The Grune Family Foundation concentrates funding on local community institutions and education, with a strong pattern of support for organizations in Darien, CT and Jacksonville, FL alongside selective gifts to higher-education institutions. Grants are typically unrestricted/general operating support and frequently issued as repeat, modest-sized awards. The foundation funds a mix of youth services, cultural organizations, local churches and environmental/conservation groups, indicating interest in strengthening civic life and place-based community infrastructure.
Distributed portfolio of mostly small-to-mid sized grants with many repeat (typically two) gifts; emphasis on general operating support rather than project-specific funding; geographically concentrated in two communities (Darien, CT and Jacksonville, FL) with occasional larger gifts to higher education.
Grune Family Foundation Inc. shows a clear preference for repeat, general-fund support to organizations it already knows, with several recipients appearing in multiple years and most awards staying in the modest five-figure and sub-$5,000 range. The largest recent gift in the data is $15,000 to Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth for its general fund, followed by other university and community awards that point to a mix of education and place-based civic support. The foundation’s grant list also shows durable ties to community institutions in Darien, CT and Jacksonville, FL. In Darien, it has supported organizations such as Darien Library, Darien Land Trust, and Darien YMCA, while in Jacksonville it has backed groups including Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, and St John's Riverkeeper. Alongside those local awards, it makes selective gifts to higher-education institutions including Duke University and Denison University. The pattern suggests a generalist family foundation that uses flexible funding across education, youth services, faith-based organizations, cultural institutions, and environmental stewardship.
Education is a consistent thread in the foundation’s giving. It gave $15,000 to Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth for its general fund, then made additional general-fund grants to Duke University, Denison University, and Crummer School (Rollins College). Those awards show support for both graduate and undergraduate settings. The foundation also backs youth and community-serving organizations. It gave $11,500 to Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida for general support and $3,000 to Jacksonville Childrens Chorus. In Darien, it supported A Better Chance in Darien with $2,500, alongside grants to Darien YMCA and Darien Library. Environmental and civic stewardship appears as well: St John's Riverkeeper received $5,000, and Darien Land Trust received repeated support in consecutive years. Faith-based institutions are another visible part of the portfolio, with general-fund grants to Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Palms Presbyterian Church, and Mission House.
Grant sizes are modest: the typical award sits at $1,500 at the 25th percentile, $2,000 at the median, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. That distribution matches a portfolio built around small general-fund grants, with occasional larger gifts reaching $11,500 and $15,000. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including repeated support for organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida, Darien YMCA, Darien Land Trust, Duke University, and Denison University.
$118K
$4.4M
$315K
$189K
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 21% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Notable grantees: Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida, Darien Library, St. John's Riverkeeper, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
Although headquartered in Pittsburgh, the foundation gives nationally, and its grants cluster in a few places. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count at 21%, driven by recipients in Pittsburgh and Bethlehem. Other repeated locations include Darien, CT; Jacksonville, FL; Hanover, NH; Durham, NC; and Granville, OH. Every grant in the provided data goes to a U.S. recipient, so the geographic spread is domestic rather than international.
Its recent grants lean toward general operating support for education, youth services, civic institutions, faith-based organizations, and environmental groups. Named recipients include schools and universities, community nonprofits, churches, libraries, and land trusts, showing a cross-sector approach rather than a single program area.
The distribution is small and fairly concentrated: $1,500 at the 25th percentile, $2,000 at the median, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. That indicates most awards are in the low-thousands, with a smaller number of larger grants.
