Russell Berrie Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Russell Berrie Foundation was created to express the values and passions of Russell Berrie through social investments in innovative ideas.

IP TAKE: The foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines.

PROFILE: Established in 1985, the Russell Berrie Foundation was founded by he late Russ Berrie, who established the Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. (now known as Kid Brands, Inc.) which designs, manufactures and markets a variety of gift products to retail stores. The Russell Berrie Foundation was created to express the values and passions of Russell Berrie through social investments in innovative ideas.

The foundation invests in four key areas, supporting innovative ideas designed to: 1) Promote the continuity and enrichment of Jewish communal life; 2) Support advances in medicine focusing on diabetes and humanism in medicine; 3) Fostering the spirit of religious understanding and pluralism; 4) Recognizing individuals who have made a significant difference to the lives of others; and 5) Elevating the profession of sales.

Grants range between $600 and around $2.1 million. In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $14.9 million Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its What We Fund page. Grantmaking focuses on New Jersey and New York, as well as Israel. Past local grantees have included Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, Ramapo College Foundation, and Rising Tide Capital, which is “dedicated to transforming urban communities by empowering talented entrepreneurs to grow life-changing businesses.”

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

The Russell Berrie Foundation
300 Frank W. Burr Boulevard
Teaneck, NJ 07666
201-928-1880
trbf@rbfdtn.org