A Glimpse into the Becton Family Foundation’s Giving in the Northeast
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New England Aquarium has gotten support. Photo: FrimuFilms/shutterstock
Henry Prentiss Becton was once the chairman of a medical device company called Becton, Dickinson and Company, which is headquartered in New Jersey and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. There is a private family foundation that bears his name, the Becton Family Foundation, which is now run by family members of the late business executive.
The foundation, which has been operating since 1998, does not have a website and maintains a low public profile. However, it is a good funder to get familiar with in the northeast region of the U.S.
Maine, New Jersey and Massachusetts
The state of Maine is a geographic focus for the Becton Family Foundation. The foundation regularly supports organizations in the Maine towns of Deer Isle, Blue Hill and Stonington. The family company has New Jersey roots, and many grants go to groups in New Jersey as well. The Becton Family Foundation also pays attention to the needs of groups in Massachusetts. Several family members who serve as trustees are based in Massachusetts and have publicly listed addresses in Concord and Manchester.
Interest areas
Much of the foundation’s giving involves grants to arts and medical organizations. For example, the funder has recently supported the Boston Museum of the Arts, New England Aquarium and Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School. Island Health Wellness Foundation and the Island Food Pantry, both in Deer Isle, Maine, are also foundation grantees. In addition, nursing homes, operas, community art groups and hospitals are of interest.
The family patriarch, Henry Prentiss Becton, attended Yale University and Fairleigh Dickson University, and those schools often receive the foundation’s support. Over the years, most grantees have had personal connections to Becton family members.
Typical foundation giving
The Becton Family Foundation commonly gives to general funds, specific schools, building renovations, annual funds and capital campaigns. This is a funder that provides a variety of support based the grantee’s needs and its relationship with the foundation. Grants typically range from $500 to $50,000, but the majority of grants are $5,000 or less.
Applying for a grant
It can be a challenge for new grantseekers to get involved with the Becton Family Foundation, even if they are based in the Northeast. According to the foundation’s most recent tax records available, it does not accept unsolicited grant applications and only funds preselected groups.
Check out IP’s full profile of the Becton Family Foundation to learn more about this funder. Other related resources are IP’s Maine funding guide and our Boston and New England blog.
