Overview: A successful biomedical entrepreneur with deep roots in Massachusetts, Reinier Beeuwkes became, along with his wife Nancy, a major ally to the Democratic Party in New England. Although they aren’t as wealthy as some of the party’s most reliable donors, the Beeuwkes consistently support Democrats running for office around the country.
Location: Concord, Massachusetts
Total Donated (2016-2020): $1,752,100 (between the two)
Top Recipients: DCCC, Planned Parenthood Votes
Key Issues: Democratic Party power, Clean Energy, Women’s Health
Largest Donation to Date: $100,000 to American Bridge 21st Century
Profile Main Body: The Beeuwkes are longtime Massachusetts Democrats that don’t rank among the richest, but are certainly among the most consistent liberal donors. Reinier Beeuwkes is a biomedical entrepreneur who founded Braintree Laboratories pharmaceutical company in 1982. He served in a variety of other positions, including director of renal and cardiovascular pharmacology at Smith Klein and French Laboratories, until he became director of another company, Ischemix, in 2002. His wife, Nancy Beeuwkes, has been retired for many years and has been focusing on philanthropy. Her charity is focused on her home state of Massachusetts, and one of her most notable gifts was 143 acres of the historic October Farm, which she gifted to the Mass Audubon for conservation. The Beeuwkes are well-connected in the Boston area: Reinier helped organize a lobbying strategy to restore funding for MIT’s fusion reactor, an effort that earned Beeuwkes the nickname “Mr. Fusion” on Capitol Hill.
Both the Beeuwkes are consistent donors to Democrats and are among the top donors in Massachusetts. The couple were very supportive of President Barack Obama, writing $100,000-$200,000 checks to liberal PACs like Priorities USA Action and American Bridge 21st Century in 2012. Both have consistently spread their money to candidates around the country for years, but records show a significant uptick in the Trump era. Over the last four years, both Nancy and Reinier gave a series of five-figure gifts to the DCCC, the DNC, and other liberal PACs. In the 2020 cycle, they each gave $50,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, with the rest of their donations going to other PACs.
Ideological Vibe: Solidly liberal. The Beeuwkes are not among the richest donors, but they are consistent backers of Democrats around the country. During the 2016 primary, Nancy Beeuwkes was quoted lamenting the tone of Sen. Bernie Sanders’s supporters, and the couple seem more sympathetic to centrists than progressives. They give to standard liberal groups like Planned Parenthood and Emily’s List, but don’t get involved in many ballot initiative fights.
Hits and Misses: The Beeuwkes don’t appear to make large bets on particular candidates, choosing instead to spread their giving to a variety of Democrats in races around the country each cycle. The couple are abnormally willing to give to challengers, not just incumbents, so their donor history has a mix of wins and losses, and they’ve supported a wide array of campaigns.
Looking Forward: The Beeuwkes haven’t said much publicly about their political goals, but we can assume they’ll continue to back Democrats running for office, more likely helping centrists over progressives.
Relationships: Ischemix—Reinier Beeuwkes—Director; Braintree Laboratories—Reinier Beeuwkes—Co-Founder
Contact Information: N/A