The Bruner Foundation invests in programs that promote innovative thinking about complex social issues and foster meaningful change.

  • The Art of Renewal: Creative Mixed-use Development
    by Rudy Bruner Award Staff on September 16, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    As the desire for urban living spurs more investment in urban development, there is increasing interest in authentic places and experiences that are welcoming, inclusive, and reflective of local culture and history. The failures of the federally funded urban renewal … Continued

  • Announcing the 2019 Rudy Bruner Award Medalists
    by Rudy Bruner Award Staff on June 26, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Last weekend the Selection Committee met in Oakland, California and named Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, Tennessee the Gold Medalist and recipient of $50,000 to benefit the project.

  • 2019 Finalists
    by Rudy Bruner Award Staff on April 8, 2019 at 8:15 pm

    The Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA) announces five finalists for its 2017 Gold and Silver medal prizes. The Gold Medalist will receive $50,000 and four Silver Medalists will each receive $10,000 to enhance their projects. Celebrating more than … Continued

  • Announcing the 2019 Rudy Bruner Award Finalists
    by Rudy Bruner Award Staff on April 8, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    The Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA) announces five finalists for its 2019 Gold and Silver medal prizes. The Gold Medalist will receive $50,000 and four Silver Medalists will each receive $10,000 to enhance their projects. Celebrating its 30th … Continued

  • MEET THE 2019 SELECTION COMMITTEE
    by Rudy Bruner Award Staff on November 1, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    We’re gearing up for the first selection committee meeting for the 2019 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA). To sift through the scores of submissions and whittle them down to five finalists, we assembled a multidisciplinary group of people who … Continued

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About

The Bruner Foundation promotes innovative thinking about complex social issues and fosters meaningful change. Established in 1963 by Rudy Bruner and his wife Martha, it has influenced policy and practices over its history in health care delivery, holocaust studies, education, and non-profit evaluation, and broadened understanding of urban excellence and development in American cities.

The Bruner Foundation was founded to create opportunity for others and to inspire meaningful social change.

The foundation currently operates three programs: The Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, a national design award that recognizes transformative urban places distinguished by their economic and social contributions to America’s cities; the Bruner Loeb Forum, a partnership between the Rudy Bruner Award and the Harvard Loeb Fellowship that advances creative thinking about placemaking in American cities; and Evaluative Thinking (formerly Effectiveness Initiatives), which creates and shares new methods for improving the evaluation and effectiveness of non-profit service delivery.

The Bruner Foundation invests its resources in its programs rather than active grant making. We regret that we cannot accept or consider unsolicited inquiries or proposals.

History of the Foundation

Programs

Rudy Bruner Award

The Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence is a national design award that recognizes transformative urban places distinguished by their economic and social contributions to America’s cities.

Bruner Loeb Forum

The Bruner Loeb Forum is a partnership between the Bruner Foundation and the Harvard Loeb Fellowship that advances creative thinking about placemaking in American cities.

Evaluative Thinking

Evaluative Thinking strengthens the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector by increasing understanding and internal use of evaluative thinking and systems.