Morgan Stanley Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $110+ million (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only funding)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: United States, Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/giving-back
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Morgan Stanley Foundation Inc is the philanthropic arm of Morgan Stanley, dedicated to "giving children a healthy start to life." With over $110 million donated in 2024, the foundation focuses on addressing critical challenges facing children through four key pillars: mental health, physical health, food insecurity, and play. The foundation operates primarily through strategic partnerships and invitation-only grants rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Since 2020, their Children's Mental Health Alliance has reached over 52 million people, demonstrating their significant impact in the nonprofit sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation runs two annual awards programs:

• Children's Mental Health Innovation Awards (United States)
• Impact Through Innovation Awards (Europe, Middle East, and Africa)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four key pillars:

• Mental Health: Supporting children's emotional well-being and mental health services
• Physical Health: Programs promoting children's physical wellness
• Food Insecurity: Addressing hunger and nutrition needs among children
• Play: Supporting programs that enable children to learn and grow through play

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not support:

• Political causes, individual candidates, or campaigns
• Lobbying programs
• Individuals
• Capital and endowment campaigns
• Fraternal or professional sports organizations
• Special events
• Documentaries
• Individual performing arts groups

Governance and Leadership

Specific leadership information was not publicly available through the foundation's main channels.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not accept unsolicited proposals. The Morgan Stanley Foundation initiates its own grants and works through strategic partnerships. Organizations cannot apply directly for general grants. The foundation identifies and approaches organizations that align with their strategic priorities.

The only exception is through their two annual awards programs:

• Children's Mental Health Innovation Awards (U.S.)
• Impact Through Innovation Awards (EMEA)

Eligible organizations include:

• U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities
• Registered charities and state-funded schools in Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed as the foundation operates primarily through invitation-only funding.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only funding model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the Morgan Stanley Foundation operates primarily through invitation-only funding, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations seeking support should focus on:

• Building visibility for work that aligns with the foundation's four pillars
• Demonstrating measurable impact in children's mental health, physical health, food security, or play
• Establishing a track record of innovation and effectiveness in serving children
• Being a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (for U.S. organizations)
• Monitoring announcements for the annual awards programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Morgan Stanley Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals - relationships must be cultivated through other means
• Focus areas are strictly limited to children's health and well-being through four specific pillars
• The foundation has significant resources ($110M+ annually) but deploys them through strategic partnerships
• Annual awards programs may provide the only direct application opportunity
• Organizations must be properly registered charities in their respective regions
• Political, lobbying, and individual support are strictly prohibited
• The foundation seeks innovative approaches to addressing children's needs

References

• Morgan Stanley Foundation - Giving Back webpage: https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/giving-back (Accessed December 31, 2025)
• Foundation overview and funding priorities from official Morgan Stanley corporate philanthropy pages