Tsunami Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,700,000
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Varies widely (up to $100,000+ for select organizations)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City

Contact Details

• Administrative Services: Foundation Source
• Phone: 800-839-1754
• Address: c/o Foundation Source, 501 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19809
• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Tsunami Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1993 by Anson M. Beard, Jr., former Morgan Stanley managing director, and his wife Debra Beard. With annual giving of approximately $1.7 million, the foundation focuses primarily on education access, youth development, arts and culture, and health initiatives in New York City. Despite the Beards' current residence in Florida, they maintain strong philanthropic ties to NYC where Anson was raised. The foundation operates with minimal public presence and explicitly does not accept unsolicited grant requests, instead supporting a consistent roster of approximately 20 organizations annually through trustee-directed giving. Since 2014, the foundation has distributed over $14 million through 213 individual grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but provides support through trustee-discretion grants to pre-selected organizations.

Priority Areas

Education & Youth Development

• Charter schools and independent schools in NYC
• College access and leadership development programs
• Early childhood education
• Educational technology and literacy

Arts & Culture

• Museums and cultural institutions
• Performing arts organizations
• Public art spaces

Health

• Cancer research and treatment
• Medical innovation
• Healthcare access

Human Services

• Poverty alleviation
• Food security
• Community development

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited requests
• Organizations outside their established network
• Individual assistance
• General operating support for organizations not already in their portfolio

Governance and Leadership

Anson M. Beard, Jr. - Founder and Trustee

• Former Morgan Stanley managing director with 17-year career building their global equity division
• Life director of the Posse Foundation
• Board member of Prep for Prep
• Lifetime trustee of Wheaton College (since 1971)

Debra Beard - Co-Founder and Trustee

The foundation maintains a low profile with administrative services managed by Foundation Source. The Beards personally direct all grant-making decisions based on their board involvements and personal relationships with recipient organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made through trustee discretion based on existing relationships and board connections.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on grant patterns and the founder's board service, organizations may build relationships through:

• Board service at organizations where Anson Beard is involved (Posse Foundation, Prep for Prep, Wheaton College)
• Connections through NYC education and youth development networks
• Participation in NYC philanthropic circles focused on education access
• Leadership connections at current grantee organizations like Success Academy, East Harlem School, or Robin Hood Foundation

The foundation tends to support the same organizations year after year, suggesting new grantees typically emerge through personal introductions and board-level networking rather than cold outreach.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only foundation.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation maintains multi-year relationships with most grantees.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, success factors relate to relationship building:

• Organizations where Anson Beard has board involvement receive consistent, substantial support (Prep for Prep and Posse Foundation each received $100,000 annually for multiple years)
• NYC-based education organizations align strongly with funding priorities
• The foundation values long-term relationships, with many organizations receiving support for 5+ consecutive years
• Organizations addressing education equity and youth leadership development match the founder's personal philanthropic philosophy
• Cultural institutions and health organizations with NYC presence and strong reputations attract support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do not submit unsolicited proposals - the foundation explicitly does not accept them
• Focus on authentic relationship building through board service and NYC philanthropic networks
• Education and youth development organizations have the strongest alignment with funding priorities
• NYC-based organizations are strongly preferred despite the founders' Florida residence
• Multi-year support is common for organizations in their portfolio
• Board connections are critical - Anson Beard's board service directly correlates with major grants
• Consider indirect approaches through partner organizations already in their funding portfolio

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings 2014-2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/137019761. Accessed March 11, 2026.
• Inside Philanthropy - "Tsunami Foundation: Grants for New York City." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/tsunami-foundation. Accessed March 11, 2026.
• Candid/Foundation Directory Online - Tsunami Foundation Profile. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=TSUN001. Accessed March 11, 2026.
• The Posse Foundation - "Morgan Stanley Advisory Director Leverages Success to Give Back." Profile of Anson M. Beard, Jr. https://www.possefoundation.org/news-and-events/morgan-stanley-advisory-director-leverages-success-to-give-back. Accessed March 11, 2026.
• GuideStar - Tsunami Foundation organizational profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-7019761. Accessed March 11, 2026.
• Grantmakers.io - Tsunami Foundation grant history 2014-2022. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/137019761-tsunami-foundation/. Accessed March 11, 2026.
• Cause IQ - Tsunami Foundation organizational data. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/tsunami-foundation,137019761/. Accessed March 11, 2026.