Andrea W And Kenneth C Frazier Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $6.6 million (2024)
Total Assets: $65.7 million (2024)
Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
Grant Range: Varies significantly by program - from small community grants to multi-million dollar initiatives
Geographic Focus: Primarily Philadelphia/North Philadelphia region, with national initiatives in fashion equity

Contact Details

Location: Newtown, PA

Note: This is a private family foundation with no public website, phone, or email for grant applications. All grants are made through strategic partnerships or trustee discretion.

Overview

The Andrea W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2020 by Kenneth C. Frazier (former Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co.) and his wife Andréa W. Frazier (interior designer and stroke survivor). With total assets of $65.7 million and annual giving of $6.6 million as of 2024, the foundation has demonstrated significant growth in its grant-making, increasing from $2 million in charitable disbursements in 2020 to $6.6 million in 2024. The foundation is dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity across various sectors with particular focus on health equity, education, economic empowerment, and addressing social determinants of health. Their philanthropic approach is deeply rooted in the Fraziers' personal connection to North Philadelphia and Andréa's experience as a stroke survivor, driving targeted investments in stroke prevention and cardiovascular health in underserved African American communities.

Funding Priorities

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, it makes grants through strategic partnerships with established organizations and initiatives identified by the trustees.

Major Grant Programs and Partnerships

Frazier Family Coalition for Stroke Education and Prevention: $5 million founding gift to create a partnership between Temple University and Thomas Jefferson University focused on investigating social determinants of health and race-ethnic disparities that lead to poor health outcomes and increased risk of stroke in North Philadelphia's Allegheny West neighborhoods.

Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund Partnership (American Heart Association): $1 million contribution (2021) directed to local nonprofits and social entrepreneurs working to improve access to healthcare, food, housing, and economic empowerment in North Philadelphia's Nicetown-Tioga, Sharswood-Stanton, and Strawberry Mansion neighborhoods.

Empowered Vision Award (CFDA Partnership): Annual award providing a $100,000 financial grant plus a year-long mentorship program (valued at an additional $100,000) to support independent Black designers. The award includes cash prizes for finalists. Winners include Rachel Scott of Diotima (2024) and Daveed Baptiste (2025).

Priority Areas

Health Equity: Stroke prevention, cardiovascular health, access to quality healthcare in underserved communities
Social Determinants of Health: Food security, affordable housing, healthcare access
Economic Empowerment: Job training, entrepreneurship support, particularly for Black Americans
Education: Particularly focused on closing opportunity gaps for inner-city youth
Racial Equity: Supporting Black-owned businesses and addressing systemic disparities

Geographic Focus

Primary focus on North Philadelphia neighborhoods (Allegheny West, Nicetown-Tioga, Sharswood-Stanton, Strawberry Mansion), with broader Philadelphia-region initiatives and selective national programs (such as the fashion industry support).

Governance and Leadership

Kenneth C. Frazier (Trustee, $0 compensation): Former Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co., Kenneth Frazier grew up in inner-city Philadelphia and has deep personal roots in North Philadelphia. He was bused to "the best schools in Philadelphia" as part of integration efforts, an experience he credits with closing "the opportunity gap" for him. Frazier has stated: "In my house, education was the paramount value. And if you grew up in a neighborhood like mine, you were forced to decide early on what you stood for in life." He co-founded OneTen, an organization working to provide training and family-sustaining jobs for one million Black Americans over 10 years. Frazier received the 2021 John Wooden Global Leadership Award for his business leadership, philanthropy, innovation focus, and commitment to promoting racial and economic equity.

Andréa W. Frazier (Trustee, $0 compensation): Interior designer, adjunct professor of international law, stroke and cancer survivor. Andréa had a stroke at age 33, just days after the birth of the couple's first child. She serves on the American Heart Association's Greater Philadelphia Board of Directors and is a long-time volunteer and supporter. As a stroke and cancer survivor, she is passionate about raising awareness and improving health outcomes for women and underserved communities.

Joint Statement from the Fraziers: "Our family has deep roots in North Philadelphia and has been impacted by the debilitating effects of stroke. We feel privileged to be in a position to help convene this partnership to bring life-saving stroke prevention measures to our community."

On health equity: "Our focus is health equity and ensuring quality healthcare is accessible to all."

On social determinants: "Social and economic determinants have a profound impact on health outcomes in our communities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Andrea W. and Kenneth C. Frazier Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded through trustee discretion, strategic partnerships with established organizations, and invitation-only initiatives.

