Our Mission
UPCOMING DEADLINES
For the remainder of 2020, the van Ameringen Foundation is broadening its scope to include food relief and other COVID-19 emergency response work, in addition to our regular grantmaking.
For the November 2020 grants cycle, we are suspending the open LOI process to prioritize new grant proposals benefitting communities and neighborhoods hardest hit by the Coronavirus pandemic in New York City and Philadelphia.
In mid-March—a time that feels like ages ago, in a world much different than now—the van Ameringen Foundation (“vAF”) expressed its gratitude for the grantees we support, and all they have done to help vulnerable people survive these difficult times. In the months since the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent shut-down, the Foundation’s grantees have performed heroically, and we continue to deeply admire how organization after organization has continued to work with grace and competence under trying conditions.
In response to these unprecedented times and the many emergency needs that have come our way, the Foundation has suspended its open LOI process for this Fall (November) 2020 Cycle.
In the last three years, vAF has given larger grants for longer durations and has had a greater focus on supporting mental health advocacy work. Unfortunately for our 2020 potential new grantees, the trailing impact of granting larger, longer awards led to prior-year commitment payouts that had the effect of dramatically reducing the vAF 2020 New Grants budget.
Next, the vAF Board moved quickly to increase grant dollars for emergency needs. The Board made large grants and bridge loans to the COVID-19 emergency response funds in New York City and Philadelphia, as well as to organizations delivering food relief and other basic survival needs in both cities.
Mental health needs will remain a central focus of our grantmaking going forward. However, this extraordinary year has led the Board to be more flexible to meet the heightened needs in the wake of the pandemic. The Foundation’s grantmaking focus for the rest of 2020 will be crisis-related basic needs support and advocacy efforts to ensure racial equity and the protection of those most at risk of COVID-19.
Please continue to visit our Apply for a Grant page for updates about our 2021 grantmaking plans.
With tremendous concern and caring,
Ken Kind, President
Hugh Hogan, Executive Director
On behalf of the van Ameringen Foundation Board of Directors and Staff
The van Ameringen Foundation funds innovative and practical programs for early intervention, advocacy and increased accessibility of mental health services for people and communities with limited financial means and opportunities.