Established by the first Lord Beaverbrook in 1954, the Foundation is a UK registered charity dedicated to supporting good causes. Over 870 charitable organisations have received grants over the last 60 years.

The Foundation is the home of The Beaverbrook Library, an important archive of private papers, currently held in the Parliamentary Archive. The Foundation also has a collection of over 8,000 historic twentieth century British political cartoons, and an extensive library and art collection.

Lord Beaverbrook died in 1964, leaving, as part of his legacy, the charitable Foundation that bears his name.