Robert A. Day Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Robert A. Day Foundation primarily supports Claremont McKenna College, its founder’s alma mater. Other grants have funded K-12 education in California, economic development and organizations on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.

IP TAKE: The Robert A. Day Foundation supports Claremont McKenna College with millions of dollars in funding each year. The remainder of its grantmaking is somewhat modest, and appears to target schools and organizations known by the founder’s family. This is a low-key funder with no online presence, but it accepts letters of introduction via mail. It will likely be difficult to gain traction here with out a personal connection.

PROFILE: Established in 2008, the Robert A. Day Foundation was founded by the late financier Robert Addison Day and his family. Robert Day, a native of Los Angeles, was the grandson of William Myron Keck, the founder of the Superior Oil Company. Robert Day graduated from Claremont McKenna College in 1965. He founded his financial firm, Trust Company of the West, in 1971 and sold a majority stake in the company to Société Générale for $2.5 billion in 2001. He is best known in philanthropy as the former CEO of the W.M. Keck Foundation, which was named for his grandfather.

The Robert A. Day Foundation does not maintain a website, limiting information about its grantmaking goals and interests. Tax filings reveal a strong commitment to higher education, particularly Claremont McKenna College, and public health. Smaller areas of grantmaking include K-12 education in California, racial justice and democracy.

Grants for Higher Education

Higher education is, by far, the Day Foundation’s largest giving area. Over the years, significant support has gone to Day’s alma mater, Claremont McKenna College and the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of institutions of higher education located in Claremont. In 2007, Robert Day donated $200 million to Claremont McKenna to establish the Robert Day Scholars program. Since then, Claremont McKenna has received millions from the foundation year after year. It is worth noting that millions in support for Claremont McKenna and the Claremont Colleges has also come from the W.M. Keck Foundation during Day’s tenure there.

Other higher education grantees include UCLA, USC and the University of Arizona.

Grants for K-12 Education

The Day Foundation has also supported K-12 education in Southern California, although these grants tend to be fewer and farther between. Grantees include the Westridge School for Girls, the Villanova Preparatory School, the Cate School and the La Canada Flintridge Education Foundation.

Grants for Racial Justice and Economic Opportunity Democracy

Racial justice and economic development are not large giving areas for this foundation; only a few of the foundation’s smaller grants have gone in these directions. Grantees include the Trickle Up, the Brooks County Assistance Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas and Men Taking Over Reforming Society, which was established in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s murder to “to decrease the disparities and improve the socio-economic conditions of underserved communities by linking its members with resources that provide opportunities for community reform and family stabilization.”

Other Grantmaking Opportunities

The Day Foundation has supported several organizations on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard. Grantees include the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society, Sail Martha’s Vineyard and the Island Grown Initiative.

Important Grant Details:

The Robert A. Day Foundation’s grants are awarded in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $250,000, with the exception of grants to Claremont McKenna College, which receives millions from the foundation each year.

  • The funder appears to emphasize grants to organizations with which the Day family maintains connection.

  • The Day Foundation supports organizations of all sizes and tends to provide multiple years of support.

  • For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s tax filings.

  • This funder accepts letters of introduction via mail. An address is provided below.

This foundation does not provide an email address but can be reached by telephone at 213-891-6300.

PEOPLE:

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

CONTACT:

Robert A. Day Foundation
865 S. Figueroa St., No. 700
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 891-6300