Bolger Foundation
The Bolger Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1965 and headquartered in Ridgewood, New Jersey. The foundation operates with a strategic focus on capital projects that create lasting community impact, rather than funding operating expenses.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.3M
+13.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+78.6% YoY
Grant Count
34
+25.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+41.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bolger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of The Bolger Foundation is to inspire individuals and support charitable organizations, empowering them to better serve their community and the world.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Conservation and preservation
- Support for underprivileged and underserved populations
- Health, including mental health
- Community development
- Education
Grant Focus: The foundation favors capital projects with ongoing impact, including:
- Construction or purchase of new facilities
- Building renovations and improvements
- Purchase of capital equipment and furnishings
- Other one-time capital needs
Grantmaking
Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in the USA are eligible to apply for funding.
Grant Range
**
Review Cycle
November 1 - February
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
National focus within the United States only.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $29.2 million (2023); $33.3 million (2024)
Total Revenues: $10.9 million (2023)
Total Expenses: $1.8 million (2023)
Annual Giving: $1.66-$1.7 million (2024)
Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,303,251 | $29,230,580 | $21,102,421 |
| Revenue | $7,920,421 | $10,859,401 | $8,157,555 |
| Expenses | $3,815,187 | $1,801,308 | $722,270 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,664,884 | $937,651 | $467,988 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,029,801 | $1,001,524 | $164,616 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,774,099 | $1,491,674 | $910,008 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Bolger Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Servants Heart ($255,000), Brownsville Ambulance Services ($226,500), New Hope Community Ministries ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST SANTA FE, NM | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $50,000 |
| BROWNSVILLE AMBULANCE SERVICES BROWNSVILLE, PA | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $226,500 |
| CAMP DUDLEY FOUNDATION INC WESTPORT, NY | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $2,500 |
| CENTER FOR HEARING AND COMMUNICATION NEW YORK, NY | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $28,000 |
| CTC ACADEMY FAIR LAWN, NJ | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $2,500 |
| DALLAS DOG NETWORK INC DALLAS, TX | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $3,300 |
| EVAS KITCHEN INC PATERSON, NJ | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $10,000 |
| FAIRYTALE FARM MINIATURE DONKEY AND PONY RESCUE MORGAN HILL, CA | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $24,015 |
| FIELDSTONE FARM THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $12,860 |
| FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR FOUNDATION ST PETERSBURGH, FL | TO ASSIST THE ORG. IN ITS CHARITABLE FUNCTION | $25,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President: J.T. Bolger
Founder: David F. Bolger, who established the foundation in 1966. David Bolger was an investment banker and real estate entrepreneur who founded Bolger & Co., Inc. in 1966. Throughout his lifetime, he donated more than $100 million to charitable causes, with a particular focus on capital infrastructure projects.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN G BOLGER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| THOMAS WELLS | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| JAMES T BOLGER | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| KATHRYN A BYRNE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL TOZZOLI | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| BETSIE BOLGER | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| PATRICK CROWE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AJ BOLGER | ASSOCIATE TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KAYLEE BOLGER | ASSOCIATE TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Bolger Foundation announced Spring 2025 grant recipients, continuing its twice-yearly grant announcement cycle. The foundation maintains active engagement with the nonprofit community through its online grant portal and regular communication of funding opportunities and results.
The Bolger Foundation Announces Spring 2025 Grant RecipientsContact Information
Address: 79 Chestnut Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450-2563
Phone: (201) 670-9270
Website: https://www.thebolgerfoundation.org
EIN: 23-7418090
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bolger Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of The Bolger Foundation is to inspire individuals and support charitable organizations, empowering them to better serve their community and the world. **Primary Funding Areas:** • Conservation and preservation • Support for underprivileged and underserved populations • Health, including mental health • Community development • Education **Grant Focus:** The foundation favors capital projects with ongoing impact, including: • Construction or purchase of new fac…
How do I apply for a grant from Bolger Foundation?
**Eligibility:** Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in the USA are eligible to apply for funding. **Grant Range:** $10,000 - $250,000 **Application Process:** • Online portal application during designated application windows • Application windows: Twice yearly (Spring and Fall) • Fixed deadlines: November 1 - February • Grant portal closes at 5pm ET on closing dates • Decision time: Approximately 6 weeks from application period close **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation has dem…
Where does Bolger Foundation make grants?
National focus within the United States only.
What size grants does Bolger Foundation award?
In 2024, Bolger Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bolger Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bolger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bolger Foundation's EIN?
Bolger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7418090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bolger Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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