The Bartley J Madden Foundation directs the vast majority of its giving to a single local university, while making a few smaller unrestricted gifts to advocacy and health-focused nonprofits. Its grants combine large, restricted support for Florida Atlantic University with modest general‑support gifts to organizations working on government transparency, conservative public‑policy training, and pediatric cancer research/advocacy.
Highly concentrated: a single large beneficiary (Florida Atlantic University) receives most dollars across two grants, complemented by a few smaller, unrestricted gifts to issue‑focused advocacy and health nonprofits.
A recurring pattern defines the Bartley J Madden Foundation’s grantmaking: three consecutive $750,000 restricted grants to Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2026. That sustained commitment sits alongside a smaller set of general and unrestricted gifts to public-policy, transparency, and research organizations. The foundation’s largest awards show a clear preference for institutional support rather than many small transactions, while its other grants cluster around advocacy, education, and cancer-related work. Among the smaller awards, The Cure Starts Now received $50,000 in 2024 for general support, and Libertas Network received $50,000 in 2026 and $30,000 in 2025. The grant list also includes support for Students for Liberty, American Transparency, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and several other organizations, mostly at the $20,000 level. The overall pattern suggests a funder that combines a major university relationship with a broad set of modest operating grants to aligned nonprofits. Its recent activity is entirely in the United States.
University support is the clearest theme in the Bartley J Madden Foundation’s portfolio. Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc received $750,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2026, all marked restricted, pointing to repeated program- or project-specific backing. Outside the university relationship, the foundation has funded pediatric cancer work through The Cure Starts Now, which received $50,000 in 2024 for general and unrestricted support. It has also supported government-transparency advocacy: American Transparency received $30,000 in 2025 and $20,000 in 2023, while American Transparency - Open the Books received $20,000 in 2026. A fourth cluster centers on public-policy and civil-liberties groups. Grants include $50,000 and $30,000 to Libertas Network, $40,000 and $20,000 to Students for Liberty, and $20,000 to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
The foundation’s typical grant size is tightly grouped: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is also $20,000. That distribution shows a large concentration of awards at the $20,000 level, with only a few much larger grants. The grant list also shows repetition across years. Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2026 with $750,000 restricted grants. Several smaller recipients recur as well, including Libertas Network, Students for Liberty, American Transparency, Freedom Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Emergent Order Foundation Inc. The foundation does not make program-related investments and does not fund individuals. Its grants in the data are all general, unrestricted, or restricted institutional awards.
$1M
$7.6M
$680K
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $15K and $20K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 11% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Notable grantees: Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc., The Cure Starts Now, Libertas Network, American Transparency
The Bartley J Madden Foundation gives nationally, and every recent grant in the dataset went to a U.S. recipient. Florida appears prominently among recipient locations, including Boca Raton, The Villages, Naples, and other Florida-based organizations. Texas is the top state by grant count, with recipients in Austin and Lehi listed among the recent awards. Other recipient cities include Cincinnati, Washington, Arlington, Olympia, and New York, showing a wide spread across major policy, education, and advocacy hubs.
Its recent grants go to a mix of university programs, public-policy groups, transparency advocates, and a pediatric cancer nonprofit. Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc received three restricted grants of $750,000, while smaller general-support gifts went to groups such as The Cure Starts Now, Libertas Network, Students for Liberty, and American Transparency.
Its grant sizes cluster around $20,000. The 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is also $20,000, with a few much larger awards at $50,000 and $750,000.
Yes. Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc received restricted grants in 2023, 2024, and 2026, each for $750,000. Several smaller recipients also appear more than once, including Libertas Network, Students for Liberty, American Transparency, Freedom Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Emergent Order Foundation Inc.
The foundation’s recent grants are entirely U.S.-based. The top state by grant count is Texas, and Florida recipients also appear frequently, including Boca Raton, The Villages, and Naples. Other recipient cities include Cincinnati, Washington, Arlington, Olympia, and New York.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and it does not make program-related investments. The recent grants shown are institutional awards, including restricted support and general or unrestricted support to nonprofit organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $750,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED |
| LIBERTAS NETWORK | LEHI, UT | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY | MCLEAN, VA | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EXCHANGE | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| LIFT USA | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY - OPEN THE BOOKS | THE VILLAGES, FL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| YOUNG VOICES | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| LIBERTAS NETWORK | LEHI, UT | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY | BURR RIDGE, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| YOUNG VOICES | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| LIFT USA | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN CORPORATE PARTNERS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| MACKINAC CENTER PUBLIC POLICY | MIDLAND, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $750,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTED |
| THE CURE STARTS NOW | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY | NAPLES, FL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| LIFT USA | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY | BURR RIDGE, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| NETWORK OF ENLIGHTENED WOMEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| MOTION PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $750,000 | 2023 | RESTRICTED |
| HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT ALLIANCE | ROCKVILLE, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| MACKINAC CENTER PUBLIC POLICY | MIDLAND, MI | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | FAIRFAX, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY | NAPLES, FL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION INC | AUSTIN, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY | BURR RIDGE, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY
$40,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
FREEDOM FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY - OPEN THE BOOKS
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY
$30,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
FREEDOM FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY
$15,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
NETWORK OF ENLIGHTENED WOMEN
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
MOTION PICTURE INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT ALLIANCE
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY
$20,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED