OVERVIEW: The Thomas and Michele Barakett Foundation’s grantmaking includes educational and health causes.
IP TAKE: The foundation maintains a bare-bones website preferring to keep a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities.
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Arts & Culture, Human Rights & Environment
PROFILE: Founded in 2007, the Thomas and Michele Barakett Foundation was established by Canadian-born financier Thomas Barakett and his wife Michelle and prefers to maintain a low public profile. Tax filings indicate that the Thomas and Michele Barakett Foundation’s grantmaking largely invests in educational and health causes.
Since the Barketts' daughter has a peanut allergy, they've become invested in the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University. As Barkett puts it, “[i]munotherapy has made a big difference to our lives and enabled us to lead normal lives without fear of an allergic reaction.” The Baraketts also strongly support Thomas’ alma mater Harvard.
In New York, the couple have supported places like New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dalton School (Barakett is a trustee), NYU Child Study Center, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, and Robin Hood Foundation.
In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $10 million. The Barakett Foundation does have a website, but it provides minimal information for grantseekers. Unfortunately, it does not name key priority areas, an ethos, or specifics.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only.)
CONTACT:
Timothy and Michelle Barakett Foundation
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153