Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust Grant

The Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust is a private philanthropic fund administered by Wells Fargo Bank. It was established on May 5, 2016, by Andrew “Drew” Burgin, a Vietnam War veteran and longtime banking professional who lived and worked in Atlanta for more than three decades. In addition to his financial career, Burgin was deeply involved in horticulture and contributed to the planning and development of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in the 1970s. The trust reflects his commitment to supporting charitable causes across a range of sectors, particularly those aligned with religious, educational, scientific, and community-focused initiatives. The primary purpose of the Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust is to provide financial support to organizations engaged in religious, charitable, educational, and scientific work. The foundation funds programs across multiple broad program areas, including arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment and animal welfare; health; human services; public and societal benefit; and religion. This wide scope allows for a diverse set of eligible projects, provided they align with the trust’s overarching mission of supporting nonprofit-driven community impact. Funding is typically modest in scale, with average grant awards ranging between 5,000 and 20,000 dollars. The trust distributes approximately 55,000 dollars annually across four to five grants. While the foundation does not explicitly outline detailed allowable or unallowable cost categories, the relatively small grant size and broad program areas suggest that funds are intended to support discrete projects, programmatic activities, or general charitable initiatives rather than large-scale capital campaigns or multi-year institutional funding. Eligibility for the Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust is limited to organizations that qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. While the trust states that there are no strict geographic limitations, it has a clear preference for supporting organizations located in Alabama. This geographic preference reflects the founder’s ties to the region and suggests that applicants operating within Alabama or serving Alabama communities may be more competitive. The application process is conducted online through the Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services platform. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year; however, all submissions must be received by May 1 to be considered at the annual grant review meeting. Applicants receive an automated confirmation email upon submission. The process does not indicate a required letter of intent or pre-application stage, meaning organizations can proceed directly to submitting a full application. Grant decisions are typically communicated by the end of the calendar year for applications submitted by the May 1 deadline. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed, applicants can reasonably infer that alignment with the trust’s mission, demonstrated community impact, and organizational capacity will be key factors in funding decisions. Funded organizations may be required to submit periodic progress reports and a final report documenting the outcomes of the supported project. The grant operates on an annual cycle with a consistent deadline, indicating a recurring funding opportunity. Organizations interested in applying should plan their timelines accordingly, ensuring that proposals are fully prepared and submitted by early May. For additional support or technical questions, applicants may contact Wells Fargo’s grant administration team via email or phone, as listed on the application platform.