The IV (four) Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation works by invitation only and says it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered; wait to be invited before applying.
- Its stated focus is mental well-being, alongside the arts, education, connection to nature, and community and belonging, and it funds upstream work that builds resilience before crisis.
- Projects that are internationally based or focused are not funded, so international work should not apply.
- Its typical grants run from $2,700 to $75,000, with a median of $18,000, which is a realistic size for a request, though the largest grant was about $1,400,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- In the filing, 89% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier years, so relationships appear to matter, although the filing does not show that new organisations are excluded.
Overview
The IV (four) Fund is a US private foundation based in Folsom, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The IV Fund nurtures mental well-being in the United States and seeks a cultural shift that prioritises mental well-being, enhances mental health and prevents suicide. Its stated areas of focus are the arts, education, connection to nature, and community and a sense of belonging. It partners with effective organisations on outcome-oriented programming. Its partners are diverse organisations working upstream, before the point of crisis, to give people tools to nurture resilience, enhance protective factors and promote positive mental well-being. It makes project and general support grants and works with partners to find the best fit for its support.
Themes
- Arts
- Education
- Connection to nature
- Community and belonging
- Mental well-being
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Delaware, Ohio, New York, Illinois and District of Columbia.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals or projects that are internationally based or focused
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 89% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 128 grants to organisations were $18,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It partners with effective organisations and supports outcome-oriented programming.
- It works with partners to find the best fit for its support.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 7%
- The largest single recipient received 36% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to organisations The IV (four) Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 48% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 46 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Gift Fund · General support$998,2042024 tax year
- Jewish Federation of Cleveland · Israel emergency campaign$414,0002024 tax year
- Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting · Mental wellbeing in the us fellowship$300,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federation of Cleveland · Combating antisemitism in cleveland$151,2002024 tax year
- Northwestern University · East lawn project$150,0002024 tax year
- American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation · Criminal law reform; reproductive freedom project$120,0002024 tax year
- Northwestern University · Center on wrongful convictions$60,0002024 tax year
- Northwestern University · Counseling & psychological services community based initiatives$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Ivy B Lewis — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,124,378 | $1,057,000 | $48,037,837 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,757,518 | $2,691,150 | $56,371,033 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,061,093 | $2,937,404 | $74,199,858 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The IV (four) Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@theivfund.org
- Folsom, CA
- theivfund.org
Applying to The IV (four) Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@theivfund.org
- Folsom, CA
- theivfund.org