The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation has a mission to make grants that bring the energy and interest of Brown Rudnick volunteers together with opportunities and resources to create positive social change. To maximize its effect, the Foundation focuses on organizations, supporting education in underresourced communities in Boston, Hartford, New York, Washington, D.C., Orange County, CA, and London (UK).

Grants

The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation provides grants to schools and non-profits providing educational programming in the cities where we have offices. Our goal is to empower educators and community leaders to advocate for funding for programs that will have meaningful impact and create positive opportunities for students in underresourced schools.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

Jeffrey L. Jonas image

Jeffrey L. Jonas

President

I am honored to serve as Foundation President. As a senior partner and a member of Brown Rudnick’s Management Committee, I am inspired by the Charitable Foundation’s enduring commitment to improving education in under-served communities. For over two decades, Brown Rudnick has brought to bear strong advocacy, volunteerism, and financial support to help thousands of learners, from preschoolers to adults, advance towards achieving their dreams. The Foundation’s vision is part of the very fabric of Brown Rudnick and highlights our core values in action.

The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation is committed to providing educators and community leaders with the resources to positively impact the educational outcomes of youth in underresourced communities. The Foundation provides two types of grants to eligible organizations: Relationship Grants and Community Grants.

Since the Foundation’s founding in 2001, we have supported programs at public schools, shelters, and organizations providing educational programming. We aim to use our funding to create strong communities by helping under-served individuals achieve their goals.

 

 

RELATIONSHIP GRANTS

The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation awards annual Relationship Grants to charitable organizations and schools to support programs designed to improve education in underresourced communities. These annual grants seek to form relationships that provide not just financial support, but also deeper connections through pro bono legal representation and/or volunteerism. Grantees are selected annually based upon a rigorous review of grant applications. These grants have helped to launch, sustain, and grow scores of successful programs and organizations over the years.

2024 – 2025 Relationship Grant Schedule

March 1 – 15, 2024: Letter of Interest Submission Period
The application window for 2024-25 Relationship Grants has closed. The application will open again in Spring 2025.

Week of April 22, 2024: Request for Full Proposal
We will reach out to all applicants regarding their application status. Selected applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal.

Friday, May 10, 2024: Deadline to Submit Final Applications

Week of July 8, 2024: Final Decisions
We will reach out all applicants who submitted a Full Proposal regarding the final decision on their application.

September 1, 2024: Beginning of the 2024 – 2025 Relationship Grant Year

 

Guidelines for funding:

  • The program must be located in one of the following cities: Boston, MA; New York, NY; Hartford, CT; Orange County, CA; London, UK; or Washington, D.C.
  • Organization must be a non-profit organization or school
  • Program must, at least in part, benefit a financially disadvantaged population
  • The Foundation cannot fund religious-based organizations or programming

 

2023 – 2024 Relationship Grant Recipients

Achieve Hartford (Hartford)

Achieve Hartford provides peer mentors for high school seniors who will be first-generation college students. The peer mentors support the senior through the college preparation process and remain in contact during their Freshman Year of college, acting as a support system.

Century High School (Orange County)

Century High School provides programming aimed at helping students graduate and enroll in college. The Foundation funds college visits, leadership camps, and recognition programs for students. The Foundation also funds the Graduation Caminata where graduating seniors visit local elementary and junior high schools to speak about the importance of graduating high school.

e, inc. (Boston)

e, inc. hosts afterschool science programs at the Gallivan Community Center for students Kindergarten through 8th grade. These programs reinforce elementary STEM concepts learned in school and teach new concepts using hands-on projects.

East Boston High School (Boston)

East Boston High School (EBHS) provides STEM focused programs to their students. The Foundation provides funds for a mentoring program that brings together BU students, EBHS students, and middle school students to learn about science concepts together. In addition, the Foundation also provides funds for the student-led STEAM Community Day and the Young Women’s Empowerment Conference.

Free Arts NYC (New York City)

Free Arts NYC hosts art programming for youth from under-served communities. The Free Arts Day Program, supported by the Foundation, brings young children and volunteers together for mini-mentoring sessions while they create art together.

Generation Citizen (New York City)

Generation Citizen empowers youth to engage with democracy through projects. The organization teaches students in the NYC Public School system to identify societal issues, research the topic, and create persuasive arguments supporting their desired change.

Go Live Theatre Projects (London)

Go Live Theatre Projects introduces disadvantaged youth to theatre. The Foundation funds a program specifically designed for children who act as caregivers for an adult in their life.

