Alphadyne Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $921,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $20,000 - $500,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York City, with some grants beyond NYC

Contact Details

Address: 117 State St., 30th Fl., New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 806-3726
Website: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications.

Overview

The Alphadyne Foundation was established in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis by Philippe Khuong-Huu, founder and Chief Investment Officer of Alphadyne Asset Management. This private foundation supports the performing arts and organizations that work to alleviate poverty and create economic opportunity, with a primary focus on New York City. The foundation made 16 grants totaling $921,000 in 2023, following 24 awards in 2022 and 19 awards in 2021. While early grantmaking mainly supported arts and culture organizations during the pandemic, the foundation's more recent giving has expanded to emphasize health, housing, and other services for vulnerable people. The foundation operates as a low-profile, invitation-only funder that works exclusively with preselected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed deadlines. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Grant Range: $20,000 - $500,000

Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Arts and Culture (Largest giving area)

• Small- and medium-sized performing arts organizations
• Emphasis on participatory programs with broad community appeal
• Dance, music, and multidisciplinary arts organizations
• Programs that provide community access to the arts

Economic Development and Human Services

• Organizations working to alleviate poverty
• Programs creating economic opportunity
• Housing and community development initiatives
• Food security and emergency services
• Both established and grassroots frontline organizations

Notable Past Recipients:

• Arts: Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Kaufman Music Center (formerly Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center), Brooklyn's Original Music Workshop, Arco Collaborative, Celebrity Series of Boston
• Human Services: Bronx Community Foundation, Rethink Food NYC, Henry Street Settlement, Renaissance Economic Development Corporation

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation:

• Does not accept unsolicited proposals
• Focuses primarily on NYC-based organizations (though not exclusively)
• Appears to prioritize direct service and community-engaged programs

Governance and Leadership

Philippe Khuong-Huu - Founder and steward of the Alphadyne Foundation; Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Alphadyne Asset Management. Khuong-Huu also serves as a trustee of Kaufman Music Center, demonstrating his personal commitment to arts education and community programming.

Joe Regan - CEO of Alphadyne Asset Management, associated with the foundation's establishment and philanthropic initiatives.

The foundation's board composition is not extensively documented in public records, reflecting its low-profile operational approach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Alphadyne Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than a competitive application process. Organizations are identified and vetted by foundation leadership, with grants awarded based on alignment with the foundation's priorities and the trustees' assessment of organizational impact and need.

Getting on Their Radar

Network with Past Grantees: The most effective strategy for getting noticed by the Alphadyne Foundation is to build relationships with organizations that have previously received funding. Past grantees can provide insights into the foundation's priorities and potentially facilitate introductions to foundation leadership.

Philippe Khuong-Huu's Board Service: Given that Philippe Khuong-Huu serves on the board of Kaufman Music Center, organizations that share networks or partnerships with institutions where foundation leadership is actively involved may have greater visibility.

Sector Presence: The foundation supported initiatives like Musical Storefronts (a partnership with Kaufman Music Center during the pandemic) and Vanguard Concerts (with The Violin Channel), suggesting they notice organizations responding creatively to community needs, particularly during crises.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation operates on its own timeline for identifying and supporting organizations.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 16 grants in 2023, 24 grants in 2022, and 19 grants in 2021, but the number of organizations considered is not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications. However, the foundation appears to maintain relationships with certain organizations over time, as evidenced by ongoing partnerships like the Musical Storefronts program with Kaufman Music Center.

Application Success Factors

Since the Alphadyne Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals what attracts their support:

Community Engagement and Participatory Programming: The foundation explicitly emphasizes "small- and medium-sized organizations that offer participatory programs with broad community appeal." Organizations like Brooklyn's Original Music Workshop and Musical Storefronts demonstrate this priority through hands-on, accessible programming.

Crisis Response and Adaptability: Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation supported organizations that adapted to serve communities during crisis. Examples include Rethink Food NYC (which partnered with restaurants to feed food-insecure communities) and the Musical Storefronts program (which brought live music back to NYC streets safely during the pandemic).

Size and Scale: The foundation's focus on "small- and medium-sized organizations" suggests they value funding organizations where their grants ($20,000 - $500,000) can have significant impact, rather than very large institutions.

Geographic Connection to New York City: While not exclusively NYC-focused (grants have gone to Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts and Celebrity Series of Boston), the vast majority of grants support New York City-based work, particularly in underserved communities like the Bronx.

Frontline Service Delivery: Human services grants support organizations providing direct services - food, housing, economic development - rather than advocacy or research organizations. Henry Street Settlement, Bronx Community Foundation, and Renaissance Economic Development Corporation all provide direct community services.

Intersection of Arts and Community Development: The foundation's dual focus suggests interest in organizations where arts programming serves community development goals, such as youth development, neighborhood revitalization, or economic opportunity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Direct Path to Funding: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant writing and application strategies will not work.

• Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: Building relationships with past grantees (Dance Theatre of Harlem, Kaufman Music Center, Henry Street Settlement, etc.) is the most viable path to getting on their radar.

• Small-to-Medium Organizations in NYC: If your organization is based in New York City, serves communities in need, and operates at a small-to-medium scale with participatory programming, you fit their typical grantee profile.

• Crisis Response Matters: The foundation was born from pandemic response and has funded organizations demonstrating innovation and adaptability during challenging times.

• Dual Mission: Organizations working at the intersection of arts/culture and community development may be particularly aligned with the foundation's evolving priorities, which have expanded from arts-only to include human services.

• Grant Size Expectation: Grants range from $20,000 to $500,000, with $921,000 distributed across 16 grants in 2023, suggesting an average grant size of approximately $57,500.

• Consider Alternative Funders: Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, grant writers should prioritize funders with public application processes while keeping Alphadyne Foundation on their radar for potential future opportunities through networking.

References

• Inside Philanthropy: Alphadyne Foundation Profile. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-a/alphadyne-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• Grantmakers.io: Alphadyne Foundation Profile (EIN 85-1674725). https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/851674725-alphadyne-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Instrumentl: The Alphadyne Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/alphadyne-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Alphadyne Foundation (EIN 85-1674725). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/851674725 (Accessed January 2026)

• Kaufman Music Center: "Kaufman Music Center Welcomes New Trustees Evelyn Erskine and Philippe Khuong-Huu." https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/erskine-huu/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Dance Theatre of Harlem: Supporters page listing Alphadyne Foundation. https://www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/supporters/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Broadway World: "The Violin Channel and Alphadyne Foundation to Launch Virtual Vanguard Concerts" (February 10, 2021). https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwclassical/article/The-Violin-Channel-and-Alphadyne-Foundation-to-Launch-Virtual-Vanguard-Concerts-20210210 (Accessed January 2026)