James R. Kuse Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: This funder makes grants in Oregon, especially the Greater Portland area, in the fields of children, education, medical research and community. Unsolicited requests are not accepted.
IP TAKE: Annual grantmaking is quite limited with this funder. However, the family members work actively with nonprofits they support.
PROFILE: The James R. Kuse Family Foundation is based in Portland, Oregon. It seeks to support “organizations that improve the lives of children, enhance education, advance medical research, and build dynamic communities.” James (Jim) Kuse was the founder, president, CEO, and chairman of the Georgia Gulf Corporation, a manufacturer of commodity and specialty chemicals. He went to high school in Portland and attended Oregon State University. His wife, Shirley Kuse, was born and raised in Portland. She became a medical technologist after attending the University of Oregon Medical School. The couple established a small family foundation in 1989 to continue their tradition of giving.
The foundation moved from Georgia to Oregon in 2005. Since inception, the funder has awarded over $9 million to organizations in Georgia, Oregon, California and Idaho. Most support is in the form of project or program support, but general operating support is occasionally provided, too.
Funding priorities for this funder are children, education, medical research and fostering dynamic communities. Annual giving ranges from $175,000 to $250,000. Most grants are between $5,000 and $30,000.
Recent education grantees include Jesuit High School, the Portland Public Schools Foundation, St. John Fisher School, and Rosemary Anderson High School. The foundation has made Community grants to the Blanchet House of Hospitality, Bridge Meadows, Lifeworks Northwest and Metro Arts. Grantees working in children’s needs include CASA for Children, the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, the Harrington Family Foundation and the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Fewer grants support medical research, but the foundation supports the University of Oregon Foundation, Oregon Health and Science University, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Unfortunately for grant seekers, the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Groups must be invited by one of the trustees to submit a proposal. The trustees are actively involved with the charities they support.
Potential grant recipients must submit a written grant request including the amount requested, a plan with measurable goals, an IRS letter, current financial statement and budget, and a list of the board of directors. Site visits are fairly common. Kuse also requires yearly reports for multi-year grants.
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