Hartford Public Library (Hartford)

The Foundation supports the Hartford Public Library’s STEM program series for Hartford Public School students ages 6 -12. The students visit museums, study live animals, and create hands-on projects around STEM concepts.

He is Me Institute (Boston)

He is Me works to increase the number of Black male teachers by supporting Black men in school for education and by putting them into schools with Black male students. The Foundation supports a cohort of students through the I AM KING program, which pairs college students and K-12 students for mentoring relationships.

Horizons for Homeless Children (Boston)

Horizons for Homeless Children addresses the learning and developmental gaps experience by homeless children. Our funds support literacy education and materials for children 5 and under.

LIFEbeat (London)

LIFEbeat teaches wellbeing skills to London youth and school administrators. This year, the Foundation is providing funding for 8 School Wellbeing Champions who will champion social-emotional support at their schools.

New York Theatre Ballet (New York City)

The NY Theatre Ballet provides high-quality ballet instruction to children experiencing housing insecurity through their LIFT program. The Foundation provides scholarships that help cover the costs of classes and costumes.

NYC Urban Debate League (New York City)

The NYC Urban Debate League creates debate programs in NYC public schools and hosts debate tournaments for students. The Foundation started funding this program when it began 13 years ago. With support from the Foundation, the League now exists in over 100 schools and is the largest urban debate league in the country.

Rosie’s Place (Boston)

Rosie’s Place was founded as the first shelter for women in the United States. The foundation supports The Women’s Education Center, which provides ESOL courses and job search assistance.

The Anne Frank Trust UK (London)

The Anne Frank Trust UK empowers students ages 9-15 to identify and challenge prejudice. The Foundation provides funding for the Youth Ambassador’s Programme. This program provides intensive anti-bias training to a small group of students who act as leaders in their schools and communities.

The Elma Lewis Center (Boston)

The Elma Lewis Center, a program within Emerson College, focuses on equity and inclusion through storytelling. The Foundation provides funding for monthly TIDE Conference Workshops, which are student-led meetings that address social justice issues through creative mediums.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center (Boston)

Thompson Island provides a living classroom where Boston Public School students learn about the environment and experience hands-on learning. The organization’s Connections Program impacts over 1,600 students.

United States Capitol Historical Society (Washington, D.C.)

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society educates the public on the history and importance of the U.S. Capitol. The Foundation funds education and Capitol tours for D.C. Public School students.

University of California, Irvine School of Law (Orange County)

The University of California, Irvine School of Law hosts local 9th grade students for the Saturday Academy of Law, a six-week program that introduces students to the legal field. Students practice their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. They also meet with attorneys and practice arguing in front of a judge.

Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters (New York City)

Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters serves 6th– 12th grade students. With the Foundation’s funding, the school has created 15 student-led afterschool clubs that connect students based on shared interests.

COMMUNITY GRANTS

The Foundation awards Community Grants in the amount of $2,000 or less to address specific, one-time, tangible, and immediate needs. Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis from those on the “front lines” of education- the kind of need that those with funding authority don’t have the resources to make a priority. The Foundation awards approximately 15 Community Grants per year.

If you are interested in applying for a Community Grant you can submit an application here.

Our board reviews these applications every 2-3 months. If you have any questions about your application’s status, please contact BrownRudnickFoundation@BrownRudnick.com

 

Guidelines for funding:

  • The program must be located in one of the following cities: Boston, MA; New York, NY; Hartford, CT; Orange County, CA; London, UK; or Washington, D.C.
  • Organization must be a non-profit organization or school
  • Program must, at least in part, benefit a financially disadvantaged population
  • The Foundation cannot fund religious-based organizations or programming
  • The grant request must be $2,000 or less

Recent Community Grants

The English High School (Boston)

Purchased a robotic hand and software for teams of students to program that the robot to assist individuals with disabilities.

The Reading Team (New York City)

Purchased books for the Book Distribution Program and After-School Program.

Richard Wright Public Charter School (Washington, D.C.)

Purchased a washer and dryer that is available for students experiencing homelessness so they are able to wash their clothing at school

Solace Women’s Aid (London)

Provided school uniforms to children living in a domestic violence shelter.

Ocean View High School (Orange County)

Took students with disabilities on an outing to practice social skills as part of the Social Society program.

Fred D. Wish Museum School (Hartford)

Students attended a field trip at the Bronx Zoo.

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