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Carl E Touhey Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,926,924 (2023)
  • Assets: $39.6 million
  • Number of Grants: 41 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $120,169
  • Grant Range: Varies widely (from small grants to $1 million)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York State (Albany, NYC, Rochester), with some grants to Virginia and Washington, D.C.
  • Application Method: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Albany, NY
Phone: 518-438-3521
Website: None
Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or application process.

Overview

The Carl E. Touhey Foundation was established in 1989 and named after Albany businessman Carl E. Touhey (1917-2013), who was head of Orange Motor Co. and a prominent philanthropist in the Capital Region. The foundation has grown to $39.6 million in assets and distributed nearly $5 million in grants in 2023. Led by Carl Touhey's son, Charles L. Touhey, as Director and President, the foundation continues the family's legacy of supporting arts, culture, education, and community development initiatives. The foundation focuses primarily on preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications, reflecting a strategic approach to philanthropy based on the trustees' knowledge of community needs and organizational effectiveness.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Grant Size Range:

  • Small to medium grants: Varies
  • Large strategic grants: $300,000 - $1,000,000
  • Average grant: $120,169 (2023)

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture:

  • Performing arts organizations
  • Music and orchestral programs
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Arts education programs

Education:

  • Higher education institutions
  • Youth education programs
  • Leadership development for young people
  • Scholarship programs

Community Development:

  • Housing justice initiatives
  • Youth development programs
  • Community equity and access programs

Notable Recent Grants:

  • $1,000,000 to Building Blocks Together for the Restorative Housing Justice Fund (supporting Black homeownership in Capital Region)
  • $300,000 to Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region for the Ignite! program (2025)
  • Multi-year support to Albany Institute of History & Art for the Albany African American History Project
  • Support for WMHT public television

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, indicating they do not fund organizations outside their pre-identified network.

Governance and Leadership

Charles L. Touhey - Director and President
Son of founder Carl E. Touhey, Charles leads the foundation's strategic direction and continues his father's philanthropic legacy in the Capital Region.

On supporting middle school youth through the Girls Inc. Ignite! program, Charles Touhey stated: "Middle School is a crucial time in young people's lives. Our Foundation is very pleased to support the most needed initiative."

He also noted: "I have the most respect for middle school teachers, because that's when the hormones are raging and all kinds of things are happening, and that's the most important segment of where kids start to go on different paths."

Other Directors:

  • Virginia E. Touhey - Director, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Lila M. Touhey - Director
  • John J. Touhey - Director, Vice President

The foundation operates as a family foundation with the Touhey family members serving in leadership roles.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the board's knowledge of community needs and organizational effectiveness. Organizations in the foundation's funding network are identified through the trustees' connections to the Albany Capital Region nonprofit sector and their understanding of priority community needs.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no public application cycles or deadlines.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations are selected by trustees rather than through an application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept public applications, the following insights are based on their demonstrated funding patterns:

What the Foundation Values:

  • Focus on critical developmental stages: The foundation has shown particular interest in supporting youth during crucial transitional periods, especially middle school years
  • Equity and access: Recent major grants demonstrate commitment to addressing systemic inequities, particularly in housing and opportunities for marginalized communities
  • Long-term strategic impact: The foundation makes significant multi-year commitments to initiatives that create lasting change
  • Community roots: Strong preference for Albany Capital Region organizations with deep community ties
  • Quality arts and cultural programming: Consistent support for performing arts, museums, and cultural institutions

Recent Funding Patterns Show:

  • Willingness to make substantial grants ($300,000-$1,000,000) for transformative programs
  • Interest in youth development and education across all age groups
  • Support for initiatives addressing racial equity and justice
  • Long-standing relationships with cultural institutions
  • Focus on programs that serve disadvantaged or underserved populations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications - they select grantees through trustee discretion
  • Family foundation approach: Led by the Touhey family with deep Albany roots and long-standing community relationships
  • Significant grant capacity: With average grants of $120,169 and recent grants up to $1 million, this is a substantial funder for organizations in their network
  • Strategic focus areas: Demonstrated commitment to arts/culture, education, youth development, and community equity
  • Long-term partnerships: Evidence suggests the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with grantee organizations rather than one-time funding
  • Regional focus: Strong preference for Albany Capital Region organizations, with some support extending to NYC, Rochester, and occasionally beyond New York State
  • Mission-aligned with founder's legacy: Carl E. Touhey was known as the "patron of the common man" - the foundation continues this commitment to supporting accessible programs that serve broad community benefit

References

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