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Baszucki Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $6.0M
Decision Time
4mo

Baszucki Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,755,138 (2023)
  • Foundation Assets: $38,960,963 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program; research grants typically up to $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States) with some international research grants
  • Application Method: No public application process for general foundation grants; specific programs managed through Baszucki Group and Milken Institute partnerships
  • EIN: 32-0660398

Contact Details

Baszucki Group (operational arm)

Foundation Leadership

  • David Baszucki, President
  • Jan Baszucki, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Carolyn Wall Sakata, COO Executive Director

Overview

The Baszucki Family Foundation was established in February 2022 by David Baszucki (founder and CEO of Roblox) and his wife Jan Ellison Baszucki (bestselling author and former fintech marketing executive). The foundation operates primarily through Baszucki Group, launched in 2021, which directs philanthropic resources toward fundamental improvements in metabolic and mental health, democracy, and regenerative agriculture. The family's commitment to mental health philanthropy stems from personal experience—their son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19 in 2016 and found significant improvement through ketogenic metabolic therapy. In 2023, the foundation distributed $8,755,138 across 15 grants. David Baszucki has committed his additional CEO compensation from Roblox to philanthropic purposes. The foundation is part of a larger collaborative effort, including a $150 million commitment (with Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Keystone Capital chair Kent Dauten) to launch BD²: Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Bipolar Disorder Research Grants (through Baszucki Brain Research Fund and Milken Institute)

  • Amount: Up to $200,000 per award
  • Duration: Typically one year for pilot research
  • Focus: Therapeutic discovery and translational research for bipolar disorder
  • Past awards: $9 million distributed to 45 scientists across 31 organizations in 2022
  • Application method: Invitation only or through specific Request for Applications (RFA) cycles

BD² Initiative (partnership with Brin and Dauten families)

  • Total commitment: $150 million over five years ($50 million from Baszucki family)
  • Managed by: Milken Institute's Center for Strategic Philanthropy
  • Four core programs:
    • BD² Discovery Grants (multidisciplinary research teams)
    • Brain Omics Platform (molecular-scale neural studies)
    • BD² Genetics Platform (genetic mechanisms research)
    • BD² Integrated Network (longitudinal clinical study)

Metabolic Mind Award Program

  • Amount: $100,000 per recipient
  • Eligibility: Clinicians, educators, advocates, and writers advancing Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for mental health
  • Application method: Open application (when program is active); past deadline September 2022
  • Recipients: Seven clinicians awarded in 2022

Fresh Start Award

  • Amount: $10,000 per recipient
  • Number of awards: Up to 10 annually (10 awarded in 2024)
  • Eligibility: Individuals who have successfully treated serious mental illness with ketogenic therapy for at least 4 months and publicly share their experience
  • Purpose: Support advocacy, education, or professional advancement
  • Application: Open to individuals worldwide via metabolicmind.org/fresh-start

ReTHINK Bipolar Program

  • Total funding: Over $11 million committed
  • Focus: Research into ketogenic therapy at institutions including Stanford University, University of Pittsburgh, and McLean Hospital

Other Major Grants

  • $6 million to UC San Francisco (Baszucki Lymphoma Therapeutics Initiative) to advance CAR T-cell therapy
  • $3.3 million to Mayo Clinic for metabolic and mental health research

Priority Areas

Mental Health & Metabolic Psychiatry

  • Bipolar disorder research and treatment
  • Ketogenic metabolic therapy for neuropsychiatric conditions
  • Neuro-metabolism research
  • Neuromodulation and computational psychiatry
  • Serious mental illnesses including schizophrenia and major depressive disorder

Medical Research

  • Cancer treatment advancement (CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma)
  • Brain energy metabolism

Regenerative Agriculture

  • Storytelling and advocacy amplifying regenerative agriculture
  • Farmland transitions aligned with natural cycles
  • Documentary film production (e.g., "Common Ground")

Electoral Innovation

  • Non-partisan voting reform
  • Open primaries and ranked-choice voting initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for general grants. Their grantmaking appears to be proactive and strategic, focusing on the specific areas outlined above rather than responding to broad community needs.

Governance and Leadership

David Baszucki - President

  • Founder and CEO of Roblox (publicly traded metaverse platform)
  • Has committed additional CEO compensation to philanthropic purposes
  • Co-directs organizational strategy with focus on metabolic health, democracy, and astronomy
  • "Importantly, we need to battle stigma by improving science. Only by establishing the biological mechanisms that underlie this disorder will we one day be able to publicly speak of bipolar disorder as easily as we speak of Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's, or cancer."

Jan Ellison Baszucki - Secretary/Treasurer and President of Baszucki Group

  • Founder of Metabolic Mind initiative
  • Former fintech marketing executive
  • National bestselling author currently writing a memoir about her son's recovery from bipolar disorder
  • Co-directs strategy and daily operations
  • Passions: metabolic treatments for mental illness, regenerative food production, and voting reform
  • "Our own family's experience underscores the enormous challenges—but also the tremendous potential for recovery—for those living with bipolar disorder."
  • "We're hopeful that the innovative work of these science teams will help to advance the ketogenic metabolic interventions that helped transform our son's life."

Carolyn Wall Sakata - COO Executive Director

  • Compensation: $162,667 (2023)

Operational Leadership (Baszucki Group) The organization employs specialized directors including directors of neuroscience, investment, operations, and communications to enable coordinated work across research funding, capacity-building, and public advocacy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For General Foundation Grants: The Baszucki Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are typically made proactively based on the foundation's strategic priorities and trustee discretion.

For Specific Programs:

  1. Fresh Start Award: Open application through metabolicmind.org/fresh-start. Applications typically due in late summer (specific deadlines vary by year).

  2. Bipolar Disorder Research Grants: Through specific Request for Applications (RFA) cycles managed by the Milken Institute. Past cycles included:

    • Initial LOIs due May 14, 2021
    • Full proposals due July 9, 2021
    • Inquiries: [email protected]

  3. Metabolic Mind Awards: When active, applications have been open to clinicians, educators, advocates, and writers worldwide. Past application deadline: September 12, 2022. Contact [email protected] for information about future cycles.

  4. BD² Initiative Grants: Through specific RFA cycles for the four core programs (Discovery Grants, Brain Omics Platform, Genetics Platform, Integrated Network).

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, there are specific pathways for engagement:

For Researchers:

  • Monitor the Milken Institute's Center for Strategic Philanthropy announcements for Request for Applications (RFAs) related to bipolar disorder, mental health, and metabolic psychiatry research
  • Participate in conferences and forums focused on metabolic psychiatry and bipolar disorder research
  • Engage with the BD² initiative if conducting relevant research

For Clinicians and Practitioners:

  • Watch for Metabolic Mind Award program announcements
  • Build a public presence sharing work in ketogenic metabolic therapy for mental health
  • Connect with the metabolic psychiatry community

For Individuals with Lived Experience:

  • Apply for the Fresh Start Award if you have successfully used ketogenic therapy to treat serious mental illness and are publicly sharing your story
  • Engage with Metabolic Mind's advocacy and education initiatives

General Contact: For inquiries about the foundation's work, contact [email protected]

Decision Timeline

Research Grants:

  • 2021 cycle: LOIs due May 14, full proposals due July 9, funding decisions announced Fall 2021 (approximately 4-6 months from LOI to decision)

Metabolic Mind Awards:

  • 2022 cycle: Applications due September 12, recipients announced Fall 2022 (approximately 2-3 months)

Fresh Start Award:

  • 2024 cycle: Recipients announced October 2024

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, in the initial 2021 bipolar disorder research grant cycle:

  • Intended to award up to 10 grants
  • Actually awarded 45 grants across 31 organizations in 2022, totaling $9 million This suggests the foundation is willing to expand programs when they identify high-quality proposals.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. For research grants managed through the Milken Institute, unsuccessful applicants should monitor future RFA cycles and contact [email protected] for guidance.

Application Success Factors

For Research Proposals (when RFAs are active):

  1. Alignment with Therapeutic Focus: The foundation prioritizes research with "potential to improve treatment options" rather than purely basic science. Jan Baszucki emphasized they seek to "advance the ketogenic metabolic interventions that helped transform our son's life."

  2. Metabolic Psychiatry Innovation: Strong preference for research examining:

    • Brain energy metabolism's role in mental illness
    • Ketogenic metabolic therapy applications
    • Neuro-metabolism, neuromodulation, and computational psychiatry
    • Therapeutic discovery and translational efforts

  3. Multidisciplinary Approaches: The BD² initiative specifically funds "multidisciplinary teams of scientists and clinicians," suggesting collaborative proposals are valued.

  4. Pilot Research with Translational Potential: Research grants support "pilot research in therapeutic discovery and translational efforts," meaning preliminary studies that could lead to clinical applications.

For Metabolic Mind Awards (Clinicians/Advocates):

  1. Demonstrated Commitment: Awards recognize "exceptional commitment to advancing Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy for neuropsychiatric conditions" with evidence of treating patients, developing training programs, conducting observational research, writing, speaking, teaching, or advocating.

  2. Building the Field: The foundation values those "building awareness around carbohydrate-restricted ketogenic interventions in mental health."

For Fresh Start Awards (Individuals):

  1. Personal Success Story: Must have successfully treated a diagnosed serious mental health condition with ketogenic therapy for at least 4 months.

