Initial Inquiry
Nonprofit organizations based in New York City and northern New Jersey that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and fall within the program areas of the Foundation are welcome to submit an inquiry letter by email: application@achelisbodman.org.
Please do not send full proposals unless requested or mail application materials to the Foundation’s office.
An initial inquiry to The Achelis and Bodman Foundation should include only the following items:
- An inquiry letter that briefly summarizes the history of the project, need, objectives, time period, key staff, project budget, and evaluation plan. Please provide this information on your letterhead and include all contact information for your organization and the individual making the request.
- Latest annual report.
- Latest complete audited financial statements.
- IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exemption letter.
Program Interests
The Foundation concentrates its grant programs in New York City and northern New Jersey. Funding is spread over six program areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Employment, Health, Public Policy, and Youth and Families. A clearer idea of the types of grants made in each of these areas can be found in Program Areas and in the list of Recent Grants.
Declined Categories
The Foundation generally does not make grants for the following purposes or program areas:
- Nonprofit organizations outside of New York and New Jersey
- Annual appeals, dinner functions, and fundraising events
- Endowments and capital campaigns
- Loans and deficit financing
- Direct grants to individuals
- Individual day-care and after-school programs
- Housing
- Organizations or projects based outside the U.S.
- Small art, dance, music, and theater groups
- Public K-12 schools (except charter schools)
- National health and mental health organizations
- Government agencies or nonprofit organizations significantly funded or reimbursed by government agencies
Proposal Processing
There are no deadlines and applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Each request is reviewed by staff and will receive a response once a decision has been made.
Those requests deemed consistent with the interests and resources of the Foundation will be evaluated further and more information will be requested. Staff may request a site visit, conference call, or meeting. All grants are reviewed and approved by the Trustees at one of their three board meetings in May, September, or December.
Because of the high number of applications and the small size of our staff, we cannot meet with every grantseeker and we can only fund a small number of the many worthwhile proposals received.
Our limited resources prevent us from funding the same organization on an ongoing annual basis.