De Beaumont Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1,702,825 (2023)
Total Assets: $168 million
Grant Range: $500 - $500,000
Median Grant: $10,000
Geographic Focus: United States (state and local public health agencies)
Total Grants (2023): 39 awards
Total Historical Grants: 406 grants totaling $47.7 million since 2014

Contact Details

Address: 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1310e, Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone: 301.961.5800

Email:

General Information: info@debeaumont.org
Press Inquiries: media@debeaumont.org

Website: www.debeaumont.org

Overview

The de Beaumont Foundation was created in 1998 by Pierre S. (Pete) de Beaumont, founder of the Brookstone Company, with the broad purpose to relieve human suffering. The foundation was fully funded upon Mr. de Beaumont's death in December 2010. With assets of approximately $168 million and annual giving of $1.7 million (2023), de Beaumont operates as part grantmaker and part think tank. The foundation focuses exclusively on strengthening state and local governmental public health agencies across the United States through strategic and engaged grantmaking. Under the leadership of President and CEO Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, who joined in 2012 and became CEO in 2018, the foundation has grown to become a prominent voice in health philanthropy, conducting its work through a health equity lens with strong interest in community and racial justice issues as determinants of public health.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BUILD Health Challenge (as funder and administrative hub)

Award: Up to $300,000 over three years
Match Required: 1:1 from partnering hospitals, health systems, and/or health plans
Total Investment: Over $30 million supporting 74 multi-sector partnerships to date
Partnership Requirements: Must include at least one hospital/health system, local health department, and nonprofit organization in equal partnership
Focus: Bold, Upstream, Integrated, Local, and Data-Driven approaches to community health improvement
Application: Periodic application cycles (not continuous rolling)

MADE for Health Justice (partnership with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)

Award: Up to $1,000,000 over three years
Number of Awards: Five nonprofit organizations
Focus: Building local data ecosystems centered on anti-racism, equity, justice, and community power
Partnership Approach: Multi-sector teams facilitating health-focused local data ecosystems

IMPACT in Public Health

Focus: Catalyzing partnerships between governmental public health departments and the private sector
Team Requirement: 5-7 individuals (3-4 from private sector, 3-4 from public health)
Commitment: Approximately 5-10 hours monthly
Application: Closed in October 2022 for first cohort (launched February 2023)

40 Under 40 in Public Health (Recognition Program)

Award: Recognition and professional development opportunities, not direct funding
Frequency: Nominations open every two years
Focus: Equity-focused, service-oriented leaders under 40 in public health
Benefits: Career advancement, peer learning, professional networking, impact improvement
History: Launched in 2019

Priority Areas

The foundation has three specific strategic priorities:

Advance Public Health Practice - Through innovation, tools, and training, fostering innovation in and for governmental public health agencies
Build Cross-Sector Partnerships - To connect public health agencies to key partners across sectors such as health care, transportation, education, and business. The foundation emphasizes that "public health is expertly positioned to convene these partnerships and help focus their efforts through a public health lens"
Strengthen the Voice of Public Health - By creating new tools and approaches for communicating about public health

The foundation invests in measurable, replicable, scalable projects that have the potential for systemic impact and conducts all work through a health equity lens.

What They Don't Fund

Based on their operational approach, the de Beaumont Foundation does not fund:

Organizations or projects outside the public health sector
Individual research projects unconnected to their strategic initiatives
Capital campaigns or building projects
Endowments
General operating support for organizations not engaged in active collaboration with the foundation

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Brien M. O'Brien, Chair
David A. Ross, ScD, Vice Chair
Leroy M. Parker, MD, Treasurer
Richard M. Burnes, Jr., MBA, Investment Committee Chair
Sir Murray Brennan, GNZM, MD, FACS, Director
Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, FAPA, Director
Clarion E. Johnson, MD, Director
Carol H. Massoni, Director
John M. Stevens, Director
Gregory R. Wagner, MD, Director

Executive Leadership

Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, President and Chief Executive Officer (Ex-Officio Board Member)

Brian joined de Beaumont as its third employee in 2012 and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2018. Under his leadership, the foundation has grown in both size and impact, becoming a prominent voice in health philanthropy and public health practice. Prior to joining de Beaumont, Brian spent a decade as an applied epidemiologist and held leadership positions at the Georgia Department of Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, and Philadelphia Department of Health.

Key Leadership Quotes

On their collaborative approach: "We build partnerships, often among unlikely allies, to help leaders achieve their shared goal of strengthening communities and improving lives."

On their operational philosophy: "We are hands-on, we create programs, and we work closely with our partners."

On the MADE for Health Justice initiative: "We will collaborate with our MADE Communities as full partners and as fellow co-creators in all aspects of the initiative." Their motto for this work is "Nothing about them, without them."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation is not a traditional grant-making organization and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. This is clearly stated on their grants policy page. The de Beaumont Foundation mainly supports organizations with which it is engaged in active, ongoing collaborations.

