The Bunbury Fund - One-Year Capacity Building Grants

The Bunbury Fund, established as a donor advised fund at the Princeton Area Community Foundation in 2015, represents a culmination of a rich philanthropic legacy that began with The Bunbury Company. Founded in 1952 by Princeton resident Dean Mathey, The Bunbury Company operated as a private foundation committed to charitable causes in central New Jersey. With a whimsical nod to Oscar Wilde’s character "Uncle Bunbury," Mathey’s humor infused the foundation with a sense of personal investment and community spirit. Over six decades, the original foundation awarded over $75 million to regional nonprofits focused on social, environmental, and educational impact before evolving into The Bunbury Fund. Now celebrating its 10-year anniversary as a fund and 75 years of total impact, The Bunbury Fund has announced the sunsetting of its operations, marking the end of an era in strategic, community-based grantmaking. Throughout its existence at the Princeton Area Community Foundation, The Bunbury Fund focused exclusively on capacity building for nonprofit organizations, particularly those based in or serving Mercer County and central New Jersey. The Fund's mission was to strengthen nonprofits' abilities to deliver their services more sustainably and effectively, enabling long-term organizational maturity. Its capacity-building efforts included strategic planning, technological upgrades, governance improvements, and leadership development. In 2023 alone, the Fund disbursed over $1 million to local organizations, further emphasizing its role in enhancing the nonprofit sector’s infrastructure and resilience. As the Fund prepares to sunset, its final year of operations emphasizes reflection and legacy. The decision to spend down the fund was a deliberate and strategic one, developed over time through meaningful relationships with the community and grounded in a belief that full deployment of remaining assets was the most effective way to honor its mission. The Advisors of The Bunbury Fund worked in partnership with Princeton Area Community Foundation leadership and staff to ensure a responsible and well-executed closure. This collaborative effort culminated in the publication of materials and seminars aimed at sharing lessons learned, including a widely attended event on nonprofit governance and detailed documentation of their grantmaking practices. While specific application steps or deadlines for 2026 are no longer applicable due to the fund's closure, the Bunbury Fund’s resources remain publicly available as a case study for funders and philanthropists. Past grant cycles were invitation-only and did not follow an open application process. The Fund encouraged potential grantees to engage with peer organizations and learn from previously funded projects. An emphasis was also placed on collaborative learning and trust-based philanthropy. Although a portal or platform was not publicly described, the fund valued transparency, and information about grantees, application guidance, and outcomes was routinely shared on its public website. Eligibility for Bunbury Fund grants was centered on nonprofit organizations operating in central New Jersey, with a strong focus on those headquartered in Mercer County. There were no indications that organizations outside this geographic area or outside of 501(c)(3) nonprofit status were eligible, further underscoring the fund’s commitment to local impact and organizational development. Applicants were often required to show a demonstrated history of service and commitment to capacity building objectives. While the fund did not stipulate matching requirements, it prioritized sustainable projects that showed long-term benefits and scalability. Those seeking additional insights into the fund’s legacy or previously supported projects may contact Nelida Valentin, Vice President of Grants, Programs, and Community Relations, or Danny Freund, Director of Grant Operations & Analytics, at the Princeton Area Community Foundation. While the fund is closed to new applications, its impact continues through the work of grantees and the availability of archival grantmaking resources. Its sunset model serves as a guide for other philanthropic organizations considering how to maximize their legacy in service to the community.