Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, and the arts. 

IP TAKE: Ronald Druker and family move their philanthropy through several vehicles including the Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Charitable Foundation and the Millicent C. Starr Charitable Trust. Druker also moves philanthropy through the more recently-minted Nancy S. Druker Memorial Foundation, named for Druker's late sister. Expect the family's giving to continue to prioritize the Boston area, tracking with select interest areas. 

Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. It does not accept unsolicited applications and only accepts contact by snail-mail, which makes both communication and getting on this funder’s radar far more challenging. It also appears that this funder prioritizes large, established and, often private, organizations that can scale, so grassroots efforts will have less luck here.

PROFILE: Established in 1981, the Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Foundation serves New England. The vehicle bears the name of the late Bertram Druker and his son, Ronald Druker, who steers the family real estate company Druker Company in Boston. Its current trustees include Ronald Druker as well as his daughter Kimberly, an artist. Ronald M. Druker graduated with his MBA from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business and was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. The company is known for mixed-use developments such as Heritage on the Garden and The Colonnade Hotel and Residencies on Huntington Avenue.

The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Foundation prioritizes grantmaking related to education, youth, and the arts. 

Grants for K-12 and Higher Education

Druker and the Bertram A. and Ronald M. Druker Charitable Foundation recently gave a $15 million gift to the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. His relationship with the school began in the mid-1970s when Druker became one of the early inductees into the Loeb Fellowship program. Druker also taught as a member of the school’s faculty in urban design.

TheDrukers have supported Belmont Hill School, Emerson College, Beaver Country Day School, and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. It appears that K-12 funding focuses on private schools rather than grassroots K-12 funding.

Grants for Arts and Culture

Druker also taught as a member of the school’s faculty in urban design. Druker also once gave a $5 million gift to Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA) for its contemporary art wing. MFA renamed an educational pavilion for Druker, Bertram, and grandfather, John.

Important Grant Details:

Grants range from $2,500 to $500,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $626,000. Grantees have included Belmont Hill School, Museum of Fine Arts, Emerson College, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, and Massachusetts General Hospital. 

The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

Bertram A. and Ronald M. Drucker Charitable Foundation
c/o Gouldston & Storrs, 400 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02110