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Alzheimer's Foundation of America Inc

Annual Giving
$17.0M
Grant Range
$6K - $0.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $16,996,010 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant program
  • Grant Range: $6,000 - $25,000 (member organization grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Nationwide (United States, all 50 states)

Contact Details

Website: https://alzfdn.org

Phone: 866-232-8484 (National Toll-Free Helpline, staffed by licensed social workers, seven days a week)

Email:

Mailing Address: Alzheimer's Foundation of America 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY 10001

Overview

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) was founded in 2002 by Bert E. Brodsky after caring for his mother Anne, who lived with Alzheimer's disease from 1980-92. AFA's mission is to provide support, services, and education to individuals, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias nationwide, and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. With 2023 revenue of nearly $17 million, AFA maintains Charity Navigator's highest rating of four stars, with 84% of funds going directly to programs and services. The organization has grown significantly under President & CEO Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (appointed 2014), now uniting more than 2,000 member organizations across all 50 states. AFA's network includes grassroots Alzheimer's agencies, senior centers, adult daycare centers, home healthcare agencies, long-term care residences, research facilities, and other dementia-related groups.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Anne & Irving Brodsky Innovation Grant

  • Amount: $25,000 annually
  • Eligibility: AFA nonprofit member organizations only
  • Purpose: Fund innovative programs improving lives of individuals with Alzheimer's/related illnesses and families
  • Application: Electronic submission via email
  • Deadline: September 19 annually, 5 pm ET
  • Notification: Winner contacted by phone; funded program must be implemented within 6 months

Bi-Annual Grant

  • Amount: $6,000 per grant
  • Frequency: Awarded twice yearly (Spring and Fall)
  • Purpose: Support programs and services aligned with AFA's mission
  • Deadlines: February 21 (Spring, 5 pm ET) and August 22 (Fall, 5 pm ET)
  • Application: Electronic submission to grants@alzfdn.org

Milton & Phyllis Berg Respite Care Grant

  • Amount: $6,000 per grant
  • Frequency: Awarded twice yearly
  • Purpose: Provide respite care scholarships to families in need, offering social engagement for individuals with Alzheimer's and caregivers "much-needed time-out"
  • Deadlines: June 13 (Spring, 5 pm ET) and November 7 (Fall, 5 pm ET)
  • Background: Granted in memory of Barry E. Berg's parents (Phyllis had Alzheimer's; Milton was her devoted caregiver)

Project Lifesaver International Grant

  • Amount: $6,000 per grant
  • Frequency: Awarded twice yearly
  • Eligibility: Public safety agencies that are members of both AFA and Project Lifesaver International (PLI) in good standing
  • Purpose: Fund wandering prevention programs and public safety initiatives protecting individuals with dementia-related illnesses
  • Deadlines: July 11 (Spring, 5 pm ET) and November 14 (Fall, 5 pm ET)
  • Application: Electronic submission to grants@alzfdn.org

Research Grants

  • AFA also awards research grants to institutions, including recent awards of $250,000 to City College of New York and $100,000 to NYU Winthrop Hospital for Alzheimer's research projects

Priority Areas

  • Programs and services for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
  • Caregiver support and education
  • Respite care services
  • Wandering prevention and public safety initiatives
  • Innovative approaches to care and support
  • Research toward better treatment and a cure
  • Community-based dementia services

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations that are not AFA members (all grant programs require AFA membership)
  • Organizations that received an AFA grant in the previous cycle must wait one calendar year before reapplying for that same grant
  • Individual applications (except respite care grants, which individuals can apply for through AFA member organizations)

Governance and Leadership

Founder & Board Chair: Bert E. Brodsky

  • Founded AFA in 2002 after caring for his mother with Alzheimer's
  • "It took years for me to realize the scope of what was happening and how to deal with it. There was nowhere to turn with questions, no resources for support and very little regard for how the disease affects not just the individual, but their family as well."

President & CEO: Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.

  • Appointed in 2014
  • Transformed AFA into a national leader in dementia care
  • Expanded programs, strengthened services, and increased revenue
  • Launched innovative initiatives including Virtual Helpline Assistant and National Memory Screening Program
  • "Every dollar invested in Alzheimer's research is an investment in hope"
  • Advocates that Alzheimer's disease should be declared a national epidemic, noting it costs the nation $290 billion annually to care for those with Alzheimer's and related dementia

Board of Directors:

