van Ameringen Foundation

• The Foundation funds mental health work, with an emphasis on early intervention, prevention, advocacy and improving access to services for people with limited means, so it suits charities whose work sits squarely in that space; it does not fund programmes for intellectual or physical disability, grants to individuals, endowment campaigns, capital projects, annual fund-raising drives or international activities and institutions, so organisations in those categories should not apply.
• Its geographic focus is the five boroughs of New York City, Philadelphia, and national level, so check your work fits one of these.
• Most grants to organisations fall between $15,000 and $100,000, with a median of $75,000, so pitch a request in that band; its own programme guidance sets $25,000 to $100,000 for Direct Service Grants, Advocacy, and Media/Dissemination & Training.
• Applying is a staged, relationship-led process: start with the eligibility quiz, then a letter of inquiry, and only invited organisations are asked for a full proposal and a site visit; it accepts applications on a rolling basis, and a high share of its grant dollars continues to go to organisations it has funded before, so patience and a strong initial fit matter.
• If you have received support before, wait at least a year after submitting your final report before asking again.

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

• Fountain House · Renewed general suport with a particular focus on the impact of the organizations employement and wellness programs.
  $1,000,0002024 tax year
• Disability Rights New York · Renewed support for a new york public interest law center working to combat discrimination against justice-involved people living with serious mental illness in new york city.
  $200,0002024 tax year
• Nyc Coalition To End Youth And Family Homelessness · Continuing support of a philanthropic coalition to end youth and family homelessness in new york city.
  $200,0002024 tax year
• Children's Rights · Renewed support of class action litigation center seeking to compel new york to provide medicaid-eligible children with the community-based mental and behavioral health services they are entitled to under the law.
  $200,0002024 tax year
• New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation · First-time funding for new york's aclu to enforce state law prohibiting solitary confinement in new york's prisons and jails.
  $150,0002024 tax year
• International Documentary Association · First-time funding for the international documentary association to complete the documentary committed, depicting one town's attempt to treat justice-involved individuals suffering from serious mental illness.
  $150,0002024 tax year
• Abolitionist Law Center · Continued support for advocacy to curtail or abolish solitary confinement in pennsylvania.
  $125,0002024 tax year
• SEAMAAC · New support for roots of happiness, which provides culturally competent mental health support, cultural connection for isolated, often non-english speaking immigrant elders.
  $100,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.