Grant-making occurs through:

Strategic partnerships: The foundation partners with major organizations like the American Heart Association and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to administer specific programs
Trustee-identified initiatives: The Fraziers identify causes and organizations aligned with their philanthropic priorities
Endowed programs: Long-term commitments to institutions like Temple University and Thomas Jefferson University

Organizations interested in the foundation's partnership programs should apply through the partner organizations (e.g., CFDA for the Empowered Vision Award, American Heart Association for health equity initiatives).

Getting on Their Radar

The Fraziers are actively involved in the Philadelphia philanthropic community, particularly in health equity and education sectors. Specific avenues for connection include:

American Heart Association Greater Philadelphia Board: Andréa Frazier serves on this board, making AHA events and initiatives potential networking opportunities for organizations working on cardiovascular health and health equity in Philadelphia.
North Philadelphia Community Focus: Organizations working in Allegheny West, Nicetown-Tioga, Sharswood-Stanton, and Strawberry Mansion neighborhoods on stroke prevention, healthcare access, food security, housing, or economic empowerment align with their documented funding interests.
Temple University and Thomas Jefferson University: The Fraziers have established the Frazier Family Coalition for Stroke Education and Prevention through these institutions, indicating strong relationships with these universities.
CFDA Fashion Industry Networks: For Black designers and fashion entrepreneurs, engagement with CFDA programs may provide visibility to the foundation's fashion equity initiatives.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize their documented grant-making approach:

Alignment with Personal Experience: The Fraziers' grant-making is deeply personal. Andréa's stroke at age 33 directly led to their major investments in stroke prevention. Kenneth's experience growing up in inner-city Philadelphia and being bused to better schools drives their education equity work. Projects that address these specific issues—stroke prevention in Black communities, education opportunity gaps, health equity—resonate with their lived experiences.

Focus on Social Determinants of Health: The foundation consistently emphasizes addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Their $1 million gift to the Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund specifically targeted food security, housing, and economic empowerment alongside healthcare access. Programs that take a holistic approach to health disparities align with their approach.

North Philadelphia Geographic Priority: The Fraziers stated: "Our family has deep roots in North Philadelphia." Their documented grants show consistent focus on specific North Philadelphia neighborhoods. Organizations serving Allegheny West, Nicetown-Tioga, Sharswood-Stanton, and Strawberry Mansion have received funding.

Measurable Impact on Racial Equity: Kenneth Frazier stated: "I'm hoping to work with business and through philanthropy to help address some of [the big issues in society]." The foundation's support for OneTen (targeting one million jobs for Black Americans) and the Empowered Vision Award (supporting Black designers) demonstrates commitment to measurable, concrete outcomes in racial equity.

Partnership and Leverage Models: Rather than making individual grants to many organizations, the Fraziers prefer strategic partnerships that can amplify impact. The CFDA partnership and AHA partnership both leverage existing organizational infrastructure and expertise.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund contribution specifically supported "social entrepreneurs" working on health equity challenges, indicating openness to innovative, entrepreneurial approaches.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals to this foundation. All grants are made through trustee discretion or established partnership programs.
Partnership-Driven Strategy: If your organization has capacity to design and administer grant programs aligned with the foundation's priorities (health equity, education, racial equity), approach them about partnership opportunities rather than individual grants.
Geographic Specificity Matters: For Philadelphia-area organizations, demonstrate deep engagement in North Philadelphia neighborhoods, particularly Allegheny West, Nicetown-Tioga, Sharswood-Stanton, and Strawberry Mansion.
Personal Connection Drives Giving: The Fraziers' philanthropy is driven by personal experience (Andréa's stroke, Kenneth's education journey). Frame work in terms of lived experience and community roots.
Apply Through Partner Organizations: Monitor the American Heart Association, CFDA, Temple University, and Thomas Jefferson University for funding opportunities administered on behalf of the foundation.
Multi-Year Strategic Commitments: The foundation makes significant multi-year commitments (e.g., $5 million to Frazier Family Coalition) rather than small one-time grants. Think in terms of major initiatives rather than annual funding requests.
Racial Equity Must Be Central: All documented grants address racial disparities explicitly. Generic programs serving diverse populations are less aligned than programs specifically designed to address racial inequities in health, education, or economic opportunity.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.