs for and providing educational services to young people.

Medical Research: The foundation is dedicated to promoting human health through medical research and treatment, with a particular focus on vision research. In September 2024, the foundation made a $15 million gift to UC Irvine to establish the Robert M. Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research ($10 million endowment and $5 million for construction).

Priority Areas

• Animal Welfare: Spay/neuter programs, animal sterilization research, mobile veterinary clinics serving underserved communities in Los Angeles
• Education: Educational programs and services for young people (specific focus areas not publicly detailed)
• Medical Research: Vision research, translational medical research, treatments for blinding diseases

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

• Cynthia L. DeBoard: President & CEO (as of July 2023)
• James R. DeBoard: Secretary
• Robert M. Brunson: Previously served as Secretary (deceased)

The DeBoard family manages the foundation as longtime business partners and friends of Robert and Erika Brunson, continuing the Brunsons' philanthropic legacy.

Founders' Legacy:

Robert M. Brunson was a pioneering entrepreneur and civic leader who held executive positions at General Dynamics, Singer Corp., and Metropolitan Bank before becoming a Taco Bell franchise owner in 1986. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to several federal roles, including the West Point Military Academy Board of Visitors, and served on the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. He suffered from vision loss later in life, which inspired the foundation's focus on vision research.

Erika Brunson was an internationally known interior designer and animal welfare advocate who served as a commissioner on the Los Angeles Board of Animal Regulation in 1967 and 2004. She founded the Coalition for Pets & Public Safety (COPPS) in 1999, which provided free or low-cost spay and neuter services in Los Angeles, investing as much as $220,000 per year. She was described as a trailblazer in the animal welfare industry for 50+ years, advocating for animal rights and funding numerous companion animal life-saving efforts. When Erika passed in May 2022, Robert ensured her legacy carried on through continued support for animal welfare efforts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Brunson Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee discretion, strategic partnerships, and by invitation only. The foundation has historically made grants through established relationships with partner organizations, particularly in the Los Angeles animal welfare community and through the Michelson Found Animals Foundation partnership.

Organizations interested in the foundation's support should note that the foundation operates as a private foundation that identifies and supports initiatives aligned with the founders' legacy interests in animal welfare, education for young people, and medical research.

Getting on Their Radar

Partnership with Michelson Found Animals Foundation: The foundation operates the Robert and Erika Brunson Fund at the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, which provides grants to innovative, scalable organizations and programs that advance spay-neuter capacities in Los Angeles and beyond. Organizations working in animal welfare spay/neuter programs may find opportunities through Michelson Found Animals Foundation's grant programs, which are funded in part by the Brunson Fund.

Strategic Relationships: The foundation has made grants through established relationships with organizations like UC Irvine's medical research programs, FixNation, SPAY4LA, and the Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles. These partnerships suggest the foundation responds to initiatives from established institutions and organizations with proven track records in their focus areas.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grant decisions appear to be made on a case-by-case basis by the foundation's leadership.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's focus on continuing the Brunsons' legacy, organizations should consider the following:

Alignment with Founders' Passions: The foundation honors Robert and Erika Brunson's specific interests - animal welfare (particularly spay/neuter programs reducing euthanasia), educational opportunities for young people, and medical research (particularly vision-related). Projects that directly connect to these areas, especially in the Los Angeles region where the Brunsons were active, appear most aligned with the foundation's mission.

Proven Track Record: The foundation's documented grants (SPAY4LA, FixNation, UC Irvine) suggest they support established organizations with demonstrated expertise and capacity to implement large-scale programs. Organizations should be able to demonstrate operational excellence and measurable impact.

Scalability and Innovation: According to Michelson Found Animals, the Brunson Fund seeks "innovative, scalable organizations and programs," particularly in spay-neuter services. Programs that can demonstrate potential for broad impact and innovative approaches to persistent problems align with the foundation's priorities.

Los Angeles Focus for Animal Welfare: The foundation's animal welfare grants have concentrated on serving underserved communities in Los Angeles, following Erika Brunson's legacy of addressing animal welfare needs in the region. Organizations working in this geographic area with programs targeting communities lacking access to veterinary services may have stronger alignment.

Connection to Vision Research: The foundation's $15 million gift to UC Irvine for the Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research reflects Robert Brunson's personal experience with vision loss. Research programs focused on developing treatments and cures for blinding diseases, particularly those with translational applications, align with this priority.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - the foundation operates through trustee discretion and strategic partnerships rather than open grant cycles
• Strong legacy focus - grants honor Robert and Erika Brunson's specific interests in animal welfare spay/neuter programs, youth education, and vision research
• Los Angeles connection matters - particularly for animal welfare programs, the foundation has concentrated support in the Los Angeles area where the Brunsons lived and worked
• Partnership pathway - the Robert and Erika Brunson Fund at Michelson Found Animals Foundation may provide the most accessible pathway for animal welfare organizations seeking support
• Significant grant capacity - with $50+ million in assets and recent grants of $15 million, the foundation can support major initiatives with transformative potential
• Relationship-driven grantmaking - the foundation appears to work with established institutions and organizations rather than soliciting applications from unknown entities
• Track record essential - documented grants have gone to organizations with proven capacity and expertise in their fields

References

• Charity Navigator. (2024). "The Brunson Foundation - Rating." Retrieved from https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/954531132
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. (2024). "The Brunson Foundation." Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954531132
• Candid Foundation Directory. "The Brunson Foundation | Foundation Directory." Retrieved from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=DUNL013
• Tax Exempt World. "The Brunson Foundation - 501C3 Nonprofit - Beverly Hills, CA." Retrieved from https://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=1265438
• Michelson Found Animals. "Spay and Neuter Robert & Erika." Retrieved from https://www.foundanimals.org/spay-and-neuter-initiative/spay-and-neuter-robert-erika/
• UC Irvine Health. (September 2024). "$15 million gift to name, support UC Irvine's Center for Translational Vision Research." Retrieved from https://www.ucihealth.org/about-us/news/2025/09/15-million-gift-center-for-translational-vision-research
• Animals 24-7. (May 2022). "Erika Brunson, 86, animal advocate, actress, interior decorator, & furniture maker." Retrieved from https://www.animals24-7.org/2022/05/29/erika-brunson-86-animal-advocate-actress-interior-decorator-furniture-maker/
• Cause IQ. "The Brunson Foundation | Beverly Hills, CA." Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/roy-dunlap-spay-and-neuter-foundation,954531132/

All sources accessed January 2026.