OVERVIEW: Veteran financier Anson Beard, his wife Debra, and family move their philanthropy through the Tsunami Foundation. The Beards via their foundation primarily support New York City youth, education, arts, and human services organizations.
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Arts & Culture, Human Services
IP TAKE: Youth leadership development and education is a top priority of this funder. The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Networking is key for getting on this family’s radar.
PROFILE: Anson Beard is a Morgan Stanley veteran who worked at the company for some two decades where he helped build their equity division worldwide. These days, Beard and his wife Debra have taken up residence in Florida, but the Big Apple, where he was raised, still remains a focus through his Tsunami Foundation’s grantmaking. In the most recent tax year available to the public, the foundation gave away around $1.7 million, with many grantees in New York City.
The Posse Foundation, a “comprehensive and renowned college access and youth leadership development program,” serves as an important site of philanthropy and Anson is a life director of the organization. Beard and family have also steadily supported Prep for Prep, where Anson also sits on the board. While several of the higher education institutions the family support are outside of New York, on the K-12 front the Beards have funded schools like East Harlem School, Barrow Street Nursery, Grace Church School, St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s School in Morningside Heights, and Success Academy Charter Schools. The family has also supported education and youth outfits like Readworks and The Future Project, which provides resources to empower children.
The Beards, via the Tsunami Foundation, also earmark funds for arts and culture outfits in New York City like Friends of the High Line, American Tap Dance Foundation, and American Museum of Natural History. Human services is also an interest. Grantees have included the Robin Hood Foundation, and City Harvest. In health, the family has given grants to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Unfortunately, the foundation keeps a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Of late, Tsunami Foundation has tended to have a similar roster of grantees from year to year.
PEOPLE:
CONTACT:
The Tsunami Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the Beard family, but below is an address:
Tsunami Foundation
421 Peruvian Ave.
Palm Beach, FL 33480