Behrakis Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Behrakis Foundation is a private family foundation established in Massachusetts in 1996 by George and Margo Behrakis. The foundation’s grantmaking supports select Boston organizations in the areas of arts, education, and Hellenic causes.

IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low profile, but may occasionally accept unsolicited proposals. Given it’s lack of transparency, it’s a tough funder to crack. That said, it’s somewhat accessible, so don’t hesitate to call the foundation or check their site often to learn if they’re accepting proposals.

This funder is a family affair, so if you’d like to network here, consider the couple’s children who oversee much of the foundation’s work. In order for your proposal stand out here, a focus on Hellenic or Greek culture is a must no matter the field in which you work. In other words, whether it’s health or education, consider how your work can benefit the Greek diaspora or culture. Another vein in common with Greek culture is an emphasis on Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

This is a tried-and-true Boston funder, so foundations with work beyond this geographic space will have a very difficult time securing funding here — unless there’s a major emphasis on advancing or supporting Greek culture.

PROFILE: Established in 1996, the Behrakis Foundation is the foundation of George and Margo Behrakis. A Greek-American born in Lowell, Massachusetts, George D. Behrakis became a salesperson for Johnson and Johnson, where he and his team created Tylenol. He went on to start his own company, Dooner Laboratories. The couple’s children also serve on the foundation’s board, and daughter Stephanie serves as executive director. Grantmaking areas of interest are the arts, education, health, and Hellenic causes.

Grants for the Arts and Hellenic Causes

The Behrakis family makes broad grants in their areas of giving. Without a site to guide grantseekers, it’s unclear what the foundation’s grantmaking strategy may be here; however, without a doubt, this foundation prefers to fund work that focuses on or expands knowledge of Hellenic and Greek art and culture. That said, this funder has also given big to established museums. Past grantees in the arts and culture space include the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, a $10 million gift to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, where they named its Art of the Ancient World wing in the Behrakis’ honor, and The Brush Art Gallery and Studios.

The Behrakis Foundation has also continued their giving in support of Greek culture by way of a 300-acre camp called the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center summer and winter camp in Hopkinton, New Hampshire for the Boston metropolis, which hosts hundreds of campers throughout the year.

Grants for Higher Education and Science Research

The Behrakis Foundation also makes grants that overlap with higher education and health. The Behrakis family has also established chairs and scholarships at a number of universities and medical facilities, including George’s alma mater of Northeastern, where he endowed the George D. Behrakis Chair in the Field of Targeted Pharmaceuticals and funded the construction of the George D. Behrakis Health Sciences Center. Interested in legacy fellowships focused on medical research, the foundation also funded the George D. Behrakis Hellenic Fellowship in Respiratory Allergy at the Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, and many others at Tufts University, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Saints Medical Center in George’s hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts and chairs at the University of Mississippi, Hellenic College, Boston College, Bentley College and Merrimack College. In keeping with the foundation’s emphasis on Hellenic and Greek culture, it has sponsored several fellowships to Harvard for Greek physicians.

Though infrequent, some science related grants have been made to the Museum of Science. Other grants have gone to support the Greek government and Greek physicans in youth smoking prevention.

Other grantmaking:

Other grantees include Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club of Lowell. The couple once gave Noverall.

Important Grant Details:

The foundation’s grantmaking has been modest of late, with a few hundred thousand dollars being awarded annually. Learn more about foundation giving in the funder’s recent tax records. The family has made significant contributions to Boston institutions through the years, and Boston is a major area of geographic focus. The foundation does not publicize its grantmaking guidelines.

In the past, the foundation has accepted unsolicited grant applications, which include a summarizing cover letter, a narrative proposal, project and agency budgets, copies of the most recent IRS ruling, a financial statement and audit report, and a list of the board of directors. However, it does not appear to have a rolling application process, though the foundation encourages reach out.

For more information, contact Stephanie Behrakis-Liakos at sliakos@behrprivfdn.com or 781-861-9114.

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