Geoffrey Beene Foundation

OVERVIEW: Geoffrey Beene’s disease support is focused on cancer research and an Alzheimer’s initiative. Its grants go toward prevention, treatments, awareness and research. On a smaller scale, the foundation funds efforts in heart disease and lesser known diseases, such as Marfan’s syndrome. Other interests include animal welfare and veterans.

IP TAKE:  Geoffrey Beene does not accept unsolicited proposals, except when it announces its research “challenges,” which appear only once every few years. This funder looks for its own grantees to fund. However, keep an eye out for research challenge proposals that occur infrequently. For a grant related to science or medical research, grantseekers must have the appropriate background, such as a Ph.D. (or working towards one), in order to qualify.

PROFILE: The Geoffrey Beene Foundation was established in 2006 from the estate of Geoffrey Beene, of the well-known fashion brand. Its main philanthropic effort is the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which “has served as the nucleus for revolutionary new research approaches in preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer.” In addition to its Cancer Research Center, Beene also has initiatives concerning Alzheimer’s disease, military and veterans and animal welfare.

Grants for Brain and Cell Research and Diseases

The Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center brings together researchers from the Cancer Biology and Genetics Program and the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and serves as a “focal point at MSK for an array of projects, aimed at translating works at the cellular level into revolutionary new research approaches.” The support of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation funds “the entire range of translational research, funding core research labs, the establishment of senior and junior faculty chairs, graduate fellowships, the annual Geoffrey Beene Symposium, and the annual Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Retreat. Grants from the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center generally fund initial-stage research and may be renewed for a second year.

The Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative is a separate 501(c)(3) from the cancer funding program and is the beneficiary of sole donor support from the Geoffrey Beene Foundation. This initiative was launched in 2007 and funds innovative new projects that advance awareness, diagnosis, and research in early stages of the disease. It is underwritten by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation. It prioritizes “‘big data’ analysis and mainstream digital tech applications like mobile brain behavior monitoring and social media-based population databases that can focus and support the growing millions of Americans who are worried about their brain health.” The foundation prefers to work “across disciplines and industries through awards-based, open source challenges that engage new leaders with new ideas about our nation’s aging population and how to accelerate the development of Alzheimer’s therapies.”

Between 2007 and 2015, contributions to this initiative totaled more than $4.8 million. The foundation likes to see big data analysis and tech applications in this field. Some of its programs include the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry, the CogState Clinical Trial, the BrainBaseline app, and the Ginger.io platform and app. The initiative regularly supports technical applications that help people monitor their brain health and seek treatment for Alzheimer’s as early as possible. Other shows of support have included public involvement and education. The HBO documentary series “The Alzheimer’s Project” was supported by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative to make the public more aware of this growing epidemic.

Grants for Animal Welfare

The Geoffrey Beene Foundation’s Protection of Animals focus area primarily centers around funding for two major organizations: ASPCA and Animal Medical Center. Its grants to the ASPCA have funded projects, primarily in and around New York City, such as the renovation of its New York Adoption Center, free spaying and neutering initiatives, animal cruelty investigation and prosecution, and awareness and reduction of accidental animal poisoning. Grants to AMC have supported upgrades to critical care and emergency services facilities, funding or donation of state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and community funds that subsidize medical treatment for animals belonging to people in need.

Grants for Military and Veterans

The Geoffrey Beene Foundation’s Supporting Veterans focus area broadly funds organizations that provide “provide critical services and support to our Veterans.” It supports groups that promote awareness and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), offer educational scholarships for spouses and children of veterans, provide housing and services for family of wounded veterans, and train service dogs for veterans that have been injured or suffer from TBI or PTSD.

Grants for Higher Education and Visual Arts

The Beene Foundation awards scholarships to college students majoring in fashion design, including one annual $30,000 award and four $10,000 awards to runners up.

Important Grant Details:

Outside of its main initiatives, grants generally range from $5,000 to $25,000. The Geoffrey Beene Foundation does not have an open application process for its funding and does not generally accept unsolicited proposals, although it does occasionally release “challenges,” which award research grants for specific issues in Alzheimer’s research.

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