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Stanley Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$58.3M
Grant Range
$5K - $58.0M

Stanley Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $58,300,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $553,981,303 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $58,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (primarily Broad Institute) with smaller grants in Connecticut and New York
  • EIN: 06-1157888

Contact Details

Address: 430 Central Drive, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510

Phone: 914-260-6358

Email: SFF@mbi-inc.com

Website: No public website (information available at MBI, Inc.'s website)

Executive Director: Stephen Jones

Overview

The Stanley Family Foundation was established in 1985 in Connecticut by Ted and Vada Stanley, founders who have committed to The Giving Pledge. The foundation funds basic neuroscientific research for ultimate translation to therapeutics to relieve the burdens of serious mental illness, with particular focus on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The family's commitment to mental health research was deeply personal—in 1988, the Stanleys' son Jonathan suffered a life-endangering episode of mania while in college. He received treatment, recovered, and went on to graduate from college and law school, later becoming a mental health advocate.

To date, the Stanley Family Foundation has granted over $860 million to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, representing the largest philanthropic commitment ever made to psychiatric research. Ted Stanley died in 2016, and Vada predeceased him in 2013. Their legacy continues through the foundation's ongoing support of mental health research and smaller community grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Research Grants

  • Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute: The overwhelming majority of the foundation's grantmaking is reserved for annual gifts to the Stanley Center. In 2014, Ted Stanley committed $650 million to the center, bringing total support to over $860 million. The 2023 grant was approximately $58 million.

Mental Health Community Grants ($5,000 - $20,000)

  • Mental health service providers in Connecticut and New York
  • Organizations supporting individuals with serious mental illness
  • Mental health advocacy organizations

Community Development and Education Grants ($5,000 - $20,000)

  • Community development organizations in Connecticut
  • Educational institutions and programs
  • Wildlife conservation (occasional grants)

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Psychiatric research on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
  • Basic neuroscientific research with translational potential
  • Development of diagnostics and treatments for serious mental illness

Secondary Focus:

  • Mental health service delivery and advocacy
  • Community development in Connecticut
  • Education in Connecticut communities
  • Wildlife conservation (limited)

Recent Grant Recipients

  • Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute (annual multi-million dollar grants)
  • Laurel House - Mental health provider in Stamford, Connecticut
  • Treatment Advocacy Center - National mental health advocacy organization
  • Bridges Healthcare - Behavioral health provider in New Haven, Connecticut
  • Building One Community - Stamford, Connecticut
  • St. Martin de Porres Academy - New Haven
  • Community Partners in Action - Hartford
  • Norwalk Community College
  • Wildlife Conservation Society

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus is narrowly defined around:

  • Serious mental illness research and services
  • Connecticut-based community development and education

The foundation does not appear to fund areas outside these specific interests.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Stephen Jones oversees the foundation's operations.

Family Legacy: Jonathan Stanley, son of Ted and Vada Stanley, serves on the board of directors of the Treatment Advocacy Center. He received the Anchor Achievement Award for Leadership and Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy in 2005 and has been a practicing attorney and mental health advocate. His personal experience with bipolar disorder inspired his parents' philanthropic commitment.

Philanthropic Philosophy: Ted Stanley stated about the 2014 $650 million commitment: "This represents the largest philanthropic commitment ever made to psychiatric research." The Stanleys' approach focused on making transformative investments in scientific research while supporting community-based mental health services.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Stanley Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for funding. The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations.

The foundation identifies grant recipients through:

  • Ongoing institutional relationships (primarily the Broad Institute)
  • Board and family connections to mental health organizations
  • Strategic initiatives identified by foundation leadership
  • Relationships within the Connecticut nonprofit community

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process or timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation only funds pre-selected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since the Stanley Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding their funding patterns reveals the following insights:

What Characterizes Their Grantmaking:

  1. Long-term institutional commitments: The foundation makes sustained, multi-year commitments to organizations rather than one-time grants. The relationship with the Broad Institute spans nearly two decades with cumulative gifts exceeding $860 million.

  2. Focus on scientific rigor: For research grants, the foundation prioritizes scientifically rigorous approaches to understanding and treating serious mental illness, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

  3. Personal connection to mental health advocacy: Organizations that advocate for improved treatment access and reduced stigma around serious mental illness align with the family's values, as evidenced by support for the Treatment Advocacy Center.

  4. Connecticut community ties: Smaller grants support community development, education, and mental health services in Connecticut, where the foundation was originally established.

  5. Service delivery to individuals with serious mental illness: Mental health service providers like Laurel House and Bridges Healthcare receive support for their work with individuals experiencing serious mental illness.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research conducts research on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, ADHD, and other neuropsychiatric disorders, using genetic discoveries to understand disease mechanisms and develop new treatments.
  • Community organizations in Connecticut working on education, immigrant support, and mental health services receive smaller grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant proposals. Organizations receive funding through pre-existing relationships and trustee discretion.

  • Focus is extraordinarily narrow - Nearly all funding goes to psychiatric research at the Broad Institute. Only organizations working on serious mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) or Connecticut-based community development should consider potential alignment.

  • Relationship-based grantmaking - The foundation's grantmaking reflects deep, long-term relationships rather than responsive grantmaking. The family's personal experience with mental illness drives their philanthropic priorities.

  • Scientific research prioritized - The foundation's primary commitment is to basic neuroscientific research with translational potential, not general mental health programs or services.

  • Community grants are modest - Outside of the major Broad Institute grants, community organizations receive relatively small grants ($5,000-$20,000), suggesting these are likely personal connections of the board or staff.

  • Institutional scale required - For research organizations, the foundation makes transformative institutional commitments rather than project-specific grants, requiring significant scientific infrastructure and expertise.

  • Legacy continues - Despite the deaths of founders Ted and Vada Stanley, the foundation continues their vision under Executive Director Stephen Jones, maintaining both the major research commitment and smaller community grants.

References

  1. Stanley Family Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61157888 (Accessed December 2024)

  2. Stanley Family Foundation - Candid Foundation Directory. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=STAN025 (Accessed December 2024)

  3. Stanley Family Foundation - Inside Philanthropy. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-s/stanley-family-foundation (Accessed December 2024)

  4. "$650 million commitment to Stanley Center at Broad Institute aims to galvanize mental illness research" - Broad Institute News. https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/650-million-commitment-stanley-center-broad-institute-aims-galvanize-mental-illness-research (Accessed December 2024)

  5. "$650 million commitment to Stanley Center at Broad Institute aims to galvanize mental illness research" - MIT News. https://news.mit.edu/2014/650-million-commitment-stanley-center-broad-institute-aims-galvanize-mental-illness-research (Accessed December 2024)

  6. "Ted Stanley, Funder of Scientific Research, Dies at 85" - Philanthropy News Digest. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/ted-stanley-funder-of-scientific-research-dies-at-85 (Accessed December 2024)

  7. "Entrepreneur's Gift for Mental-Health Research Points to New Possibilities for Cures" - The Chronicle of Philanthropy. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/a-bold-effort-to-study-mental-health/ (Accessed December 2024)

  8. Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research - Broad Institute. https://www.broadinstitute.org/stanley-center-for-psychiatric-research (Accessed December 2024)

  9. Stanley Family Foundation - Charity Navigator. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/061157888 (Accessed December 2024)

  10. Stanley Family Foundation - Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/stanley-family-foundation,061157888/ (Accessed December 2024)

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