Bedari Foundation

The Bedari Foundation is a highly focused, invitation-only private family foundation led by trustees Jennifer and Matthew Harris — a New York-based couple whose philanthropy reflects deep personal conviction rather than institutional grant cycles. Matthew Harris's background in global infrastructure investing (the foundation is administered c/o Global Infrastructure Management at 1230 6th Ave, New York) infuses Bedari's giving with a systems-thinking philosophy: the foundation favors interventions that address root causes and catalyze structural change, not isolated program delivery.

The foundation's mission — "investing in solutions that enable regenerative systems" — organizes its giving across four interdisciplinary pillars: Essential Systems (naturally renewable resources and responsible design), Built Systems (redesigning human-made infrastructure), Nature Systems (environmental preservation and restoration), and Care Systems (strengthening connections among individuals, communities, and nature). These pillars correspond to what the foundation previously described as environmental conservation, mental health and wellness, and community resilience.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. This is not a procedural gap that can be worked around — it is foundational to how Bedari operates. The fund proactively identifies grantees through internal research and personal networks, then initiates contact. Inside Philanthropy specifically notes that "finding a direct connection to Bedari's founders will be key" to any funding consideration. The trustee and officer structure is compact: Jennifer Harris and Matthew Harris serve as trustees; Elizabeth Colleton, reachable at (212) 315-8143, serves as the sole officer and the practical point of contact at the New York office.

First-time would-be grantees should focus less on a proposal and more on positioning. The organizations in Bedari's portfolio share identifiable traits: they address the intersection of human well-being and planetary health; they bring research-grounded or evidence-based methodologies; and several carry institutional affiliations with universities (UCLA, Johns Hopkins, UCSF, University of Wisconsin). The foundation also funds internationally — the International Rescue Committee, World Wildlife Fund, and Cooperatives for a Better World all carry global programs — so domestic-only organizations are not the only eligible cohort.

Relationship progression, when it occurs, typically follows a pattern of multi-year investment rather than one-time awards. IRC has received four grants totaling $1 million; WWF has received five grants totaling $750,000. The foundation views itself as a long-term partner, not a check-writer, which makes the initial entry point critical — but also makes staying in the portfolio highly advantageous once achieved.

Bedari's annual giving has ranged dramatically over its operating history, reflecting a funding model driven by the Harrises' personal investment priorities rather than a stable endowment-drawdown schedule. Total annual giving has varied from $225,000 (fiscal 2014) to $4.38 million (fiscal 2019), with 2019's spike driven by major institutional commitments including the recorded $1.5 million to the UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute and substantial IRC support. After that peak, giving contracted sharply to $679,000 in 2020 and remained compressed through 2021 ($784,000) and 2022 ($829,000), consistent with pandemic-era caution and portfolio consolidation. In 2023, giving rebounded to $2.44 million total ($2.26 million in grants paid) — the second-highest year on record — suggesting renewed grantmaking momentum heading into 2024-2025.

Across the 29 grants captured in IRS 990 data, the average grant size is $167,178, with a range from $34,000 (Friends of McGill University) to $1,537,500 (UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute). The UCLA award is a significant outlier; absent that grant, the effective ceiling for most partner organizations sits at $250,000–$300,000 per individual grant. Inside Philanthropy confirms that the majority of awards fall under $250,000, with the typical individual grant window running $34,000–$250,000.

Multi-year relationships dominate the portfolio. Five WWF grants totaling $750,000 average $150,000 per grant; four IRC grants totaling $1 million average $250,000 per grant; three grants to Inquiring Systems (SEFC) average approximately $136,667 each; three UCSF Foundation grants average roughly $33,333 each. This pattern signals that Bedari values continuity and incrementally deepening investment in trusted partners rather than broad portfolio diversification.

Geographic concentration follows institutional ties: 8 of 29 grants flowed to California-based entities (UCLA, UCSF, conservation groups), 6 each to New York and Washington DC. No formal geographic restriction exists — grants have reached Wyoming (conservation), Maryland, New Hampshire, and internationally. Canadian institutions (Friends of McGill University) have also been funded, confirming that mission alignment and leadership quality outweigh geography in selection criteria.

Programmatically, the portfolio distributes roughly as follows: 35–40% to environmental conservation and Nature Systems work (WWF, Emerald Gate, conservation initiatives); 30–35% to mental health, kindness, and wellness research (UCLA Kindness Institute, Neuroarts Resource Center, UCSF, Chopra Foundation); 20–25% to international humanitarian and community resilience work (IRC, Cooperatives for a Better World); and 5–10% to academic research infrastructure (Johns Hopkins, University of Wisconsin, McGill). No grants to arts, housing, or domestic poverty programs are evident in the recorded portfolio.

