The Achelis & Bodman Foundation

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 or proposal letter by regular mail. (Please do not send CDs, DVDs, computer discs, video tapes, or proposals unless requested.)

An initial inquiry to The Achelis and Bodman Foundation should include only the following items:

1. A proposal letter that briefly summarizes the history of the project, need, objectives, time period, key staff, project budget, and evaluation plan.
2. Latest annual report.
3. Latest complete audited financial statements.
4. 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
• Individual 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

The inquiry or proposal letter can be sent to:

John B. Krieger
Executive Director
The Achelis and Bodman Foundation
767 Third Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10017-2023

There are no deadlines and applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Each request is reviewed by staff and will usually receive a written response within thirty days.

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.