Thomas C. Burke Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Thomas C. Burke Foundation broadly supports health and human services nonprofits in and around Bibb County, Georgia.

IP TAKE: This funder works to help local cancer patients, especially in the city of Macon.

PROFILE: Established in 1965, the Thomas C. Burke Foundation is a private foundation based in Georgia. It seeks to support “charitable organizations that ease human suffering and promote the health of people afflicted by disease, physical weakness, physical disability and physical injury.” Burke was successful in the building supply industry and built a historic home in downtown Macon, Georgia known as the Burke Mansion. His daughters, Mary and Martina Burke, established this foundation in his name to support charitable local causes. Bank of America’s Georgia office manages the foundation, while the Community Foundation of Central Georgia also contributes to the Burke Foundation. Grantmaking supports health and human services in and around Bibb County, Georgia.

This funder regularly supports groups that help people who have been affected by diseases, weakness, disabilities, or injuries. Cancer prevention and treatment are at the heart of this funder’s mission, especially for patients treated by Macon, Georgia physicians. It has also provided financial assistance for medical supplies like wheelchairs and medications, as well as eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, and support for family members of ill patients. Past local support has gone to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jay’s Hope Foundation, Meals and Wheels of Macon, and the Medcen Community Health Foundation.  

Foundation grants are often $15,000 to $30,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking prioritizes Bibb County, Georgia and its surrounding communities. Burke makes a majority of its grants to Macon-based organizations.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The annual application deadline is August 1 and applicants can expect to hear back with a funding decision within about three to four months after this date. Grant seekers must use the Bank of America online system to apply for a grant.

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