The following table compares the Bedari Foundation to its asset-matched peer foundations — all private family foundations in the Philanthropy & Grantmaking category with approximately $35 million in total assets:

Among asset-matched peers in the $35 million range, Bedari stands out for the specificity and ambition of its programmatic identity. Most private family foundations of comparable size maintain broad "Philanthropy & Grantmaking" classifications with limited public disclosure about giving priorities; Bedari, by contrast, has articulated a structured four-pillar regenerative framework, demonstrated sustained multi-year commitments to high-profile partner organizations (IRC, WWF, UCLA), and made a transformative $20 million personal gift to establish the Bedari Kindness Institute — a level of institutional leadership uncommon at this asset scale. The critical operational distinction for grant seekers: while peers of similar size may maintain open inquiry or LOI processes, Bedari's exclusively proactive selection model means engagement requires relationship cultivation rather than proposal submission — a fundamentally different strategy.

The foundation's most visible recent activity centers on the Bedari Kindness Institute (BKI) at UCLA, which is actively expanding its research portfolio and institutional reach in 2025-2026. In May 2026, BKI's Initiative to Study Hate launched a formal partnership with LA County to research identity-based hate incidents — the institute's most direct community-engaged collaboration to date. In March 2026, BKI's Dialogue Across Difference initiative was featured in a PBS television documentary exploring Black-Jewish historical relations and contemporary collaboration, bringing national media visibility to Bedari-funded kindness science.

For academic year 2025-26, BKI announced support for a new cohort of 14 research teams across 9 disciplines at UCLA, reflecting the foundation's continued flagship commitment. The institute hosted high-profile Compassionate Conversations in early 2026, including a dialogue with UC Berkeley professor john a. powell in May 2026 on "bridging and belonging" and a multifaith conversation on justice and forgiveness in February 2026.

At the foundation level, the most significant development is the emergence of the Bedari Collective brand, evidenced by the placeholder website at bedaricollective.com announcing a full site launch "coming soon." The new brand language references regenerative systems, indigenous wisdom, and community partnership — a more expansive and coalition-oriented framing than prior communications. No leadership changes have been publicly reported; Jennifer Harris, Matthew Harris, and Elizabeth Colleton remain in their respective roles. No specific new grantee awards have been publicly announced for 2025 or 2026, consistent with the foundation's historically low public profile and proactive-only selection model.

Given that the Bedari Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, "application tips" must be reframed entirely: success with this funder is achieved through strategic positioning and relationship development, not grant writing or proposal submission. The following guidance is specific to Bedari's model.

Identify the access point first. Jennifer and Matthew Harris are the sole decision-makers. Matthew Harris's professional network runs through global infrastructure investing, sustainable finance, and asset management. Jennifer Harris's networks center on wellness, social connection, and academic philanthropy. Elizabeth Colleton (212-315-8143) handles operational matters and serves as the practical first point of contact. Any warm introduction — through investment circles, university alumni networks, environmental grantee communities, or shared board memberships — should be prioritized above all else.

Align language explicitly to Bedari's four pillars. The foundation's framework — Essential Systems, Built Systems, Nature Systems, Care Systems — is specific and intentional. Organizations should articulate their work through at least one of these lenses and ideally demonstrate interconnections across pillars. The mission statement's emphasis on "regenerative systems" and "the ability for individuals, communities and our planet to grow, together" is the vocabulary that resonates with this funder.

Build a discoverable research profile. Since the foundation conducts internal research to identify grantees, organizations should ensure their work surfaces through credible academic publications, conference presence, partnerships with recognized institutions, and quality media coverage. The UCLA, Johns Hopkins, and UCSF connections in Bedari's portfolio suggest strong weight placed on institutional credibility and evidence-based approaches.

Position for multi-year partnership. All major Bedari grantees have received repeat grants across multiple years — IRC (4 grants), WWF (5 grants), SEFC (3 grants), UCSF (3 grants). An organization positioned as a long-term systems-change partner, not a one-time project seeker, maps directly onto Bedari's investment mentality. Frame any early conversations around sustained collaboration rather than a single project grant.

Target a realistic initial ask of $75,000–$200,000 if a relationship is established, consistent with the foundation's average grant of $167,178 and Inside Philanthropy's observation that most individual awards fall below $250,000. Avoid opening with a six- or seven-figure request.

Monitor bedaricollective.com closely. The forthcoming full website launch may introduce new program descriptions, contact forms, or explicit guidance for prospective partners — potentially the first formal entry point this foundation has ever offered.