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Four Friends Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $553,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $60,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.)
  • Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Website: https://fourfriendsfoundation.org/
Email: info@fourfriendsfoundation.org
Location: Albany, NY
EIN: 95-4292739

Overview

Founded by Bob Shaye, creator of New Line Cinema, the Four Friends Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1990. Named after the four members of Shaye's nuclear family, the foundation manages approximately $38.2 million in total assets. In 2023, the foundation distributed $553,000 through 22 grants, with a median grant of $23,000. The foundation's mission is to "energize young people and communities through creativity, storytelling and artistic expression." The foundation believes creativity unlocks potential and good ideas can come from everywhere. Through its flagship 4Youth grant program, Four Friends has carved out a unique niche by investing in communications capacity building for arts-based youth development organizations, recognizing that 77% of nonprofit leaders cite communications as a major organizational challenge. The foundation expects to award $2 million in 2025 to support organizations creating opportunities for young people from under-resourced communities through the arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

4Youth Grant Program: The foundation's flagship program provides strategic storytelling and communications capacity building support, including:

  • Strategic Storytelling Grants: Supporting video and film production with clear dissemination strategy, branding and messaging strategy with corresponding collateral, and website redesigns for enhanced functionality and outreach
  • General Operating Support: Flexible funding provided alongside strategic storytelling dollars
  • Consulting Support: Technical assistance and strategic guidance for communications projects

Grant amounts in 2023 ranged from $5,000 to $60,000, with a median of $23,000.

Priority Areas

The foundation specifically supports:

  • Creative youth development organizations providing trajectory-changing opportunities through the arts
  • Arts-based programs serving young people from under-resourced communities
  • Communications capacity building for small to medium-sized arts nonprofits
  • Results-driven storytelling platforms that catalyze stakeholders and mobilize support
  • Organizations that nurture, inspire, and activate young creators through artistic expression

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside the arts and creative youth development space
  • Capital campaigns or building projects
  • General nonprofits without a creative arts focus
  • Programs not serving youth populations

Governance and Leadership

Founder: Bob Shaye, founder of New Line Cinema, established the foundation to continue his legacy of supporting storytelling and creative opportunities through strategic nonprofit partnerships.

Program Manager: Alicia Hwang oversees the foundation's grant programs and partnership relationships.

The foundation operates with a small staff of 2 employees, maintaining close relationships with its grantee partners.

Bob Shaye's background in the film industry and his success launching New Line Cinema from his New York apartment in the late 1960s informs the foundation's emphasis on the power of storytelling and creative expression to transform lives and communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Four Friends Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. According to their official communications: "Grant opportunities are determined through an invitation-only process. We cannot accept unsolicited proposals."

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications or letters of inquiry. All grantees are selected through the foundation's internal identification and vetting process.

Getting on Their Radar

The Four Friends Foundation identifies potential grantees through their own research and networks within the arts-based youth development sector. While they do not accept unsolicited proposals, organizations can:

  • Ensure their organization is visible in the arts-based youth development sector through participation in national convenings and networks
  • Maintain a strong online presence showcasing their work with young creators through artistic expression
  • Be active in communications about their programs' impact, as the foundation specifically seeks organizations that would benefit from enhanced storytelling capacity
  • Build relationships within the arts education and creative youth development ecosystem, as the foundation may identify potential partners through sector referrals

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed due to invitation-only process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. In 2023, the foundation made 22 grants from an undisclosed number of organizations considered through their invitation process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than accepting applications.

Application Success Factors

Since Four Friends Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, understanding their selection criteria is based on analysis of their funded partners and stated priorities:

Organizations They Select:

  • Arts-based youth development focus: All funded partners provide creative and artistic opportunities for young people. Examples include InsideOut Literary Arts (youth writing program in Detroit), Willie Mae Rock Camp, National Dance Institute, Urban Arts, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and Zeno Mountain Farm (accessible camps supporting people with disabilities through creative programming).

Communications Capacity Need: The foundation specifically targets organizations where enhanced storytelling would create "a ripple effect of opportunity for their organizations, students and communities." They recognize that communications funding is often a low priority for nonprofits despite being crucial for growth.

Serving Under-Resourced Communities: Funded partners work with young people from communities that lack access to trajectory-changing artistic opportunities.

Readiness for Strategic Storytelling: Selected organizations are positioned to benefit from significant communications investment, whether through video production, branding strategy, or website redesigns.

Alignment with Foundation Values: The foundation believes "creativity unlocks potential and good ideas can come from everywhere," seeking partners who share this philosophy and demonstrate it through their programming.

Example of Foundation Impact: With initial seed funding from Bob Shaye and Four Friends Foundation, InsideOut Literary Arts was able to launch their youth writing program, which later won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award—demonstrating the foundation's ability to identify high-potential organizations early.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder - You cannot submit an unsolicited application, but maintaining visibility in the arts-based youth development sector may position your organization for consideration
  • Unique communications focus - Four Friends fills a gap by funding storytelling and communications capacity building, not just programs
  • Flexible funding philosophy - They provide both restricted strategic storytelling grants and general operating support, recognizing the importance of flexible dollars
  • Film industry perspective - Founded by a Hollywood executive, the foundation brings deep expertise in storytelling and understands the power of narrative to drive impact
  • Long-term partnership approach - With only 22 grants annually from $38 million in assets, they appear to maintain sustained relationships with carefully selected partners
  • Look for trajectory-changing potential - They're interested in organizations where enhanced communications capacity could create exponential impact for the organization and communities served
  • Expected growth - The foundation plans to distribute $2 million in 2025, suggesting significant expansion of their grantmaking

References

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