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Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$123.7M
Grant Range
$5K - $116.2M

Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $123.7 million (2023); $130+ million (2024)
  • Total Giving Since 2001: $1.3+ billion
  • Grants Awarded in 2023: 144 grants
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $9,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Connecticut and New York City area (priority), with expanding national reach
  • Application Method: No public application process (invitation only)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.steveandalex.org

Press Inquiries: [email protected]

Mailing Address: Stamford, CT

Social Media: Follow @cohengive on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Vimeo

Overview

Founded in 2001 by Steven A. Cohen (Chairman and CEO of Point72) and Alexandra M. Cohen, the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation has emerged as one of the most significant private foundations in the United States, distributing over $1.3 billion across 3,015 grants to 902 organizations since inception. The foundation focuses on organizations that "help people in need or solve complex problems," with particular emphasis on underserved communities, children's health and education, the arts, environmental sustainability, and medical research. Alexandra Cohen serves as President and directs the foundation's strategic priorities, which have been significantly shaped by her personal experiences, including her battle with Lyme disease. The foundation was recognized by Inside Philanthropy, which named Alexandra Cohen one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Underserved Communities ($74.3M in 2023)

  • Mental health and behavioral health services
  • Food security and hunger relief
  • Emergency medical services
  • Support for victims of domestic violence and disaster
  • Health and social services for vulnerable populations
  • Grant range: $5,000 - $35,200,000

Children ($22.1M in 2023)

  • Pediatric healthcare facilities and services
  • Educational institutions and workforce development
  • Special needs and medical care for children
  • Youth development organizations
  • Grant range: Typically $25,000 - $116,200,000 (LaGuardia Community College received record $116.2M in 2024)

Lyme & Tickborne Disease Research ($9.9M in 2023, $107M+ total)

  • Ticks Suck® initiative - largest private funder of Lyme disease research in the country
  • Diagnostic development (LymeX Diagnostics Prize Competition)
  • Prevention, treatment, and vaccine research
  • Research infrastructure and awareness campaigns
  • Chronic illness research

Psychedelics Research ($15.5M in 2023)

  • Clinical trials for psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy
  • PTSD treatment research
  • Cancer-related anxiety research
  • Support for Johns Hopkins' Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research

The Arts ($6.5M in 2023)

  • Arts education programs
  • Artist empowerment initiatives
  • Museums and galleries

Sustainability ($421K in 2023)

  • Environmental preservation
  • Food equity initiatives
  • Climate-related programs

Special Initiatives

  • Awareness Date Giving: Grants aligned with observances including Pride Month, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Thanksgiving, and various health awareness campaigns
  • Giving Tour: Foundation visits nonprofits across all 50 states
  • #LoveTheGive: Random acts of kindness initiative

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds:

  • Mental and behavioral health services, especially for children and adolescents
  • Healthcare infrastructure and medical research
  • Community organizations serving marginalized populations (working poor, seriously ill, disaster victims)
  • Workforce development and career training
  • Food security and hunger relief
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Arts and cultural institutions
  • Medical research with focus on Lyme disease and psychedelics

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation:

  • Does not make grants to individuals
  • Only partners with U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • Does not accept direct mail solicitations

Governance and Leadership

Alexandra M. Cohen – President and Secretary Born in Harlem and raised in Washington Heights, New York, Alexandra studied communications at Manhattan College and worked in the financial industry before co-founding the foundation with her husband Steven in 1992/2001. She directs the foundation's giving strategy and has been personally inspired by her own experience with Lyme disease to champion tickborne illness research. She also serves as President of the Amazin' Mets Foundation (created after she and Steven purchased the New York Mets in 2020) and sits on the Bob Woodruff Foundation Honorary Leadership Council. Alexandra states: "Our giving has always been inspired by our personal connections and own lived experiences."

Steven A. Cohen – Co-Founder Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Point72, a global registered investment advisor. He holds active leadership roles in numerous nonprofit organizations.

Jeanne Melino – Executive Director

Bennett Nemser, PhD – Chief Program Officer

Additional Staff: The foundation employs a team of 12 professionals including senior grants managers, program officers, finance and operations staff, and communications personnel.

Employee Engagement: Point72 employees logged 998+ volunteer hours supporting foundation-affiliated organizations in 2023.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation operates through a proactive grantmaking approach, meaning they identify and approach organizations directly rather than accepting unsolicited grant proposals or letters of inquiry. They explicitly state: "Currently, we do not accept any unsolicited grant proposals."

How Grants Are Awarded: The foundation's leadership team identifies organizations that align with their strategic priorities through research, site visits (including their national Giving Tour), personal connections, and the lived experiences of the founders. Alexandra Cohen has emphasized that "our giving has always been inspired by our personal connections and own lived experiences."

