Bright Horizon Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,448,775 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $14,000 - $4,800,000
• Average Grant: $100,000
• Geographic Focus: National and international

Contact Details

Mailing Address: Bright Horizon Foundation C/O Vicky Dionne/KB Financial 300 Carnegie Center, Suite 240 Princeton, NJ 08540-6255

Phone: (212) 403-8304

EIN: 13-4121003

Note: This foundation does not have a website or public contact email.

Overview

The Bright Horizon Foundation was established in 2000 in New York and is currently based in Princeton, New Jersey. With total assets exceeding $112 million and annual giving of approximately $8.4 million (2023), the foundation supports organizations working on global security causes, conservation, global health, and strengthening democracy in the U.S. and around the world. Led by President Louis Salkind, former managing director of D.E. Shaw and Co., the foundation operates as a private family foundation with a strategic focus on nuclear nonproliferation, environmental conservation, public health, and human rights. The foundation has shifted toward making fewer but larger grants in recent years, suggesting a more concentrated grantmaking strategy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with named initiatives. Instead, it makes strategic grants across four primary areas:

Nuclear Nonproliferation & International Security: Grants ranging from $100,000 to several million dollars

• Past recipients: Nuclear Threat Initiative, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Ploughshares Fund, International Crisis Group

Environmental Conservation: Grants from $10,000 to $1,000,000+

• Past recipients: Natural Resources Defense Council ($1 million in 2017), Conservation Fund ($100,000 in 2017), Trust for Public Land ($10,000 in 2017), Union of Concerned Scientists

Public Health & Humanitarian Aid: Grants typically $100,000+

• Past recipients: Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders, Americares

Democracy & Social Justice: Grants typically $100,000 to $500,000+

• Past recipients: Carter Center ($500,000 in 2017), Robin Hood Foundation, Global Fund for Women, NEO Philanthropy

Priority Areas

• Nuclear threat reduction and nonproliferation initiatives
• Climate change and environmental conservation
• Global health programs serving underserved communities
• Conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts
• Democracy strengthening initiatives domestically and internationally
• Economic justice and opportunity programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions. However, given its focused portfolio, it appears unlikely to fund:

• Local community projects without national/international significance
• Arts and culture organizations
• Religious organizations
• Individual scholarships or direct aid

Governance and Leadership

Louis Salkind, President Louis Salkind serves as President of the Bright Horizon Foundation. He previously held senior leadership positions at D.E. Shaw & Co., including Managing Director and Vice Chairman, and served on the firm's Executive Committee. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University and an A.B. in Physics from Princeton University. Salkind has also served as a board member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. His background in quantitative analysis and demonstrated commitment to global security issues shapes the foundation's strategic direction.

Deborah Rennels Salkind, Treasurer/Director Deborah Salkind serves as Treasurer and Director of the Bright Horizon Foundation. Her philanthropic interests include strategic philanthropy, women and girls, and youth. She has participated in the Global Philanthropy Forum, demonstrating engagement with the broader philanthropic community.

The foundation operates without formal staff, maintaining a lean operational structure typical of private family foundations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Bright Horizon Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations that align with the foundation's strategic priorities.

The foundation operates with a low public profile, maintains no website, and does not publish application guidelines or deadlines. All grantmaking decisions are made internally by foundation leadership.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's private nature and small number of annual grants (8 grants in 2023, 19 grants in 2022), decision timelines are likely driven by trustee meetings and strategic planning cycles rather than fixed schedules.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

For organizations already receiving support or those with existing relationships:

The foundation demonstrates strong loyalty to existing grantees, with a documented pattern of repeat funding to the same organizations year after year. This suggests that once an organization enters the portfolio, continued funding is possible if performance and alignment remain strong.

The foundation appears to favor established, reputable organizations with significant operational scale and proven track records. Past grantees include nationally and internationally recognized organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Partners in Health, and Doctors Without Borders.

Strategic alignment is critical. The foundation's interests center on four core areas: nuclear nonproliferation, environmental conservation, global health, and democracy strengthening. Organizations working at the intersection of these issues or demonstrating clear contribution to global security and human wellbeing appear most likely to receive support.

Recent trends suggest a shift toward larger, more concentrated grants. While the foundation made 19 grants in 2022, it made only 8 grants in 2023, yet maintained similar total giving levels. This indicates a strategic move toward fewer but more substantial partnerships rather than broad portfolio diversification.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists. This funder is not accessible through traditional grant application channels and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
• Relationship-based grantmaking. Access to funding requires pre-existing relationships with foundation leadership or invitation by trustees.
• Significant resources with focused portfolio. With $112+ million in assets and $8+ million in annual giving distributed among fewer than 10 organizations annually, successful grantees receive substantial multi-year support.
• Nuclear nonproliferation is a signature issue. Louis Salkind's board service with the Nuclear Threat Initiative and the foundation's documented grants to multiple nonproliferation organizations signal this as a core priority.
• Proven impact required. The foundation's grantee list comprises highly established organizations with national and international reputations, suggesting a preference for demonstrated track records over emerging organizations.
• Strategic shifts matter. The foundation's recent move toward fewer, larger grants indicates evolving strategy—organizations should be positioned for significant multi-year partnerships rather than one-time grants.
• Leadership's background informs priorities. Lou Salkind's quantitative background, experience in finance, and environmental activism through Union of Concerned Scientists board service provide insight into the analytical and mission-driven approach the foundation likely values.

References

1. Charity Navigator Profile - Bright Horizon Foundation. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/134121003 (Accessed January 2026)

2. Cause IQ - Bright Horizon Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bright-horizon-foundation,134121003/ (Accessed January 2026)

3. Inside Philanthropy - Bright Horizon Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-b/bright-horizon-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bright Horizon Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/134121003 (Accessed January 2026)

5. InfluenceWatch - Bright Horizon Foundation. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/bright-horizon-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

6. Nuclear Threat Initiative - Louis Salkind Biography. https://www.nti.org/about/people/president-bright-horizon-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

7. Global Philanthropy Forum - Deborah Salkind Profile. https://philanthropyforum.org/people/deborah-salkind/ (Accessed January 2026)

8. Grantmakers.io - Bright Horizon Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/134121003-bright-horizon-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)