Bolger Foundation Grant

The Bolger Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that provides financial support to nonprofit organizations engaged in capital improvement projects. The foundation focuses its funding on tangible property enhancements owned by the applying organization, emphasizing long term infrastructure investments that strengthen organizational capacity. Its funding strategy is intentionally narrow, concentrating on physical assets rather than operational or programmatic support, ensuring that funded projects result in durable and measurable improvements. The primary purpose of the grant program is to support capital projects that directly enhance facilities, land, or equipment owned by eligible nonprofit organizations. These projects may include constructing new buildings, expanding or upgrading existing structures, acquiring land, or purchasing significant and durable equipment such as medical devices or technological infrastructure. The foundation requires that projects remain within a defined financial scope, with total project budgets not exceeding 2.5 million dollars, ensuring that supported initiatives are feasible and appropriately scaled. Funding requests to the Bolger Foundation must fall within a defined range, with grant amounts between 10000 and 250000 dollars. Applicants must submit a detailed project budget supported by documentation, demonstrating how requested funds will be allocated. The foundation explicitly excludes certain types of expenditures and projects, including leasehold improvements, website or application development, salaries, operating costs, affordable housing, and projects outside the United States. Public entities such as schools or municipal governments are also ineligible, as are organizations with net assets exceeding 15 million dollars. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations that hold valid tax exempt status under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code and are classified as public charities under sections 509a1 or 509a2. Applicants must be in full compliance with federal and state filing requirements. The organization must own the property being improved, and the proposed project must align with the foundation’s emphasis on capital investment. Applications from individuals, private foundations, fiscal agents, or organizations exceeding financial thresholds are not accepted. The application process is conducted through an online grant application portal. Applicants are required to provide several key components, including a brief organizational mission statement, a description of the grant purpose, an explanation of the project’s impact, and a detailed line item budget. Supporting documentation must include audited financial statements or the most recent Form 990, IRS determination letters confirming tax exempt status, and an annual report if available. These materials are critical for demonstrating organizational capacity and financial transparency. The grant program operates on a biannual cycle with two application windows each year. Spring applications are accepted from November 1 through February 1, while fall applications are accepted from June 1 through September 1. Deadlines may shift slightly if they fall on weekends or holidays, and submission portals close at 5 pm Eastern Time on the final day. Applications are reviewed after the close of each cycle rather than on a rolling basis, and decisions are typically made within six weeks, after which applicants are notified by email or mail. The foundation does not describe a formal evaluation rubric but indicates that review occurs after each application period, suggesting a comparative assessment of proposals within each cycle. There is no indication of a pre application requirement such as a letter of intent. Contact information is available for inquiries, including an email contact and a listed phone number. The foundation is headquartered in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and maintains a structured and predictable grant cycle, making it a recurring funding opportunity for eligible organizations undertaking capital improvement projects.

Ensure the project is clearly a capital improvement tied to owned property and provide a detailed and well supported budget demonstrating feasibility and impact