The Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's focus on mental health and wellness, and on equitable, accessible community systems of care, suits organisations with a behavioural-health mission; healthcare providers serving underserved people in low-income communities are also eligible, provided they have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal agent does.
- Its typical grants fall between $5,000 and $420,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 146 grants to organisations in that range and a median of $50,000, so a request near $50,000 sits at the centre of its usual giving, and its capacity building grant program is stated at up to $50,000.
- Its stated geographic focus names Northern New Jersey, Palm Beach County, Broward County and several other areas, so check that your area is listed, and applicants outside those communities are encouraged to work with local partners.
- For the capacity building grant program, submit a letter of inquiry through the online application system, since only a limited number are invited to full proposals; that programme does not fund general operating expenses, capital work, conferences or marketing, so an organisation seeking those should not apply to it.
- The filing shows that 72% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in an earlier filing, and the foundation is less interested in ongoing support to existing programmes, so a new applicant should present a defined project with measurable outcomes and expect that relationships with the foundation count for a good deal.
Overview
The Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation is a US private foundation based in Boston, MA.
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 foundation supports organisations focused on mental health and wellness and committed to creating equitable, accessible community systems of care. It funds practical and visionary projects that expand access to care, integrate mental health with primary care and other human services, develop the behavioural-health workforce, and strengthen collaboration. Eligible lead applicants are US-based non-profit organisations or fiscal agents with 501(c)(3) status and a behavioural-health mission; healthcare providers and their support organisations serving underserved people and families in low-income communities are eligible. It favours projects with defined needs, measurable outcomes, creativity, racial and gender equity, and involvement of people affected by mental health issues or trauma. Applicants outside the target communities are encouraged to work with local partners.
Themes
- Behavioral health
- Mental health integration
- Access to care
- Collaboration and partnerships
- Professional development
- Equitable care
- Workforce wellness
Geographic Focus
Northern New Jersey; Palm Beach County; Broward County; Northwest region, North Carolina: Watauga, Wilkes, Avery and Ashe counties in North Carolina; Santa Fe County; adjacent Northern New Mexico Counties; Greater Buffalo, New York; Northern counties, Maine.
What They Don't Fund
- capacity building grant program only: Academic research or writing; General operating expenses; Capital campaigns or improvements; Conferences or one-time workshops; Political lobbying; Marketing; Policy campaigns addressing reimbursement policies, regulation of licensure/certification, or state workforce monitoring; Revenue/billing of professionals while participating in training
How to apply
For the capacity building grant program, organisations submit a letter of inquiry through the online application system; the foundation invites a limited number to submit full proposals.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% 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 146 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It prioritises projects in addiction, trauma, depression and other mental health disorders.
- Lead applicants must have a behavioural-health mission and a reputation for cross-sector collaboration.
- It favours applicants with deep insight into a particular challenge or opportunity.
- Projects must build on existing momentum, respond to defined needs and opportunities, and identify measurable activities and outcomes.
- It is less interested in providing ongoing support to existing programmes.
- It rewards creativity, experimentation and a pioneering spirit.
- Projects should make an explicit effort to address racial and gender equity.
- It favours projects created by or in direct collaboration with people affected by mental health issues or trauma and harmful systems.
- Financial or in-kind contributions and evidence of support from other funders strengthen the support case.
- Grantees should join calls or webinars with other grantees.
- It asks grantees for short mid-grant updates and a final written report.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 2%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Ukraine).
- 71% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 60 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Community Foundation of Broward · General operating support$525,0002024 tax year
- Santa Fe Community Foundation · General operating support$520,0002024 tax year
- North Carolina Community Foundation · General operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties · General operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation of New Jersey · General operating support$420,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo · General operating support$250,0002024 tax year
- Maine Community Foundation · Home community fund$150,0002024 tax year
- Broward Partnership for the Homeless · Behavioral health initiative planning participation grant$105,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Sukyin Agnes Farris — Non-Voting Trustee
- Jamie Retterer — Secretary
- Andrew Farris — Treasurer
- Marian Farris — Vice President
- Cecile Victoria Farris — Vice President
- Brent G Hagey II — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,633,254 | $5,804,932 | $87,553,581 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,703,913 | $4,830,321 | $92,054,014 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,172,627 | $4,397,000 | $96,462,640 | 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 Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation?
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Applying to The Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required