← Back to US Funders Directory

Neil S Hirsch Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.6M
Grant Range
$2K - $1.5M

Neil S Hirsch Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,567,742
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $1,500,000
  • Median Grant: $58,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, Florida, and Massachusetts; also California, Connecticut, and other U.S. states
  • Assets: $97.8 million

Contact Details

Address: 156 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019-3800

Phone: 212-906-9000

Website: No public website

EIN: 136881621

Note: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for general grants.

Overview

The Neil S Hirsch Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in May 1988. With assets of approximately $97.8 million, the foundation distributes over $4.5 million annually through approximately 28 grants. The foundation was created by Neil S. Hirsch, described as "a true visionary and long-time advocate for psychiatric care," with a mission "to enhance the lives of children and adults in the United States" by supporting organizations focused on medical, cultural, and educational issues. While the foundation primarily operates through trustee discretion and invited proposals, it has demonstrated a particular commitment to neurological and psychiatric healthcare, education, human services, and philanthropic infrastructure. The foundation maintains a professional staff structure with compensated trustees who oversee grant-making decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grant-Making (Invitation-Only)

  • Grant range: $2,000 - $1,500,000
  • Median grant: $58,000
  • Approximately 28 grants awarded annually
  • No public application process

Neil S. Hirsch Neurotherapeutic TMS Research Grant (Publicly Available)

  • Amount: Up to $100,000 over two years
  • Administered through the Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS (FACTMS)
  • Application deadline: March 31
  • Supports pilot research in neurological applications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
  • Contact: info@factms.org

Priority Areas

The foundation's grant-making focuses on:

  • Education: Supporting educational institutions and programs
  • Human Services: Programs serving children and adults
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting philanthropic infrastructure and other foundations
  • Medical Research and Healthcare: Particularly neurological and psychiatric care, including significant support for TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) therapy and research

Notable Grants

  • Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS (FACTMS): $551,000 to establish the first Neil S. Hirsch TMS Center in Florida
  • The foundation has also funded the establishment of a Neil S. Hirsch TMS Center at Kitsap Mental Health Services in Bremerton, Washington

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Based on the invitation-only structure and identified priorities, the foundation likely does not fund:

  • Organizations outside their identified geographic focus areas
  • Projects unrelated to their core areas of education, human services, healthcare, and philanthropy
  • For the TMS research grant specifically: purely psychiatric applications of TMS are not eligible

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Laura A De Luca, Trustee (Highest compensation: $130,000 as of 2024)
  • Steven N Rappaport, Trustee (Compensation: $100,000 as of 2024)
  • Judith A Garson, Trustee
  • Robert Flug, Trustee
  • Neil S Hirsch, Trustee (Founder, listed in earlier filings)

The foundation maintains a professional governance structure with compensated trustees who actively manage the foundation's grant-making activities. Neil S. Hirsch established the foundation and is remembered as "a true visionary and long-time advocate for psychiatric care."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Grants: This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, with grants made at the discretion of the trustees. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications for general funding.

TMS Research Grant: The Neil S. Hirsch Neurotherapeutic TMS Research Grant is the one publicly available application opportunity. Applications are available through the Foundation for the Advancement of Clinical TMS (FACTMS) website, with a deadline of March 31. Interested researchers should contact info@factms.org with questions.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's structure and available information, the foundation identifies grant recipients through:

  • Trustee discretion and networks: Trustees identify and invite organizations aligned with the foundation's mission
  • Pre-existing relationships: The foundation appears to work with organizations already known to trustees or within their professional networks
  • Specific partnerships: The foundation has established specific relationships, such as with FACTMS, to administer targeted grant programs

There is no documented process for unsolicited contact or relationship building with this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines for invitation-only grants are not publicly disclosed. For the TMS Research Grant with a March 31 deadline, the decision timeline has not been published.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's general grant-making. The foundation awards approximately 28 grants annually from its invitation-only process.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply to general grants. However, the following observations may be relevant:

For Organizations Seeking Funding:

  1. Alignment with core mission areas: The foundation has demonstrated consistent commitment to education, human services, healthcare (particularly neurological and psychiatric care), and philanthropic infrastructure.

  2. Geographic relevance: Priority appears to be given to organizations serving New York, Florida, and Massachusetts, though the foundation also supports work in other states including California and Connecticut.

  3. Focus on neurological and psychiatric healthcare: The foundation's significant investments in TMS therapy and research, including the establishment of dedicated TMS centers, indicates this is a priority area for trustees.

  4. Professional and established organizations: Given the foundation's substantial grant range ($2,000-$1,500,000), they appear to work with a variety of organizations from grassroots to well-established institutions.

For TMS Researchers:

The foundation has articulated clear priorities for its neurotherapeutic TMS research grant:

  • Research must focus on neurological (not purely psychiatric) applications
  • Eligible conditions include Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, stroke recovery, dementia, and neuropathic pain
  • The grant supports "promising investigators" conducting "pilot research," suggesting it's designed for translational and clinical researchers establishing new lines of inquiry

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder: Do not submit unsolicited applications. The foundation identifies and invites grant recipients through trustee discretion and networks.

  • One public exception: Researchers focused on neurological applications of TMS can apply for the Neil S. Hirsch Neurotherapeutic TMS Research Grant through FACTMS (deadline: March 31, up to $100,000 over two years).

  • Substantial capacity: With nearly $98 million in assets and $4.5 million in annual giving, this foundation has significant grant-making capacity, with grants ranging from $2,000 to $1,500,000.

  • Clear priority areas: Education, human services, healthcare (especially neurological and psychiatric care), and philanthropic infrastructure are consistent focus areas.

  • Geographic concentration: Priority given to New York, Florida, and Massachusetts, though not exclusively limited to these states.

  • Professional governance: The foundation operates with compensated trustees who actively manage grant-making, suggesting a professional and deliberate approach to philanthropy.

  • TMS therapy champion: The foundation has made transformative investments in TMS therapy, including establishing dedicated treatment centers and research grants, indicating deep commitment to this field.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory