OVERVIEW: The Conru Foundation supports environmental conservation and conservative groups working in education, media and democracy. It also makes grants for arts organizations in Seattle.
IP TAKE: According to its founder, Andrew Conru, the Conru Foundation works “towards building a brighter, more compassionate future for all.” This relatively-new funder support an eclectic mix of causes ranging from environmental conservation, to conservative think tanks and the Seattle arts scene. With only simple webpage to describe the foundation’s work, it might be difficult to decide if your organization fits in with Conru’s vision. Fortunately, the Conru Foundation accepts letters of inquiry via email at any time.
PROFILE: Established in 2017, the Conru Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of tech mogul Andrew Conru. Conru was born in Indiana and graduated with a B.S. degrees in economics and engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana. Subsequently, he earned an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering design from Stanford University. In 1996, he launched FriendFinder.com, an early social networking site to help people connect with like-minded activity partners. He’s been involved with the launch of over 20 internet startups through the years.
The Conru Foundation is “dedicated to driving positive change across a wide range of sectors” and supports “innovative projects and organizations that align with our core values of critical thinking, evidence-based problem-solving, and the pursuit of knowledge.” The foundation’s stated focus areas are environmental stewardship, educational advancement, media integrity, and arts and culture. Across all interest areas, Conru aims to “identify and support initiatives that have the potential for significant, scalable impact.” The foundation describes its approach as “strategic and data-driven, ensuring that each grant serves as both a reflection of our values and an investment in a better future.”
Grants for the Environment, Climate Change and Clean Energy
The Conru Foundation does not make many grants for the environment, but they are some of its largest. Grants have supported the American Lands Project, the Conservation Coalition, the Post Carbon Institute and the Alaska Wilderness League.
Grants for Education
Conru does not name specific goals for its education giving, and grants have gone to an eclectic range of recipients. Two of its grantees express opposition to DEI initiatives in education: the National Association of Scholars is a conservative organization that “upholds the standards of a liberal arts education that fosters intellectual freedom, searches for the truth, and promotes virtuous citizenship,” and EmpowerED is a small Austin-based group that pursues a mission of “[e]mpowering educators, youth, and communities by strengthening the neural pathways to peace and resilience.” Other grantees include the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, which offers career-oriented bachelor’s programs in technology ans STEM fields, and Seattle’s Belong Partners, which “challenges traditional practices and systems in education and youth-serving organizations that rely on compliance, punishment, rewards, and exclusion.”
Grants for Journalism, Media, Civic Engagement and Democracy
The foundation’s media integrity giving appears to prioritize conservative organizations. One grantee, the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology supports research on “how ideology and government policy contribute to scientific, technological, and social progress” including “the impact of woke policies and practices on organizational culture and performance,” and “work that challenges bad scientific practices, debunks established findings, or explains modern reverence for scientific authority and expertise in political matters.” Other grantees include the Claremont Institute, the Media Research Center and the Reason Foundation.
Grants for Arts and Culture, Arts Education
Conru’s arts grantmaking is a smaller area of giving, with grants mainly mainly serving organizations based in Seattle. Recipients include the Seattle Theatre Group, the Gage Academy of Art. the Vashon Center for the Arts and the Good Foot Arts Collective.
The foundation also oversees the Conru Art Foundation (CAF), which “supports local artists, art organizations, and initiatives that make art accessible to all” in Seattle. CAF publishes PublicDisplay.art, “a quarterly arts publication showcasing local artists and their work.” It also maintains a free “event center” that “help[s] those in the art scene meetup informally and connect.” CAF is also renovating Seattle’s Lusty Lady Building “into a unique art venue.”
Important Grant Details:
Conru’s grants range from $3,000 to $100,000.
This funder tends to support conservative organizations and think tanks.
Giving prioritizes the state of Washington, but is not strictly limited to the state.
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry at any time. Letters should contain “a brief description of your initiative and how it aligns with our mission” and may be emailed to wendy@publicdisplay.art.
For additional information about this funder’s past grants, see its tax filings.
Contact this foundation via email at wendy@publicdisplay.art. Its phone number is listed as 206-285-7242.
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