Goergen Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Goergen Foundation funds grantmaking related to education, the arts, particularly museums, youth, animals, environment, and health.

IP TAKE: The foundation is not transparent and keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. The family's grantmaking focuses on several geographic regions, but Connecticut and New York are sites of giving. Contact information is below, but in addition to cold calling, grantseekers will want to network to get on this funder’s radar.

PROFILE: The Goergen Foundation was established in 1986. It was founded by businessman Bob Goergen and his wife Pam. Bob Goergen worked at financial firms like McKinsey & Co. and currently chairs Ropart Group, a private equity investment firm. Bob also became part owner of a small Brooklyn candle company, which he grew and took public in 1994. He renamed the company Blyth, Inc. 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 Goergen Foundation funds a variety of causes, including grantmaking related to education, the arts, particularly museums, youth, animals, environment, and health.

Grants for Higher Education

The Goergens steadily support schools with which they have a personal connection, particularly Bob's alma maters University of Rochester and University of Pennsylvania. Earlier in the decade, the couple committed $11 million to the University of Rochester’s Institute for Data Science renaming it the Goergen Institute for Data Science. The family's $10 million gift in 2007, meanwhile, led the construction of the Robert B. Goergen Hall for Biomedical Engineering and Optics. In 2000, the Goergens provided $5 million for renovations to the River Campus athletic and fitness facility, which today is the Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center. And in 1997, the couple established the Goergen Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, presented annually to outstanding faculty members. The Goergens also steadily support University of Pennsylvania, home to the Goergen Entrepreneurial Management Program which was created with a $10 million gift.

Grants for Arts and Culture, Wildlife and Animal Welfare, Environment, and Public Health and Access

The Foundation does not seem to have clear funding areas; however, tax records show that arts and culture, animals, the environment, and health are priorities. Past grantees include Grace Church School, New York Botanical Garden, LEO Zoological Conservation Center, Bruce Museum (Pam has been an honorary trustee), Manhattan Theatre Club, Whitney Museum, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Center.

Important Grant Details

Grants range from $100 to $100,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $1.1 million. The Goergen Foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. The family's grantmaking focuses on several geographic regions, but Connecticut and New York are sites of giving. 

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

Goergen Foundation Inc.
c/o Ropart, 3 Greenwich Office Park
Greenwich, CT 06931
(203) 661-1988