Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $128.7 million (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only grantmaking)
Decision Time: Not applicable (proactive grantmaking approach)
Grant Range: $5,000 - $116,000,000
Geographic Focus: National, with priority on Connecticut and greater New York City area
Total Assets: $525 million+ (2023)

Contact Details

Website: www.steveandalex.org

Address: 46 Cummings Point Rd, Stamford, CT 06902

Phone: Not publicly listed

Email: Not publicly listed

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or letters of inquiry.

Overview

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation was established in 2001 by billionaire hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen and his wife, Alexandra Cohen (President). Since inception, the foundation has provided over $1.3 billion in charitable support through more than 3,000 grants to over 900 organizations. In 2023 alone, the foundation distributed $128.7 million across 144 grants to 158 organizations. The foundation operates under a philosophy of "Inspired Giving," emphasizing personal connection to every cause they support. Alexandra Cohen's upbringing in Washington Heights, New York, deeply influences the foundation's commitment to underserved communities and "forgotten America." The foundation has gained recognition as the largest private funder of Lyme and tickborne disease research in the country and one of the largest private funders of psychedelic mental health research, with over $60 million committed to this emerging field.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with application cycles. Instead, they identify grantees through their proactive "Giving Tour" initiative, visiting nonprofits across all 50 states and territories to discover impactful organizations firsthand.

2023 Funding Distribution by Area:

Underserved Communities: $74.3 million
Children: $22.1 million
Psychedelics Research: $15.5 million
Lyme Disease Research: $9.9 million
Arts: $6.5 million
Sustainability: $421,000

Grant Size Range: The foundation makes grants ranging from small community grants under $100,000 to transformational gifts exceeding $100 million. Recent examples include:

Large-scale institutional grants: $35-116 million
Significant program grants: $2-10 million
Medium-sized grants: $100,000-1 million
Small community grants: $5,000-100,000

Priority Areas

Underserved Communities: The foundation prioritizes "forgotten America" - communities that don't typically receive significant funding. They focus on basic necessities including food, shelter, and healthcare for marginalized populations including the working poor, seriously ill individuals, victims of domestic violence, and disaster survivors.

Children's Health and Education: Major focus on pediatric healthcare, mental health services, and educational opportunities. Recent landmark gifts include establishing women's and newborn hospital facilities and behavioral health centers, as well as workforce development programs.

Psychedelic Research & Health Initiative: Over $60 million committed to research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for PTSD, depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health conditions. Primary focus on veterans and trauma-related conditions, with major grants to institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Mount Sinai, Stanford, and MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies).

Lyme & Tickborne Disease Initiative: As the largest private funder in this space, the foundation has invested over $107 million in 60+ projects since 2015. Alexandra Cohen is a Lyme disease sufferer herself, inspiring this focus. Research spans prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and post-treatment syndrome.

The Arts: Supporting arts as "a cultural right" and arts education as "an essential part of learning." Partners with museums, galleries, and arts organizations to advance arts education and support artists.

Sustainability: Focus on food equity, environmental sustainability, and preservation initiatives.

Women's Health in Midlife: Emerging priority area with $5 million grant to The Menopause Society and RFP for Clinical Centers of Excellence to treat women in perimenopause and menopause.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified, but the foundation:

Only funds public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in the United States
Does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications
Identifies grantees through trustee discretion and the foundation's Giving Tour

Governance and Leadership

Alexandra Cohen, President: Alexandra leads the foundation with a deeply personal approach to philanthropy shaped by her upbringing in Washington Heights, New York, and her mother's influence. As a Lyme disease sufferer, her personal experience drives the foundation's major investment in tickborne disease research.

Key Quotes from Alexandra Cohen:

On the foundation's philosophy: "We have a personal connection to every cause that we support – we call it 'Inspired Giving.'"

On their dual approach: "While we frequently support larger capital campaigns, some of our most impactful work is done by providing smaller grants to local community-focused organizations."

On forgotten communities: The foundation targets "'forgotten America,' particularly in the areas that don't typically receive funding."

On philanthropy beyond money: "While much of philanthropy is focused on writing checks, you give your time, energy, and ideas to the causes you support."

On community engagement: "It doesn't take much to spread kindness – a simple interaction can change someone's day." and "Kindness isn't a choice – it's a responsibility that we have to support our neighbors and community."

On children's health: "Every child should have access to safe, approachable care for their mental and physical wellbeing" and "Every child deserves access to the highest-quality care, and we know that a child's health starts with a healthy mother, pregnancy and delivery."

On women's health: "Support for women in menopause has been delayed for far too long" and "Nobody should be confused about their symptoms and suffer in silence."

On psychedelic therapy: "Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy represents an entirely new treatment approach for veterans with trauma-related conditions like PTSD and depression."

Her foundational belief: "It might take a village, but the village starts with one person."

Steven A. Cohen: Co-founder and billionaire hedge fund manager who established the foundation with Alexandra in 2001.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation operates through a proactive grantmaking approach and does not accept unsolicited proposals, applications, or letters of inquiry.

How Grants Are Awarded:

The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

The Giving Tour: Foundation leadership visits nonprofit organizations across all 50 states and U.S. territories to discover impactful work firsthand. In 2023, they visited organizations in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Trustee Discretion: Grants are made based on the personal connections and priorities of foundation leadership
Strategic Relationships: Through networks in their priority areas and geographic regions of focus

Getting on Their Radar

Connect Through Social Media: The foundation maintains an active social media presence. Following their accounts may provide insights into their current interests and priorities.

The Giving Tour: If your organization is located in a state or region the foundation is visiting through their Giving Tour, there may be potential for visibility. Monitor their website and social media for announcements about tour destinations.

