Foundations, Source of Needed Funds for Education
by Dorothy Davis
New York City abounds in foundations. However, many of them do not accept unsolicited applications for grants. Here are four that do:
Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, