Anahata Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $7,526,200 (2023)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies significantly - Average grant: $301,048
Geographic Focus: National (United States)
Assets: $135.7 million
Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

EIN: 826893685
Location: Chicago, IL
Website: www.anahatafund.com (currently unavailable)

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Anahata Foundation was established in 2020 by Mark T. Bertolini, former Chairman and CEO of Aetna and current CEO of Oscar Health, along with his wife Mari. The name "Anahata" refers to the heart chakra in yoga, reflecting the foundation's holistic approach to philanthropy. With assets of $135.7 million, the foundation has awarded 97 individual grants totaling $20,430,917 since its inception. According to Bertolini, he and his wife put "the vast majority of our proceeds into Anahata to do community sustainability, education and environment." The foundation's strategic focus centers on empowering youth through comprehensive support across educational, creative, and athletic domains.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Anahata Foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than structured grant programs with fixed application cycles. Recent grant activity shows:

2023: 25 grants totaling $7,526,200
2022: 32 grants
2021: 37 grants
Average Grant Size: $301,048
Known Recent Awards: Common Threads ($220,000 over two years)

Priority Areas

The foundation's mission is to provide support, resources and tools for youth to facilitate participation in programs conducive to their future success. This encompasses three core areas:

Educational Learning - Supporting youth access to educational programs and opportunities that build knowledge and skills
Creative Outlets - Facilitating participation in arts and creative expression programs
Athletic Programs - Enabling youth involvement in sports, outdoor adventures, and physical wellness activities

Additional Focus Areas:

Community sustainability
Environmental initiatives
Health and wellness, particularly "Food as Medicine" initiatives
Programs addressing systemic inequities in underserved communities
Holistic health and healing approaches

Geographic Scope: The foundation has funded projects across the United States, including major urban centers like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Austin, as well as smaller communities such as Blue Hill and Cold Spring. Grant recipients span multiple states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, and New York.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the foundation's clear focus on youth development programs suggests that projects outside this demographic or mission area would not align with their priorities.

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees:

Mark T. Bertolini - Founder, former Chairman and CEO of Aetna, current CEO of Oscar Health. Bertolini is a recognized leader in healthcare transformation and has been vocal about addressing systemic inequities in health and wellness.
Linda Mari Arnaud (Mari Bertolini) - Co-founder and co-trustee

Leadership Philosophy: Mark Bertolini has stated that partnering with organizations like Common Threads "aligns perfectly with the Anahata Foundation's mission of holistic health and healing." This reflects the foundation's commitment to initiatives that empower individuals to lead healthier lives and address systemic barriers to youth development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Anahata Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only foundation, decision timelines are determined by the trustees' discretion rather than structured review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the foundation's invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Since the Anahata Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their funded partnerships reveals key characteristics:

Organizations They Support:

First Descents - Provides outdoor adventure programs for young adults (ages 18-39) impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions
Common Threads - National nonprofit focused on health and wellness through cooking and nutrition education, particularly the "Food as Medicine" movement in underserved communities in Los Angeles and New York City

Common Themes in Funded Work:

Programs that directly serve youth with measurable outcomes
Initiatives addressing health equity and systemic barriers
Holistic approaches to youth development (physical, emotional, educational)
Organizations with established track records and clear impact metrics
Programs that align with themes of community sustainability, education, and environment

Founder's Stated Values: Mark Bertolini has "long championed initiatives that address systemic inequities and empower individuals to lead healthier lives," suggesting the foundation values transformative programs with social justice components.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation Only: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - outreach and relationship building would need to occur outside formal grant processes
Youth-Centric Mission: All funding appears directed toward programs that benefit youth through education, creative outlets, or athletics
Holistic Health Focus: Recent partnerships emphasize comprehensive wellness approaches, including "Food as Medicine" initiatives and outdoor therapeutic programs
Significant Grant Sizes: With an average grant of over $300,000, the foundation makes substantial investments in selected partners
National Reach: Despite being Chicago-based, the foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and communities
Values-Driven Leadership: Founded by healthcare transformation leader Mark Bertolini, the foundation prioritizes addressing systemic inequities and creating generational health impacts
Multi-Year Commitments: Recent examples show willingness to make multi-year grant commitments (e.g., two-year grant to Common Threads)

References

Research conducted December 25, 2025