Eligibility: Organizations must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.

No Direct Mail: As part of their sustainability initiative, the foundation does not accept direct mail solicitations.

Getting on Their Radar

National Giving Tour: The foundation conducts a Giving Tour, visiting nonprofits across all 50 states and territories (31+ visited as of 2023). This represents a concrete opportunity for organizations to potentially connect with foundation staff when they visit your region.

Social Media Engagement: The foundation maintains active social media presence (@cohengive on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Vimeo) and encourages organizations to follow their accounts. This allows organizations to stay informed about the foundation's priorities and activities.

Geographic Proximity: Organizations in Connecticut (especially Fairfield County) and the New York City metro area (five boroughs and Westchester County) receive priority consideration. For certain grant programs, activities must be conducted in these specific locations.

Press Inquiries: Organizations can reach out to [email protected] for appropriate communications, though this should not be used for grant solicitation.

Awareness Date Campaigns: The foundation makes grants aligned with specific observance dates (Pride Month, Women's History Month, Black History Month, etc.). Organizations working in these areas during relevant awareness periods may increase their visibility.

Decision Timeline

No specific timeline is publicly documented since the foundation operates through proactive identification rather than application cycles. Based on the foundation's 2023 activity:

  • 144 grants were awarded in 2023
  • 188 grant disbursements were made (including multi-year commitments from prior years)
  • The foundation makes over 100 grants annually

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Since organizations cannot apply directly, reapplication policies are not relevant. The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with grantees and may provide multi-year support to organizations aligned with their mission.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, "success" means being identified and approached by the foundation. Based on their documented giving patterns and leadership statements:

Alignment with Personal Experience: Alexandra Cohen has explicitly stated that "our giving has always been inspired by our personal connections and own lived experiences." Organizations working in areas connected to the founders' personal journeys—particularly Lyme disease research, mental health, and serving underserved communities—receive significant support.

Geographic Considerations: While the foundation has expanded nationally, Connecticut and the greater New York City area remain top priorities. Organizations in Fairfield County, CT, and the five boroughs of NYC, plus Westchester County, NY, have received substantial support.

Scale and Impact Potential: Recent grants demonstrate the foundation's willingness to make transformational gifts. Examples include:

  • $116.2 million to LaGuardia Community College for the Cohen Career Collective (2024)
  • $35.2 million to NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester for pediatric behavioral health
  • $10 million to Hackensack Meridian Health for adolescent behavioral health services

Organizations of All Sizes: The foundation explicitly states they support "organizations of all sizes" with grants ranging from $5,000 to over $100 million. Small and mid-sized organizations should not assume they're too small to be considered.

Focus on Infrastructure and Long-term Solutions: Rather than just funding programs, recent major grants focus on building facilities and creating sustainable infrastructure (career training centers, healthcare facilities, research centers).

Awareness and Visibility: Organizations working during awareness months/campaigns relevant to the foundation's priorities (mental health awareness, tick-borne illness awareness, LGBTQ+ Pride, etc.) have received funding. Recent examples include grants during Women's History Month to Girl Scouts of Greater New York, GlamourGals Foundation, and Yes She Can Inc.

Research and Innovation: The foundation supports groundbreaking research, particularly through competitions like the LymeX Diagnostics Prize ($2M prize pool) and support for clinical trials. Organizations at the forefront of medical innovation, especially in Lyme disease and psychedelics research, align with their priorities.

Community-Based Solutions: Examples from their Giving Tour and awareness date giving show support for grassroots organizations addressing local needs, such as food banks, emergency services, and community health centers.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot apply directly - This foundation only considers organizations they identify and approach through their proactive research and outreach. Focus on visibility and excellence in your field rather than application strategies.

  • Geographic proximity matters significantly - Organizations in Fairfield County, CT, and the NYC metro area (five boroughs plus Westchester) receive priority. Being in these areas substantially increases likelihood of being discovered.

  • Personal connection and lived experience drive funding decisions - Alexandra Cohen's battle with Lyme disease led to $107M+ in tickborne illness research. Understanding the founders' personal interests and experiences may indicate future priorities.

  • Think big when dreaming about potential support - Recent grants range from $5,000 to $116.2 million. The foundation makes transformational investments in organizations and projects that align with their mission, not just modest program grants.

  • Social media presence creates visibility - Following @cohengive and engaging with their content keeps your organization aware of their priorities and potentially increases visibility when they highlight similar organizations.

  • National Giving Tour is a concrete opportunity - When the foundation announces visits to your state or region as part of their tour, ensure your organization has strong visibility in local philanthropic networks.

  • Multi-year relationships are possible - The foundation made 188 disbursements in 2023 against 144 grants awarded, indicating ongoing multi-year support for aligned partners. Being discovered once can lead to sustained partnership.

References

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