  2. Public Advocacy: Must demonstrate "a consistent pattern of publicly sharing their experience."

  3. Clear Goals: Must "articulate a clear and ambitious personal or professional goal" for using the $10,000 award.

General Principles:

The foundation's approach is described as "thesis-driven investments" guided by three principles:

  1. "Identify elegant solutions hiding in plain sight" (like century-old ketogenic therapy)
  2. "Build domain expertise to make calculated bets"
  3. "Engage a philanthropic flywheel integrating research, advocacy, and capacity building"

David Baszucki's quote about battling stigma through science suggests the foundation values research that can establish biological mechanisms and improve public understanding of mental illness.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited proposals accepted for general foundation grants; focus on their specific programs (research RFAs through Milken Institute, Metabolic Mind Awards, Fresh Start Award) where applications are invited.

  • Personal motivation drives priorities: The Baszuckis' son's recovery through ketogenic therapy directly shapes their focus on metabolic psychiatry—research and programs that advance this specific intervention are most likely to align.

  • "Hiding in plain sight" philosophy: The foundation seeks overlooked or underutilized interventions (like ketogenic therapy, a century-old epilepsy treatment) that show promise for mental health, suggesting they value evidence-based approaches that haven't received mainstream attention.

  • Research to advocacy pipeline: The foundation operates a "philanthropic flywheel integrating research, advocacy, and capacity building," so proposals demonstrating how research findings will be translated into practice and advocacy may be particularly compelling.

  • Scale through collaboration: Their $150 million BD² initiative with the Brin and Dauten families shows willingness to fund large-scale, coordinated efforts—multidisciplinary and collaborative proposals may be favored over siloed projects.

  • Monitor Milken Institute announcements: The primary pathway for research funding is through RFA cycles managed by the Milken Institute's Center for Strategic Philanthropy; sign up for updates at milkeninstitute.org or email [email protected].

  • Lived experience matters: The Fresh Start Award demonstrates the foundation values perspectives from individuals with lived experience of mental illness and recovery, not just researchers and clinicians.

References

  1. Cause IQ - The Baszucki Family Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/baszucki-family-foundation,320660398/ (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  2. Instrumentl - The Baszucki Family Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/baszucki-family-foundation-8baff69f-c5c3-41be-a6be-6ddcac40e3bb (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  3. Milken Institute - "Baszucki Brain Research Fund and Milken Institute Announce Grant Recipients for Bipolar Disorder Therapeutic Research." https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/baszucki-brain-research-fund-and-milken-institute-announce-grant-recipients-bipolar-disorder (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  4. Inside Philanthropy - "A Startup Philanthropy Targeting Serious Mental Illness Ramps Up," July 21, 2022. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2022-7-21-a-startup-philanthropy-targeting-serious-mental-illness-ramps-up (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  5. University of California, San Francisco - "$6M Gift from Family of Roblox Creator Launches New Initiative to Advance CAR T Therapy," December 2021. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/12/421931/6m-gift-family-roblox-creator-launches-new-initiative-advance-car-t-therapy (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  6. Baszucki Group - Who We Are. https://baszuckigroup.com/who-we-are/ (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  7. Baszucki Group - Our Work. https://baszuckigroup.com/our-work/ (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  8. Milken Institute - "Milken Institute and Baszucki Brain Research Fund Launch New Funding Program for Bipolar Disorder Research," April 11, 2021. https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/milken-institute-and-baszucki-brain-research-fund-launch-new-funding-program-bipolar-disorder (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  9. Philanthropy News Digest - "Platform for bipolar disorder research launched with $150 million." https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/platform-for-bipolar-disorder-research-launched-with-150-million (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  10. Milken Institute - "Global Platform Launches to Transform Bipolar Disorder Research and Care," September 2022. https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/global-platform-launches-transform-bipolar-disorder-research-and-care (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  11. PR Newswire - "Baszucki Group Launches Metabolic Mind Fresh Start Award to Recognize Individuals Who Have Reclaimed Their Mental Health with Ketogenic Therapy," July 10, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baszucki-group-launches-metabolic-mind-fresh-start-award-to--recognize-individuals-who-have-reclaimed-their-mental-health-with-ketogenic-therapy-302192484.html (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  12. Metabolic Mind - Fresh Start Award. https://www.metabolicmind.org/fresh-start (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  13. Milken Institute - "Baszucki Brain Research Fund and the Milken Institute Announce Metabolic Mind Award Annual Recipients," November 2022. https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/baszucki-brain-research-fund-and-milken-institute-announce-metabolic-mind-award-annual-recipients (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  14. EurekAlert! - "Baszucki Brain Research Fund and Milken Institute launch Metabolic Mind Award Program for advancements in metabolic psychiatry," August 17, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/962009 (Accessed December 25, 2025)

  15. Breakthrough Discoveries (BD²) - "Sergey Brin, Roblox's David Baszucki And Kent Dauten Of Keystone Capital Commit $150 Million To Fight Bipolar Disorder." https://www.bipolardiscoveries.org/2022/09/sergey-brin-robloxs-david-baszucki-and-kent-dauten-of-keystone-capital-commit-150-million-to-fight-bipolar-disorder/ (Accessed December 25, 2025)

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