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PDB Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.8M00
00

PDB Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,035,436 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Grants vary significantly; median award $100,000; maximum award $810,000 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Massachusetts, with additional grants in New Hampshire, California, and international (UK, Scotland)
  • Total Assets: $80.1 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 99 Irving St, Cambridge, MA 02138-2025

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The PDB Foundation was established in June 2018 as a private grantmaking foundation led by life sciences entrepreneur Mark R. Bamforth and his wife Morag Bamforth. With total assets of $80.1 million as of 2024, the foundation has distributed over $11.9 million through 73 grants since 2019. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on education (the majority of grants), health care, food insecurity, family assistance programs, and youth services. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, funding organizations preselected by Mark and Morag Bamforth based on their personal connections and philanthropic priorities. The foundation received a substantial $43 million contribution in 2022, significantly expanding its capacity for grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The PDB Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

2023 Grant Distribution: 31 grants totaling $5,035,436

  • Grant range: Specific minimum not disclosed; maximum single grant $810,000
  • Median grant: $100,000

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Education (Primary focus)

  • Higher education institutions (Wentworth Institute of Technology, University of Strathclyde)
  • Educational access and support programs
  • Support for students with learning differences (the Bamforths have a personal connection to dyslexia education through Carroll School)

Health and Medical Research

  • Cancer research (American Cancer Society)
  • Health care access

Social Services

  • Food insecurity programs
  • Family assistance and nurturing centers
  • Youth and children's services

Justice and Equity

  • Educational justice organizations (Mass Liberation)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose explicit exclusions, but their grantmaking history suggests a focused approach on education, health, and social services rather than arts, environment, or religious organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Mark R. Bamforth: Serial entrepreneur in life sciences who founded, built, and sold three contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs): Arranta Bio, Brammer Bio, and Gallus BioPharmaceuticals. He spent 22 years at Genzyme as a corporate officer and currently invests in and mentors life science entrepreneurs. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde and an MBA from Henley Management College. Both trustees serve without compensation.

  • Morag Bamforth: Completed a degree in accountancy in Scotland and pursued careers in personal tax client service and training before establishing a home development business in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has been deeply involved in education philanthropy, serving as board chair for a primary school in Kent, England, and as a board member of Carroll School in Lincoln, Massachusetts, which supports students with dyslexia.

Philanthropic Philosophy: According to Mark Bamforth, he and Morag "are motivated to help people with talent and ambition to overcome social, racial, and financial barriers to their success." This philosophy is reflected in their support for educational access and organizations that address systemic barriers.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The PDB Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees Mark and Morag Bamforth to organizations they have identified through their personal networks, professional connections, and philanthropic interests.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grantmaking patterns and the trustees' backgrounds, organizations may come to the attention of the PDB Foundation through:

Personal Connections to the Trustees:

  • Organizations connected to the life sciences industry, particularly those supporting biotech entrepreneurship or pharmaceutical manufacturing, given Mark Bamforth's career
  • Educational institutions with which the Bamforths have direct involvement (they have supported Wentworth Institute of Technology and University of Strathclyde, both institutions with which Mark has connections)
  • Organizations focused on dyslexia and learning differences (the Bamforths have been active supporters of Carroll School)

Geographic and Professional Networks:

  • Organizations in the Cambridge/Boston area where the Bamforths reside
  • Scottish organizations (both trustees have Scottish heritage; University of Strathclyde is a recipient)
  • Life sciences industry events and networks where Mark Bamforth is active

Sector Leadership:

  • Mark Bamforth serves on several boards including Continuus Pharma, Pneumagen, Enterobiotix, and Entrepreneurial Scotland
  • Organizations connected to these networks may have visibility to the foundation

Note: While building relationships with the trustees could theoretically lead to funding consideration, there is no documented process for doing so, and the foundation's stated policy is clear that they do not accept unsolicited approaches.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder operating through trustee discretion, there are no public deadlines or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept applications, so traditional success rate metrics are not relevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of the PDB Foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals what the foundation values:

Education as Core Priority: The majority of grants support educational institutions and programs. Organizations serving students, particularly those addressing educational barriers and access, align with the foundation's mission.

Focus on Removing Barriers: The trustees have explicitly stated their motivation to "help people with talent and ambition to overcome social, racial, and financial barriers to their success." Organizations demonstrating this mission alignment include Mass Liberation ($810,000 in 2023), which focuses on educational justice.

Institutions with Direct Connections: Major recipients like Wentworth Institute of Technology ($329,000 in 2023) and University of Strathclyde ($381,557 in 2023) have direct connections to the trustees. The Bamforths were keynote speakers at Wentworth's commencement, and Mark Bamforth is an alumnus of Strathclyde.

Health and Social Services: Significant support for American Cancer Society ($700,000 in 2023) and Family Nurturing Center ($260,000 in 2023) indicates interest in health research and family support services.

Grant Size Varies Based on Relationship and Impact: The foundation awards grants ranging from modest amounts to over $800,000, suggesting they calibrate support based on the specific organization and project rather than applying rigid grant size formulas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They exclusively fund preselected organizations.

  • Education-Focused: Educational access and removing barriers to educational success are central to the foundation's mission, representing the majority of their grantmaking.

  • Relationship-Driven: Grants go to organizations with direct connections to the trustees through their personal, professional, or philanthropic networks.

  • Significant Capacity: With $80.1 million in assets and $5 million in annual giving, the foundation has substantial resources and awards some very large grants (up to $810,000).

  • Scottish and Life Sciences Connections: Organizations connected to Scotland or the life sciences/biotech industry may have better visibility given the trustees' backgrounds.

  • Trustees Are Active Philanthropists: Beyond this foundation, both Mark and Morag Bamforth are involved in various educational and charitable boards, suggesting multiple avenues through which they engage with nonprofits.

  • Not a Viable Prospect for Most Organizations: Unless your organization already has a direct connection to the Bamforths or operates in their core interest areas with existing visibility to them, this foundation should not be considered a funding prospect.

References

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