Philanthropic Endowments and Institutions

Our approach to social responsibility includes empowering our people to give back to their communities, operating our firm in ways that are socially responsible and sustainable, and working with our clients to address societal challenges. We bring a range of capabilities and resources to bear, including our healthcare expertise, advanced analytics, functional knowledge, technology assets, network, and investment capacity. We help develop strategies and structures to improve health outcomes among underserved or at-risk populations.

The Burk Family Foundation and Charitable Trust is an independent organization led by a distinguished board of trustees whose members bring strategic, visionary leadership. Our corporate board members have a diversity of expertise and experience that spans science and technology, healthcare, public policy, education, and business management. Our senior leadership team drives the strategy and direction of our work to deliver impact at scale for the world’s most vulnerable. We recognize that when we collaborate with the world’s most ambitious organizations, we can help promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal. With this in mind, we structure partnerships with public and private institutions to widen our reach and capacity for action. Together with our partners, we invest our time, expertise, and financial commitments to ensure change, innovation, and sustainability.

National Alliance to End Homelessness—Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. The Alliance was founded in 1983 by a group of citizens determined to meet the emergency needs of the nation’s then-emerging population of homeless people. By 1987, it was clear that homelessness was not a temporary crisis, but one that had taken root. At that time, the organization turned its attention to more permanent solutions and grew into a national network of over 10,000 providers, public agencies, and private partners. Our work with the coalition seeks to harness the power of collaboration among businesses, governments, nonprofits, and social enterprises to address these challenges more effectively and on a wider scale. We help strengthen global health organizations and build client capabilities to master change so that organizations can deliver on their healthcare missions.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.​ The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

March of Dimes Innovation Fund

March of Dimes is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. The organization was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, to combat polio. After funding Jonas Salk's polio vaccine, the organization expanded its focus to the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality. In 2005, as preterm birth emerged as the leading cause of death for children, research and prevention of premature birth became the organization's primary focus.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Founder Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude in 1962 with the dream that “no child should die in the dawn of life." St. Jude leads some of the world’s most ambitious research programs in childhood cancer survivorship. St. Jude has the freedom to focus on making discoveries, backed by resources and support teams. The resources and core facilities at St. Jude are truly extraordinary. From state-of-the-art technologies to expert support, its shared resources are designed to expand the capabilities of each group, to pursue innovative ideas.

American Heart Association Scientific Research Program

The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency. They are known for publishing guidelines on cardiovascular disease and prevention, standards on basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support, and in 2014 issued its first guidelines for preventing strokes in women. They are known also for operating a number of highly visible public service campaigns starting in the 1970s, and also operate a number of fundraising events.

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating throughout the United States. Over 75,000 people died each year of cancer in just the United States. The Better Business Bureau lists American Cancer Society as an accredited charity meeting all of its Standards for Charity Accountability.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a charitable organization founded in 1949, is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world. The LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Office of Public Policy pursues LLS's mission through advocacy aimed at governmental decision-makers. Through LLS's nationwide grassroots network of more than 100,000 volunteers, the organization advocates for policies at the state and federal level to remove barriers to care for blood cancer patients. These efforts include helping to increase federal research funds, speed the review and approval process of new therapies, and ensure patients are able to access their treatments. LLS also advocates for public policy positions that accelerate progress toward cures for leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of those with blood cancer, their friends and families.

Burk Family Foundation and Charitable Trust

The Burk Family Foundation and Charitable Trust has established a patronage program in order to promote the participation of civil society and the business sector in the endeavors of the Foundation. The program aims to embrace individuals, companies and institutions interested in philanthropic support. The Foundation maintains a Patronage General Council comprised of the individuals, companies and institutions that enter into a partnership with the Burk Family Foundation and its objectives. The recently appointed members each bring a unique perspective and a depth of experience in working with and participating on foundations. Support is directed at those institutions that identify with the aims of the Foundation. An independent accounting firm is retained to perform annual audits of its consolidated financial statements and maintains an internal audit function that regularly reports to the trustees through the Audit and Compensation Committee.