Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, health, human services, arts, and Jewish causes.

IP TAKE: The foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines. Almost all giving stays within Connecticut, with just a few grants going to national organizations, regional groups in the Northeast and causes that hold special meaning to family members. Most foundation grants are for unrestricted general support; however, the foundation also supports specific projects, production sponsorships, fundraiser walks and annual galas. This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

PROFILE: Established in 2000, the Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation was established by real estate executive Cheryl Chase and her husband, Stuart Bear, a retired judge. Cheryl Chase graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and History from Tufts University and received her J.D. from University of Connecticut Law School in 1978. She serves as co-president of the family’s Chase Enterprises, which is known for shaping the Hartford skyline and developing modern buildings like One Financial Plaza. Stuart David Bear graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and was a judge for the Connecticut Appellate Court.

The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, health, human services, arts, and Jewish causes.

Grants for Education

Education grantmaking mostly focuses on schools with which the family has a personal connection, particularly University of Connecticut, as does the family’s other organization. Cheryl serves on the board of University of Connecticut Health.

Grants for Jewish Causes

Her late father David, who was a Holocaust survivor, cofounded the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Spporting the Jewish community is a strong interest of this family. Grantees have included Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (David helped found the institution), and Congregation Beth Israel.

Grants for Arts and Culture

The foundation’s arts giving broadly supports museums and theaters rather than individual artists. Cheryl and Stuart are strongly involved with New Britain Museum of American Art, home to the Chase Family Building. The extended Chase family are longtime art collectors. Cheryl and Stuart and strongly involved with New Britain Museum of American Art, home to the Chase Family Building.

Cheryl Chase is a founding trustee of the Connecticut Science Center, whose board she once chaired. Via their foundation, the couple have supported places like Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, where Cheryl is on the board; Hartford Stage; Theater Works; Hartford Symphony Orchestra; and Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Grants for Health and Diseases

Chase’s brother Arnold is on the board of Hartford Hospital, one grantee. The Chases have also supported places like My Sister’s Place, which deals with homelessness; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut; and American Liver Foundation.

Important Grant Details:

Thus far, the foundation’s grantmaking has remained modest, with annual giving recently between $200,000 and $400,000. The funder tends to award numerous smaller grants of under $1,000 each. Its larger grants are usually between $5,000 and $15,000.

Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Connecticut, particularly the Hartford area. Past local grantees include Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Cheryl is on the board), Hartford Stage, Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, and Congregation Beth Israel.

While the foundation keeps a low profile, it does accept contact. There are no deadlines listed.

PEOPLE:

Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).

CONTACT:

John P. Redding c/o Chase Enterprises
Goodwin Sq., 225 Asylum St., 29th Fl.
Hartford, CT 06103