Sector Leadership: Organizations that become recognized leaders in the foundation's priority areas (Lyme disease research, psychedelic mental health research, underserved communities, children's health and education) may attract the foundation's attention through reputation and impact.

Geographic Proximity: Organizations in Connecticut and the greater New York City area, particularly Queens, have received significant attention from the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through invitation-only grantmaking, success factors differ from traditional applications:

Personal Connection to Mission: The foundation emphasizes that they have "a personal connection to every cause that we support." Organizations whose missions align with the Cohens' personal experiences and passions (such as Lyme disease, given Alexandra's experience) are more likely to receive funding.

Serving Forgotten Communities: Organizations working in underserved areas that "don't typically receive funding" align with the foundation's stated commitment to forgotten America. Demonstrating work with marginalized populations - the working poor, seriously ill, disaster victims, domestic violence survivors - is important.

Scale and Impact Flexibility: The foundation values both large-scale institutional change and grassroots community work. Alexandra Cohen stated: "While we frequently support larger capital campaigns, some of our most impactful work is done by providing smaller grants to local community-focused organizations." Organizations should demonstrate clear impact regardless of size.

Innovation in Priority Areas: Particularly in psychedelic research and Lyme disease treatment, the foundation funds cutting-edge, groundbreaking research. Innovative approaches to chronic problems attract their attention.

Geographic Alignment: While the foundation has expanded nationally, Connecticut and greater New York City (especially Queens) remain priority regions.

Infrastructure and Capacity: Recent large grants (like the $116 million to LaGuardia Community College) suggest the foundation is willing to fund transformational infrastructure and long-term capacity building, not just program expenses.

Evidence-Based, Patient-Centered Approaches: In their women's health RFP, the foundation specifically sought "evidence-based, patient-centered clinical care" and "leading-edge health innovation." These values likely extend across their grantmaking.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

NewYork-Presbyterian: $35.18 million for pediatric behavioral health expansion (2023)
LaGuardia Community College: $116.2 million for workforce training center (2024)
Mount Sinai: $6.5 million for Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness (2023)
MAPS: $5 million for MDMA-assisted therapy development (2023)
The Menopause Society: $5 million for healthcare professional training (2024)
Hackensack Meridian Health: $10 million for adolescent behavioral health services (2024)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No traditional application process: This foundation cannot be approached through grant proposals. Success requires being discovered through the Giving Tour, building reputation as a sector leader, or having connections in the foundation's networks.
Personal connection is paramount: The foundation's "Inspired Giving" philosophy means they support causes that resonate personally with the Cohen family. Understanding their personal experiences (Alexandra's Lyme disease, her Washington Heights upbringing) provides insight into priorities.
Think beyond Connecticut and NYC: While these remain priority areas, the foundation has significantly expanded national giving through the Giving Tour. Organizations in all 50 states have potential visibility.
Both scale extremes work: Don't be discouraged by small organizational size - the foundation explicitly values both transformational $100 million+ gifts and community grants under $100,000. Impact matters more than budget size.
Emerging fields attract significant funding: The foundation has committed over $60 million to psychedelic research and $107 million to Lyme disease research - both relatively emerging fields. Innovation in addressing chronic problems attracts major investment.
Infrastructure investments welcome: Unlike many funders hesitant about capital campaigns, this foundation has made several landmark facilities and infrastructure gifts. They understand that lasting change requires investment in capacity and physical space.
Multi-year strategic vision: Their major grants often span multiple years and support comprehensive initiatives, not just annual program funding. Think strategically about long-term impact when considering alignment with this funder.

References

Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation official website - https://www.steveandalex.org/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation 2023 Annual Report" - https://sacf2023annualreport.org/ (Accessed December 2025)
Foundation Directory, Candid - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=COHE162 (Accessed December 2025)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61627638 (Accessed December 2025)
"LEADERS Interview with Alexandra M. Cohen, President, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation" - https://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2023.4_Oct/MAD/LEADERS-Alexandra-Cohen-Cohen-Foundation.html (Accessed December 2025)
Inside Philanthropy - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-c/steven-alexandra-cohen-foundation (Accessed December 2025)
"Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Awards $116 Million Grant to LaGuardia Community College" - https://www.laguardia.edu/news/steven-alexandra-cohen-foundation-awards-116-million-grant-to-laguardia-community-college-to-create-the-cohen-career-collective/ (March 2024)
"The Menopause Society Receives $5 Million Grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation" - https://menopause.org/press-releases/the-menopause-society-receives-5-million-grant-from-the-steven-alexandra-cohen-foundation-to-forward-the-digital-innovation-phase-of-its-nextgen-now-initiative (October 2025)
"The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Grants More than $2.1 Million to Support a Psychedelics Research Study at Mount Sinai" - https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2021/the-steven-and-alexandra-cohen-foundation-grants-more-than-two-million-to-support-a-psychedelics-research-study-at-mount-sinai (2021)
"MAPS Receives $5 Million Grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation" - https://maps.org/2023/06/22/maps-receives-5-million-grant-from-the-steven-alexandra-cohen-foundation/ (June 2023)
"Mount Sinai Receives $6.2 Million Grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation for the Clinical Care of Long Lyme Disease" - https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/mount-sinai-receives-six-million-grant-from-the-steven-and-alexandra-cohen-foundation-for-the-clinical-care-of-long-lyme-disease (2023)
"Cohen Foundation Awards $10 Million for Lyme Disease Research" - https://www.steveandalex.org/newscoverage/cohen-foundation-awards-10-million-lyme-disease-research/ (Accessed December 2025)
Cause IQ profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/steven-and-alexandra-cohen-foundation,061627638/ (Accessed December 2025)