The Rutgers University Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, exists to generate philanthropic resources and facilitate meaningful engagement to advance the mission of Rutgers.
The largest recent grants from Rutgers University Foundation went to Rutgers University itself: $181,244,400 in 2023 and $162,540,445 in 2024, both classified as education-related athletics support. That scale makes the foundation’s relationship to the university especially visible in its recent filing year. Beyond those major institutional awards, the foundation also funded student aid and campus support organizations, including a $50,000 grant to Rutgers Hillel Corporation for student aid. The foundation’s stated purpose is to generate philanthropic resources and facilitate meaningful engagement to advance Rutgers’ mission. Its giving aligns with higher education, student financial aid and scholarships, research and innovation, behavioral health and health initiatives, and alumni engagement. The recent grant list also shows support for university athletics and associations tied to the Rutgers community. In practice, Rutgers University Foundation functions as a campus-centered funder that channels resources back into the university, student support, and affiliated organizations across Rutgers campuses.
Student support is a clear thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. Rutgers Hillel Corporation received $50,000 in 2023 for student aid, connecting philanthropy directly to student assistance. The foundation also operates the Scarlet Promise Initiative, which provides financial and academic support to help students afford a Rutgers education, manage academic responsibilities, complete degrees, and transition to careers. Its campus-affiliated support extends to associations and university groups as well. Douglass Associate Alumnae received $9,415 in 2023 and $6,614 in 2024 for support of associations programs. In athletics, Rutgers Touchdown Club Inc received $8,220 in 2024 for support of university athletics. These grants show a mix of student assistance, organizational support, and athletics-related funding within the Rutgers ecosystem.
Grant size varies sharply. The reported distribution shows a p25 of $8,519, a median of $29,708, and a p75 of $121,917,834, reflecting a structure that includes many smaller awards alongside very large institutional grants. The recent record also shows repeat support: Rutgers University appears in both 2023 and 2024 at the top of the list, and Douglass Associate Alumnae received grants in both years as well. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity tied to Rutgers University, and it does not accept unsolicited applications for its active Scarlet Promise programs.
$162.6M
$146.5M
$208.6M
$198.1M
Most grants fall between $9K and $121.9M, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$121.9M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NJ.
CHRISTOPHER P ZRALY
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The foundation gives locally, and every recent grant listed went to a recipient in New Jersey. Rutgers University in Piscataway received the two largest awards, while Rutgers Hillel Corporation, Douglass Associate Alumnae, and Rutgers Touchdown Club Inc were all in New Brunswick. The grant recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 6 grants, or 100% of the sample, going to U.S. recipients.
Its stated focus areas are higher education, student financial aid and scholarships, research and innovation, behavioral health and health initiatives, and alumni engagement. The recent grants also show a strong athletics-related pattern through awards tied to Rutgers University and campus athletics organizations.
The Scarlet Promise Initiative provides financial and academic support to help students afford a Rutgers education, manage academic responsibilities, complete degrees, and transition to careers. The recent grants also include $50,000 to Rutgers Hillel Corporation for student aid and current-use and endowed need-based aid within Scarlet Promise.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $8,519, median $29,708, and p75 $121,917,834. That spread shows a mix of modest awards and very large institutional grants, especially to Rutgers University itself.
No. The active Scarlet Promise Initiative and Scarlet Promise Current Use and Endowment Funds both list unsolicited applications as not accepted.
The grantmaking is local. In the recent grants list, every recipient was in New Jersey, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RUTGERS UNIVERSITY | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $162,540,445 | 2024 | EDUCATION-RELATED/ ATHLETICS |
| RUTGERS TOUCHDOWN CLUB INC | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $8,220 | 2024 | SUPPORT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
| DOUGLASS ASSOCIATE ALUMNAE | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $6,614 | 2024 | SUPPORT ASSOCIATIONS PROGRAMS |
| RUTGERS UNIVERSITY | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $181,244,400 | 2023 | EDUCATION-RELATED/ ATHLETICS |
| RUTGERS HILLEL CORPORATION | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $50,000 | 2023 | STUDENT AID |
| DOUGLASS ASSOCIATE ALUMNAE | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $9,415 | 2023 | SUPPORT ASSOCIATIONS PROGRAMS |
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
$162,540,445EDUCATION-RELATED/ ATHLETICS
RUTGERS TOUCHDOWN CLUB INC
$8,220SUPPORT UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
DOUGLASS ASSOCIATE ALUMNAE
$6,614SUPPORT ASSOCIATIONS PROGRAMS
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
$181,244,400EDUCATION-RELATED/ ATHLETICS
RUTGERS HILLEL CORPORATION
$50,000STUDENT AID
DOUGLASS ASSOCIATE ALUMNAE
$9,415SUPPORT ASSOCIATIONS PROGRAMS