  • Barry E. Berg, CPA (Founding board member and treasurer since 2002)
  • Steve Israel (Former Congressman, 2001-2017; joined board 2017)
  • Arthur Laitman, Esq. (Lawyer)
  • Edward D. Miller (Former AXA Financial CEO)
  • Gerald Angowitz, Esq. (Managing Director at Lloyd Staffing)
  • Luisa Echevarria (Former Univision Communications Director; joined 2012)
  • Lee J. Brodsky (CEO of BEB Capital)
  • Nathan Halegua (Real Estate Professional; joined 2021)
  • Stuart Rabinowitz, Esq. (Former Hofstra University President)
  • Stephanie Lang (Director of Development)

Associate Board Members:

  • Matthew F. Didora, Esq.
  • Judi Marcus (Studio Manager, Former Social Worker)

The board is united by personal experiences with Alzheimer's and a commitment to supporting families affected by the disease.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Membership Requirement: All grant programs require AFA membership. Organizations must first become AFA members before applying for grants.

Membership Options:

  • AFA Non-Profit Member: $300 annual fee (501c(3) organizations)
  • AFA For-Profit Member: $500 annual fee
  • Individual Membership: $50 annual fee (caregivers and professionals)
  • Membership cycles: September 1 - August 31 annually
  • Application: Download application from alzfdn.org/membership/ or contact membership@alzfdn.org or 866-232-8484

Grant Application Process:

  • All grant applications must be submitted electronically via email to grants@alzfdn.org
  • Applications are available for download on the AFA website at alzfdn.org/find-a-member/grant-information/
  • Competitive application process
  • Organizations can call 866-232-8484 with questions

Specific Grant Deadlines:

  • Innovation Grant: September 19 (5 pm ET)
  • Bi-Annual Grant: February 21 (Spring, 5 pm ET) and August 22 (Fall, 5 pm ET)
  • Respite Care Grant: June 13 (Spring, 5 pm ET) and November 7 (Fall, 5 pm ET)
  • Project Lifesaver Grant: July 11 (Spring, 5 pm ET) and November 14 (Fall, 5 pm ET)

Decision Timeline

  • Innovation Grant: Winner contacted by phone; denied applicants receive letter by mail. Funded program must be implemented within 6 months of receiving grant
  • Other Grants: Specific timelines not publicly disclosed; AFA staff reviews proposals and contacts awarded organizations directly

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have been awarded an AFA grant in the previous cycle must wait one calendar year before applying again for that particular grant.

Application Success Factors

Innovation Grant Evaluation Criteria (scored 1-5 each, maximum 25 points total):

  1. Community Need: Explain local dementia demographics and resource availability
  2. Program Requirements: Confirm participant diagnosis and financial need
  3. Other Funding: Identify additional funding sources and partners
  4. Organization Strength: Demonstrate respite care service effectiveness
  5. Program Budget: Show efficient fund allocation and client service

Key Success Factors:

  • Demonstrate Innovation: The Innovation Grant specifically seeks creative and unique approaches to care and support
  • Show Community Need: Clearly articulate the demographics of your community and gaps in available resources
  • Highlight Organizational Capacity: Demonstrate your organization's track record of effective service delivery
  • Leverage Partnerships: Identify additional funding sources and collaborative partners
  • Budget Efficiently: Show how grant funds will be allocated efficiently to serve clients
  • Align with AFA Mission: Programs should clearly support, educate, or provide services to individuals, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
  • Address Evaluation Criteria Thoroughly: Proposals are evaluated based on specific criteria, so address each point comprehensively

Recent Grant Recipients (examples):

  • City College of New York: $250,000 research grant for identifying APP's role in brain health and Alzheimer's disease using C. elegans model
  • NYU Winthrop Hospital: $100,000 research grant for gathering blood samples and reengineering cells to behave like brain neurons to uncover underlying causes and develop new treatments
  • Music therapy programs (supported through Bi-Annual Grant)
  • Wandering prevention programs for public safety agencies through Project Lifesaver

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Membership is mandatory: You must be an AFA member organization before applying for any grants. Budget $300 (nonprofit) or $500 (for-profit) for annual membership
  • Plan for the year-long waiting period: If you receive a grant, you cannot reapply for that same grant for one calendar year
  • Emphasize innovation and creativity: Particularly for the $25,000 Innovation Grant, demonstrate unique approaches to dementia care
  • Demonstrate community need: Use local demographics and data to show gaps in services and resources
  • Highlight caregiver impact: AFA prioritizes programs that provide "much-needed time-out" for caregivers while supporting individuals with dementia
  • Show efficient resource use: With 84% of AFA's funds going to programs, they value efficiency and direct service delivery
  • Submit electronically by deadline: All applications are submitted via email to grants@alzfdn.org; late submissions are not accepted
  • Consider multiple grant opportunities: With four different grant programs throughout the year, strategic organizations can apply for different grants at different times

References

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