OVERVIEW: The Robert A. and Renee E. Belfer Family Foundation funds larger organizations in health research and cybersecurity.
IP TAKE: This is another foundation that gives generously but lacks transparency. It does not maintain a web presence, which restricts a clear way to apply for funding. The current status of its grantmaking in health research is also unclear. This is a private funder that typically only likes to fund organizations it knows or which have a family tie, so other grantseekers should keep looking. Grants here fund a range of national and global causes, but center on New York City.
PROFILE: The Belfer Family Foundation, established in 1990, is the private philanthropic vehicle of Robert A. Belfer and his wife Renee. Belfer became a Director at Enron when Belco Petroleum, founded by his father Arthur Belfer, merged with Houston National Gas. In 1992, while still on the Board of Directors at Enron, he founded another energy concern called Belco Oil and Gas, whose assets now belong to Occidental Petroleum. The Belfers’ foundation does not have a website, but tax filings suggest that it gives in the fields of health, education, civil rights, and foreign policy.
Grants for Science Research
As IP has reported, Robert and Renee Belfer, along with their son Lawrence, have recently shown a major concern with cybersecurity. To that end, they recently gave a $15 million gift to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School to establish the Cyber Security Project, which “seeks to help create the conceptual arsenal” for strategists to confront cyber threats.
In the past, the Belfers have also funded health-related research, particularly cancer. Robert Belfer has served on the boards of a number of university and non-academic medical research centers. Over the course of several years, for example, Belfer donated at least $250 million to Weill Cornell Medical College, enabling it to open the Belfer Research Building, an 18-story, $650 million research facility conducting research into cancer, cardiovascular disease, global health and neurodegenerative disorders. More recently, the foundation gave a more modest general operating award to the Weill Medical College.
Grants for Higher Education
Robert and Renee Belfer, along with their son Laurence, gave a $15 million gift to the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. The funds will establish the Cyber Security Project, which “seeks to help create the conceptual arsenal” for strategists to confront cyber threats. Grantees have included Horace Mann, Dalton, Harvard Kennedy School, and Allen-Stevenson. Education grants prioritize private schools and those with which the family has a personal connection. Any other kind of education outfit should look past this funder.
Grants for Global Security and Jewish Causes
The Belfers’ giving in the field of human rights primarily centers around Jewish causes and Israel. They give regularly to the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, Central Synagogue, Israel Policy Forum, the UJA Federation of New York, and Columbia Barnard Hillel.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The Belfers are major supporters of artistic institutions and museums in and around New York City. They have given millions to the Metropolitan Museum of Art over the years, and Renee is on the board of trustees. In 1996, the couple gave $6 million to the museum to establish the Robert and Renée Belfer Court for early Greek and prehistoric art. They have also supported Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, American Federation of the Arts, MoMA, Guggenheim, Carnegie Hall Society and the Whitney Museum, among others.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $5,000 to $25,000, with a select few of $250,000 or more each year. On rare occasions, the Belfers will make gifts of over $1 million. The Belfers prioritize organizations in the New York City area, especially those with which the family have long-lasting relationships.
Tax filings indicate that the foundation conducts grantmaking by invitation only.
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CONTACT:
Robert A. and Renee E. Belfer Family Foundation
767 5th Ave., 46th Fl.
New York, NY 10153
Telephone: (212) 508-9500