Yes. Several organizations receive support in multiple years, including Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida, Darien YMCA, Darien Land Trust, Duke University, and Denison University. The pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count at 21% of grants, even though the foundation is headquartered in Pittsburgh. The grant list also shows repeated giving in Connecticut and Florida, especially Darien and Jacksonville.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth | Hanover, NH | $15,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $11,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $7,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church | Pittsburgh, PA | $6,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Darien Land Trust | Darien, CT | $5,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Darien YMCA | Darien, CT | $5,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| World Affairs Council of Jacksonville | Bethlehem, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Darien Library | Darien, CT | $5,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | $5,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Mission House | Jacksonville Beach, FL | $3,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Players By the Sea | Jacksonville Beach, FL | $3,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Crummer School (Rollins College) | Winter Park, FL | $3,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| At Home in Darien | Darien, CT | $2,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Community Fund of Darien | Darien, CT | $2,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Darien Depot | Darien, CT | $2,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| A Better Chance in Darien | Darien, CT | $2,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Shady Side Academy (Blue & Gold Fund) | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Darien EMS POST 53 | Darien, CT | $2,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Boys & Girls Club of Western PA | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Rita Foundation | Jacksonville, FL | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| SB2W Citikidz | Rector, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Hosanna House | Wilkinsburg, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Lucky Dog Refuge | Stamford, CT | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| The Neighborhood Academy | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Wild Flower Healthcare | St Augustine, FL | $2,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Univ of Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $1,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens | Jacksonville, FL | $1,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Women's Giving Alliance | Jacksonville, FL | $1,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Waldo Rescue Pen | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| NOLS Scholarship Fund | Lander, WY | $1,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | $1,500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Jacksonville Symphony | Jacksonville, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| BEAM | Jacksonville Beach, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Hugs Accross the Country | Ponte Vedra, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Light of Life Rescue Mission | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| BRASS | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Women's Comm (Carnegie Museum of Art) | Pittsburgh, PA | $500 | 2024 | General Fund |
| Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth | Hanover, NH | $12,500 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida | Jacksonville, FL | $11,800 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | $7,500 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Darien YMCA | Darien, CT | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| World Affairs Council of Jacksonville | Bethlehem, PA | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| St John's Riverkeeper | Jacksonville, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Vicar's Landing Members Trust | Ponte Vedra, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens | Jacksonville, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Jacksonville Childrens Chorus | Jacksonville, FL | $3,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Palms Presbyterian Church | Jacksonville, FL | $3,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
| Darien Land Trust | Darien, CT | $3,000 | 2023 | General Fund |
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
$15,000General Fund
Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida
$11,500General Fund
Denison University
$7,500General Fund
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
$6,500General Fund
Darien Land Trust
$5,000General Fund
Darien YMCA
$5,000General Fund
World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
General Fund
Darien Library
$5,000General Fund
Duke University
$5,000General Fund
Mission House
$3,000General Fund
Players By the Sea
$3,000General Fund
Crummer School (Rollins College)
$3,000General Fund
At Home in Darien
$2,500General Fund
Community Fund of Darien
$2,500General Fund
Darien Depot
$2,500General Fund
A Better Chance in Darien
$2,500General Fund
Shady Side Academy (Blue & Gold Fund)
$2,500General Fund
Darien EMS POST 53
$2,500General Fund
Boys & Girls Club of Western PA
$2,000General Fund
Rita Foundation
$2,000General Fund
SB2W Citikidz
$2,000General Fund
Hosanna House
$2,000General Fund
Lucky Dog Refuge
$2,000General Fund
The Neighborhood Academy
$2,000General Fund
Wild Flower Healthcare
$2,000General Fund
Univ of Florida
$1,500General Fund
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
$1,500General Fund
Women's Giving Alliance
$1,500General Fund
Waldo Rescue Pen
$1,500General Fund
NOLS Scholarship Fund
$1,500General Fund
Fairfield University
$1,500General Fund
Jacksonville Symphony
$1,000General Fund
BEAM
$1,000General Fund
Hugs Accross the Country
$1,000General Fund
Light of Life Rescue Mission
$1,000General Fund
BRASS
$1,000General Fund
Women's Comm (Carnegie Museum of Art)
$500General Fund
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
$12,500General Fund
Boys & Girls Club of NE Florida
$11,800General Fund
Duke University
$7,500General Fund
Darien YMCA
$5,000General Fund
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
$5,000General Fund
World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
$5,000General Fund
St John's Riverkeeper
$5,000General Fund
Vicar's Landing Members Trust
$5,000General Fund
Denison University
$5,000General Fund
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
$5,000General Fund
Jacksonville Childrens Chorus
$3,000General Fund
Palms Presbyterian Church
$3,000General Fund
Darien Land Trust
$3,000General Fund