Gateway Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Grant Programme: Beacon House Community Funding
Total Available: $2,000,000 (from property sale)
Grant Range: Varies by cycle (first cycle: $100,000 - $500,000; 2024-2025 cycle: up to $200,000; 2025 cycle: $25,000)
Decision Time: Approximately 2-3 months from LOI to notification
Geographic Focus: Monterey County, California
Application Method: Two-stage process (LOI then full application by invitation)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/beaconhouse/

Grant Programme Contact:
Ave Costa, Chief Development Officer
Email: acosta@gatewayfoundation.org

Organisation Headquarters:
Gateway Foundation Inc
55 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60604
EIN: 36-2670036

Overview

Gateway Foundation Inc is a national nonprofit organisation founded in 1968 that primarily operates substance use disorder and mental health treatment facilities across eight states (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, and Wyoming). With an annual budget of approximately $160 million and over 55 years of service to more than 1 million patients, Gateway Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit substance abuse treatment providers in the United States.

In a departure from their direct service model, Gateway Foundation established the Beacon House Community Funding grant programme in 2024 following the sale of their historic Beacon House treatment facility in Pacific Grove, California. The programme was created to honour Beacon House's legacy by distributing $2 million to nonprofit organisations continuing similar work in Monterey County. This is a time-limited grant programme funded by asset proceeds rather than an ongoing endowment-based grantmaking operation.

The organisation earned a Three-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 84%. Gateway Foundation is led by President & CEO Jeremy Klemanski, who brings more than 30 years of behavioural health experience.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Beacon House Community Funding

Grant Range: Varies by cycle (first cycle: $100,000 - $500,000; 2024-2025 cycle: up to $200,000; 2025 cycle: $25,000 grants)
Total Available: $2 million
Application Method: Two-stage process - Letter of Intent followed by invitation to submit full application
Geographic Restriction: Must serve Monterey County, California

Priority Areas

The Beacon House grant programme prioritises initiatives focused on:

Substance use disorder treatment services (primary priority)
Co-occurring mental health treatment
Education and advocacy related to substance abuse and mental health
Outreach to underserved populations in Monterey County
Evidence-based behavioural health services

Eligible uses of grant funds include:

Staff development and training
Equipment purchases
Repairs and maintenance
Expansion of services or access to services
Start-up operational costs (not to exceed 50% of total funding request)

Eligibility Requirements

Organisations must meet ALL of the following criteria:

501(c)(3) nonprofit status
Licenced by the state of California to provide services (when applicable)
Currently providing behavioural health services in Monterey County
Can provide audited financials and income/expense budgets for the last two fiscal years
Programmes utilise evidence-based services
At least 50% of clients from the last two fiscal years are residents of Monterey County

What They Don't Fund

Whilst not explicitly stated, the programme parameters suggest exclusions for:

Organisations outside Monterey County, California
For-profit entities
Operational costs exceeding 50% of the grant request
Services unrelated to substance use disorder, mental health, or wellness

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Jeremy Klemanski, MBA – President & CEO
"My life's mission is to build behavioural health systems that foster improved access to quality services." Klemanski brings more than 30 years of frontline behavioural health experience, most recently serving as CEO of Helio Health in Syracuse, New York before joining Gateway Foundation in January 2023.

Dr. Roueen Rafeyan, MD – Chief Medical Officer
Over 20 years of experience in psychiatric and substance use programme leadership.

Ave Costa – Chief Development Officer
Oversees the Beacon House grant programme. Joined Gateway Foundation in January 2024 as Director of Development and was promoted to the inaugural Chief Development Officer role in July 2025, bringing over 30 years of fundraising expertise and partnership building.

Dennis James – Chief Financial Officer
25+ years of leadership in healthcare and nonprofit financial management.

Board of Directors

Larry Singer (Chair) – Professor, Loyola Law School
Arla Lach (Immediate Past Chair) – Partner, Grant Thornton
Ivy Walker (Vice Chair) – Founder, AskCoda
Elio Montenegro (Secretary) – Senior Director, Genesis at Home
Julie Brady (Treasurer) – Partner, Grant Thornton
Melanie Barnes – Partner, Sikich
John Drevs – Director of Web Services, Loyola University
Paula Elliott – Vice President, Impact Advisors
Simone Jones, J.D., M.P.H. – Partner, Sidley Austin
France Pitera – Retired Business Executive
Jennifer Vidis – Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health
Ben Younger – Managing Director, Riveron Consulting

The board comprises visionary leaders from corporate, government, and social service sectors, providing diverse expertise to guide Gateway Foundation's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Beacon House grant programme uses a two-stage application process:

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

Applications typically accepted starting in May each grant cycle
LOI deadline typically in mid-July (7:00 pm CST)
Submit via email per instructions at gatewayfoundation.org/beaconhouse

Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation only)

Invitation notifications typically sent approximately one month after LOI deadline
Full application deadline typically in late September
Only organisations invited after LOI review may submit full applications

Decision Timeline

LOI submission: Typically mid-July
Invitation to full application: Approximately 1 month after LOI deadline
Full application due: Typically late September
Final award decisions: Typically October-December
Total timeline: Approximately 4-5 months from initial LOI to award announcement

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly disclosed. The programme has awarded grants across multiple cycles with varying numbers of recipients and grant amounts depending on the cycle.

