The PDB Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in June 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a private foundation that disburses funds to other charitable organizations. The foundation was established by life sciences entrepreneur Mark R. Bamforth and his wife Morag Bamforth.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.1M
+5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
-12.4% YoY
Grant Count
29
-6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$152K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pdb Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, it funds organizations preselected by Mark and Morag Bamforth based on their personal connections and philanthropic priorities.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education (majority of grants)
- Health care
- Food insecurity
- Family assistance programs
- Youth services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations only.
Grant Range
Maximum single grant of $810,000 (2023)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding focus in Massachusetts, with additional grants in:
- New Hampshire
- California
- International locations (United Kingdom, Scotland)
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $80.1 million
- Annual Giving: $5,035,436 (2023)
- Total Giving: $4,411,495 (reported in some filings)
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $76,013,824
- Total Revenues: $1,758,576
- Total Expenses: $5,213,514
- Total Liabilities: $11,700
Notable Contribution: The foundation received a substantial $43 million contribution in 2022, significantly expanding its capacity for grantmaking.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,097,565 | $76,013,824 | $79,457,103 |
| Revenue | $8,695,453 | $1,758,576 | $43,568,437 |
| Expenses | $4,611,712 | $5,213,514 | $3,213,269 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,418,322 | $5,035,436 | $3,043,582 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,539,880 | $2,387,060 | $841,001 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,901,885 | $3,794,194 | $3,527,491 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mass Liberation ($830,233), University of Strathclyde ($455,754), American Cancer Society ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | RESEARCH | $450,000 |
| BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CAREERS PROGRAM BRAINTREE, MA | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND BOSTON, MA | EDUCATION | $159,388 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONCORD, NH | SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN | $100,000 |
| CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLICANCE FOUNDATION MALDEN, MA | HEALTH CARE | $250,000 |
| CARROLL SCHOOL LINCOLN, MA | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITY SERVINGS JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | FOOD INSECURITIES | $10,000 |
| DOWNTOWN DOG RESCUE PASADENA, CA | ANIMAL RESCUE | $5,150 |
| FAMILY NURTURING CENTER OF MASSACHUSETTS DORCHESTER, MA | FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS | $250,000 |
| FLARE EDUCATION CAMBRIDGE, MA | EDUCATON | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mark R. Bamforth — Founder and trustee (life sciences entrepreneur)
- Morag Bamforth — Co-founder and trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK R BAMFORTH | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MORAG BAMFORTH | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 99 Irving St, Cambridge, MA 02138-2025
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pdb Foundation fund?
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, it funds organizations preselected by Mark and Morag Bamforth based on their personal connections and philanthropic priorities. Primary funding areas include: • Education (majority of grants) • Health care • Food insecurity • Family assistance programs • Youth services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Pdb Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 2023: 31 grants totaling $5,035,436 • Median grant: $100,000 • Grant range: Maximum single grant of $810,000 (2023) • Total grants distributed since 2019: Over $11.9 million through 73 grants **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations only. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Mass Liberation: $810,000 (Education) • Wentworth Institute of Technology: $329,000…
Where does Pdb Foundation make grants?
Primary funding focus in Massachusetts, with additional grants in: • New Hampshire • California • International locations (United Kingdom, Scotland)
What size grants does Pdb Foundation award?
In 2024, Pdb Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $152K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Pdb Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Pdb Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Pdb Foundation's EIN?
Pdb Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3779206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pdb Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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