For specific initiatives with application processes (such as BUILD Health Challenge or periodic programs), the foundation announces opportunities through their website and newsletter. According to internal grant policies, when the foundation does solicit proposals, it accepts them throughout the year with no submission deadlines unless stated otherwise as part of a specific grant solicitation.

For Invited Proposals: When invited to submit a proposal, applicants work directly with foundation staff who guide the process.

Getting on Their Radar

Since de Beaumont does not accept unsolicited proposals, organizations interested in partnership should:

Sign up for their newsletter: The foundation states that "opportunities to collaborate arise occasionally, so sign up for the organization's newsletter to keep up with the latest"
Engage with their programs: Participate in public-facing initiatives like the 40 Under 40 in Public Health nominations, attend webinars, or engage with their research and publications
Build relationships through their initiatives: The foundation works through multi-sector partnerships. Organizations already collaborating with health departments or other public health entities may come onto their radar through these connections
Monitor specific program announcements: Programs like BUILD Health Challenge, IMPACT in Public Health, and MADE for Health Justice periodically open applications

The foundation emphasizes that they are "hands-on" and work closely with partners, suggesting that relationship-building through their existing programs and networks is the pathway to collaboration.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program. The foundation does not publish standard turnaround times for invited proposals, as these are managed through direct collaboration with foundation staff.

For competitive programs:

BUILD Health Challenge: Applications reviewed on a cohort basis; implementation periods are typically three years
IMPACT in Public Health: October 2022 application deadline led to February 2023 cohort announcement (approximately 4 months)
40 Under 40 in Public Health: Nominations processed every two years with announcements made approximately 3-4 months after the nomination period closes

Success Rates

The foundation made 39 grants in 2023 and 32 grants in 2022. Success rates for specific competitive programs are not publicly disclosed.

For BUILD Health Challenge, 74 partnerships have been funded since the program's inception with over $30 million invested, suggesting selective but significant support for successful applicants.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. For competitive programs with application cycles, unsuccessful applicants may apply in subsequent rounds when programs are reopened.

Application Success Factors

Since de Beaumont does not accept unsolicited proposals and primarily works through strategic partnerships, success factors focus on alignment with their mission and collaborative approach:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The foundation is explicit about its three focus areas (advance public health practice, build cross-sector partnerships, strengthen the voice of public health). Projects must clearly address at least one of these priorities and focus on governmental public health agencies.

Multi-Sector Partnership Approach: De Beaumont defines cross-sector partnerships as "bringing together two or more distinct fields—such as health care and transportation—to yield greater impact and results." They emphasize that "public health professionals skilled in these types of partnerships will be able to foster and sustain meaningful, long-term collaborations." Successful initiatives typically involve partnerships among unlikely allies.

Health Equity Lens: All work is conducted through a health equity lens with demonstrated strong interest in community and racial justice issues. The foundation's commitment to "nothing about them, without them" in the MADE for Health Justice initiative reflects their expectation that communities are full partners and co-creators.

Scalability and Systemic Impact: The foundation invests in "measurable, replicable, scalable projects that have the potential for systemic impact." Projects should demonstrate potential for broader application beyond a single community.

Focus on Governmental Public Health: Unlike many health funders, de Beaumont specifically focuses on state and local governmental public health agencies. Projects must strengthen these agencies' capacity, partnerships, or voice.

Recent Examples of Funded Work:

The Public Goods Projects Inc received $500,000 to support the 2023-2024 infodemic management program providing training and capacity building for state and local health departments
Big Cities Health Coalition received $301,000, reflecting the foundation's support for collaboratives that serve large urban populations
Vose River Charitable Fund received $500,000 to support the Health Action Alliance

Data-Driven and Innovative: Through initiatives like MADE for Health Justice and the BUILD Health Challenge's emphasis on data-driven approaches, the foundation values evidence-based innovation and modern data ecosystems.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is not a traditional grantmaker: De Beaumont does not accept unsolicited proposals. Do not submit cold applications—instead focus on relationship-building through their programs and newsletter.
Multi-sector partnerships are essential: The foundation's model requires collaboration across sectors. If you're a single organization without health department or cross-sector partnerships, you're unlikely to be a fit.
Public health agency focus is non-negotiable: This foundation specifically strengthens governmental public health agencies. Projects must directly involve and benefit state or local health departments.
Think big and scalable: With grants ranging from $500 to $500,000 but a median of just $10,000, the foundation makes strategic investments. Projects need to demonstrate potential for replication and systemic impact to receive significant funding.
Health equity is central: All initiatives are viewed through a health equity lens with emphasis on anti-racism, community power, and justice. Generic health improvement projects without equity components won't align.
Watch for competitive program announcements: While unsolicited proposals aren't accepted, specific initiatives like BUILD Health Challenge periodically open applications. Sign up for their newsletter at debeaumont.org to be notified.
Collaboration over transaction: The foundation describes itself as "hands-on" and works closely with partners as "fellow co-creators." They seek long-term collaborative relationships, not transactional grants.

References

All sources accessed December 2024