Reapplication Policy

As this is a time-limited grant programme funded by a one-time asset sale ($2 million from the Beacon House property), the programme continues in multiple cycles until funds are exhausted. Contact Ave Costa at acosta@gatewayfoundation.org for information about upcoming grant cycles and application opportunities.

Confirmed Grant Recipients

2024 Grant Recipients (First Round):

Community Human Services – Genesis House Bathrooms Improvement Project
A Door to Hope – Women's Residential Programme & Youth Outpatient Programme
Monterey Sober Living for Women – Matching contribution for permanent housing

2025 Grant Recipients:

Central Coast Overdose Prevention (CCODP) – $25,000 to establish a permanent outreach and care coordination hub in downtown Monterey
The Village Project, Inc. – $25,000 to support Healing in Motion programme that expands Freedom Reigns equine-assisted therapy
Door to Hope – $25,000 to launch the Recovery Services Programme
Motivating Individual Leadership for Public Advancement (MILPA) – $25,000
Monterey Sober Living for Women (MSLW) – $25,000 to help purchase a permanent residence
National Alliance on Mental Health Illness (NAMI) Monterey County – $25,000 to help secure permanent headquarters and drop-in centre in Salinas
Sun Street Centers – $25,000 to expand evidence-based outpatient treatment and prevention programmes into the City of Monterey

Application Success Factors

Since this grant programme has limited public information about evaluation criteria, the following factors are based on the stated priorities and eligibility requirements:

Alignment with Beacon House Legacy
The programme was created to honour the historic Beacon House treatment centre. Applications that demonstrate direct alignment with substance use disorder treatment, particularly serving vulnerable and underserved populations in Monterey County, are prioritised.

Evidence-Based Approaches
Gateway Foundation explicitly requires that applicant programmes "utilise evidence-based services." Applications should clearly articulate the evidence base supporting proposed interventions and reference relevant research or best practices in substance use and mental health treatment.

Geographic Focus and Community Impact
Organisations must demonstrate that at least 50% of their clients are Monterey County residents. Stronger applications likely show deep community roots, understanding of local needs, and measurable impact on the Monterey County population.

Financial Sustainability and Capacity
The requirement for audited financials from the past two fiscal years suggests the funder values financial stability and accountability. Applications should demonstrate sound financial management and organisational capacity to successfully execute the proposed project.

Operational vs. Programmatic Balance
Whilst start-up operational costs are allowed, they cannot exceed 50% of the total funding request. This indicates a preference for funding that directly expands or enhances services rather than covering basic operational expenses.

CEO Quote on Grant Purpose
Jeremy Klemanski stated: "We are pleased to announce that some funds from the sale of the Beacon House property will be used to support nonprofit organisations dedicated to promoting health and wellness from substance use disorders." This emphasises the funder's commitment to continuing Beacon House's mission through partnership with community organisations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Limited opportunity with specific geography: This grant is exclusively for organisations serving Monterey County, California—don't apply if you don't meet this requirement.
Two-stage process requires strong LOI: Since only invited organisations can submit full applications, your Letter of Intent must compellingly demonstrate alignment with substance use disorder treatment priorities and evidence-based practice.
Variable grant sizes across cycles: Grant amounts have varied significantly across cycles, from $25,000 to $500,000. Check the current cycle guidelines for specific grant ranges.
Emphasise evidence-based practice: Gateway Foundation explicitly prioritises evidence-based services, so clearly articulate the research and best practices supporting your approach.
Not a recurring opportunity: This is a time-limited grant programme funded by a one-time property sale. Whilst multiple cycles occur until funds are exhausted, don't count on this as an ongoing annual funding source.
Direct contact encouraged: With Ave Costa identified as the primary contact, don't hesitate to reach out with questions about eligibility or application requirements before investing time in the LOI.
Financial documentation required: Ensure your audited financials and budgets from the past two years are current and readily available before beginning the application process.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.

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Gateway Foundation Inc - Beacon House Community Funding