OVERVIEW: Karen Anne Bollwerk Burke and William A. Burke Family Charitable Trust primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, health, and human services. It also earmarks funds for causes like the environment and the arts.
IP TAKE: While the foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines., it does accept LOIs.
It’s unclear how much money is waiting in the wings here but expect giving to track with established interest areas. Down the line, the couple’s two children should be watched as well.
PROFILE: Established in 2000, the Karen Anne Bollwerk Burke and William A. Burke Family Charitable Trust was established by media executive Bill Burke and his wife Karen, an entrepreneur and former teacher. Bill Burke graduated from Amherst College in 1988 and received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He was president of TBS Superstation and president and CEO of RSN, a broadcast and Internet company targeting the active outdoor sports market. Burke went on to become president and CEO of The Weather Channel Companies. He is also co-author of Ted Turner’s New York Times best-selling autobiography, “Call Me Ted” and chairman of minor league baseball team Portland Sea Dogs. A native of St. Louis, Karen Burke graduated from Amherst College in 1988. She was a math teacher in Atlanta and went on to found home design boutique K Collette in Maine.
The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Karen Anne Bollwerk Burke and William A. Burke Family Charitable Trust primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, health, and human services. It also earmarks funds for causes like the environment and the arts.
Grants for Health and Community Development
Burke serves as board chair of MaineHealth and a past board chair of Maine Medical Center, which the family steadily supports. Other grantees have included United Way of Greater Portland, Hospice of Southern Maine, The Opportunity Alliance, a social services organization.
Grants for Higher Education and K-12
The couple support their mutual school Amherst College and Burke supports his alma mater Harvard Business School — both with very modest donations through their foundation of late. Other grantees have included Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Waynflete School (the couple were parents), Dana Hall School (the Burkes were parents), and Junior Achievement of Maine.
Grants for the Environment and the Arts
The foundation's grantmaking also broadly addresses environmental and arts causes. Grantees have included Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Nature Conservancy Maine Chapter, and Illustration Institute. The couple’s son Chris played and teaches lacrosse. The family have supported sports organizations like Outdoor Sport Institute.
Important Grant Details:
This foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. It typically makes grants toward general support. The family support schools with which they have a personal connection, including the couple’s mutual alma mater Amherst College. Bill serves as board chair of MaineHealth and a past board chair of Maine Medical Center, which the family steadily supports.
Grants range from $250 to $18,427. In a recent year, the foundation gave away a little under $100,000. Learn more about past giving in the funder’s past grant history. The foundation’s giving focuses on Maine, although the funder does not publish its grantmaking guidelines. Past local grantees include United Way of Greater Portland, Hospice of Southern Maine, Waynflete School (the couple were parents), Nature Conservancy Maine Chapter, and the Illustration Institute.
The foundation keeps a low profile, but accepts letters. It does not list any application deadlines.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
People’s United Bank
P.O. Box 17510
Portland, ME 04112
(207) 828-3000