Granting Criteria

Within its broad focus on mental health, the Foundation is interested in encouraging and attracting innovative and practical programs in areas which:

1. increase the accessibility of the poor and needy to mental-health services;

2. offer preventive and early-intervention strategies;

3. advocate for systemic change with national impact.

The Foundation is not active in programs for mental retardation or physical disabilities. Grants are not made for endowments, capital projects, annual fund-raising drives or in support of international activities and institutions. No grants in direct support of individuals are made by the Foundation under any circumstances.

Decisions on grants are made by the Board of Directors of the Foundation, which meets three times each year to consider grant proposals— in March, June, and November. For the March meeting, proposals must be received by December first; for the June meeting, by April first; and for the November meeting, by July first. In 2010, the Foundation will generally be awarding single-year grants in the range of $10,000 to $50,000 in metropolitan New York and Philadelphia.

Grantees are expected to submit a final summary report of progress with evaluation results and a financial accounting, and are asked to wait at least one year after the final report is in before re-applying for support.