Bradley Foundation

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, commonly known as the Bradley Foundation, is an American charitable foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that has been one of the most influential funders of the conservative movement.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="milwaukeemag">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The foundation had nearly $1 billion in assets as of 2023.<ref name=financials/> It has given $1.3 billion in grants since 1985.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The foundation funds a variety of conservative public policy groups along with cultural institutions and Milwaukee nonprofit organizations. It reports that approximately 70% of the foundation's giving is directed to national groups while 30% is Wisconsin-based.<ref name="milwaukeemag" /> It awards the Bradley Prize.<ref name=":1" />

History

Template:Conservatism US The foundation was established in 1942, shortly after the death of Lynde Bradley, to further the philosophy of the Bradley brothers. The Bradley brothers had helped found the Allen-Bradley Company, a major electrical controls manufacturer.<ref name=":1" /> The foundation's credo is "The good society is a free society."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1965, after the death of Harry Lynde Bradley, Lynde's brother, the foundation expanded and began to concentrate on public policy.<ref name=Miller/> The 1985 acquisition of the Allen-Bradley Company by Rockwell International Corporation resulted in a portion of the proceeds going to expand the foundation, swelling its assets from $14 million to over $290 million.<ref>The Bradley Brothers. Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name=":1" /> In 1986, the foundation gave away $23 million, more than it had in the previous four decades.<ref name=Miller>John J. Miller (2003), "The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation", in How Two Foundations Reshaped America, Philanthropy Roundtable</ref>

The Bradley Foundation's former president, Michael S. Joyce, helped to create the Philanthropy Roundtable.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2011, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that "The Bradley Foundation acts like a venture capital fund for conservative ideas."<ref name=":1" />

Funding areas

The foundation describes itself as supporting limited government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The New York Times described the Bradley Foundation as "a leading source of ideas and financing for American conservatives."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 2013 report from the Center for Public Integrity found that the Bradley Foundation was a contributor to Donors Trust, a donor advised fund which is not required to disclose the identity of its donors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In a 2018 interview, the foundation's CEO, Richard Graber, described its four major areas of funding as "constitutional order", education (in particular school choice), civil society, and arts and culture.<ref name=milwaukeemag/> In that interview, Graber said that the foundation would deemphasize some areas in which it had previously made grants, including national security and foreign policy.<ref name=milwaukeemag/> Between 2008 and 2011, Bradley contributed to the David Horowitz Freedom Center ($4.2 million), the Center for Security Policy ($815,000) and the Middle East Forum ($305,000).<ref name="Johnson">Annysa Johnson, Islamic rights group's report rips Bradley Foundation funding, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (September 20, 2013).</ref>

The Bradley Foundation is a major funder of state-level initiatives opposing public sector unions, particularly in Wisconsin.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1" /> The foundation has made grants to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC),<ref name=":2" /> The associated Bradley Impact Fund in 2020 gave $6.5 million, its largest donation that year, to Project Veritas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bradley Prize

The Bradley Prize is a grant to "formally recognize individuals of extraordinary talent and dedication who have made contributions of excellence in areas consistent with The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation's mission." As many as four prizes of $300,000 each are awarded annually.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Winners<ref name=pastwinners>Template:Cite web</ref> have included Fouad Ajami (2006), John Bolton (2007), Martin Feldstein (2007), Victor Davis Hanson (2008), Leonard Leo (2009), William Kristol (2009), Paul A. Gigot (2010), Jeb Bush (2011),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Edwin Meese III (2012), Roger Ailes (2013),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Paul Clement (2013), Mitch Daniels (2013), Yuval Levin (2013),<ref>(13 June 2014)"Anti-Americanism Needs to Be Answered": Roger Ailes Gets Serious Slate. Retrieved 20 January 2014</ref> Kimberley Strassel (2014),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ayaan Hirsi Ali (2015), James Ceaser (2015), Gary Sinise (2016),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Peter Berkowitz (2017), Charles R. Kesler (2018),<ref name=pastwinners/> Roger Kimball (2019), Amity Shlaes (2021),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Glenn Loury (2022),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> John H. Cochrane (2023), Jay Bhattacharya (2024),<ref name=pastwinners/> Barry Strauss (2025), Christopher Rufo (2025), and James Piereson (2025).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Bradley Prizes for 2020 were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.<ref name=prizewinners>Template:Cite web</ref>

Board of directors

The Bradley Foundation has an 11-member board of directors that includes James T. Barry III, John Beagle, Paul Clement, Patrick English, Robert P. George, Richard Graber, Victor Davis Hanson, Cleta Mitchell, Art Pope, Reid Ribble, and Eugene Scalia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Argosy Foundation
• Bader Philanthropies
• Charter School Growth Fund
• Dark Money (book)
• Donors Trust
• Lyle Oberwise
• Zilber Family Foundation

External links

• Template:Official website
• Profile at Bloomberg Businessweek
• Template:ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer