History

Our History

Established in 1997, the Dekker Foundation is a private foundation endowed by the Dekker family. As multigenerational publishers of scientific, technical, and medical information for over eighty-five years, the Dekkers have been committed to furthering knowledge and improving the world. They recognize the far-reaching effects of ignorance and intolerance, a view underscored by family history.

In 1938, Dr. Maurits Dekker, his wife Rozetta Roos, and their three children fled the Netherlands shortly before Germany declared war on that country. They arrived in New York on the next to last ocean liner to successfully complete the crossing. But while they narrowly escaped the campaign against the Jews, almost none of their family in Europe survived the genocide that followed.

Based on its family's past, the Dekkers are committed to supporting organizations that advocate education, tolerance, community, and healthcare. This work continues in the Dekker Foundation to build on their family's commitment to bettering society through philanthropy.

Awards

The foundation historically supported critical scientific, technical, and medical research programs.

To show its appreciation to the STEM community, the Dekker Foundation established an Awards Program to honor researchers and educators who made significant contributions to their fields. The cornerstone of the grants program consisted of professional awards and academic scholarships that recognize outstanding achievements in fields of study such as:

Analytical Chemistry

Library and Information Science

Optical Engineering

Pharmaceutical Science

Neurological Science

With the sale of Marcel Dekker, Inc. in 2004, the Dekker Foundation was limited in its ability to communicate with and support many outstanding scientists due to non-competition agreements the Dekkers signed. Once those contracts expired, the Dekker Foundation focused on new grants to support such causes as Neurological Science, Clinical Neurology, climate change, and antisemitism.

Looking ahead, the Dekker Foundation is eager to identify new programs and establish new partnerships in fields and supporting causes that gel well with its overall mission.

Grants

We award many of our grants to organizations that promote education, research, and civil action.

Because learning occurs in many different contexts, recipients range from organizations creating awareness of intolerance, implementing technology in education and academic programs in scientific and medical research.

The Dekker Foundation does not consider unsolicited applications for grants: Grants are provided only to tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of US Internal Revenue Code. Grants to individuals are not considered.

The Dekker Foundation supports equal opportunity in its grant making.

Our Commitment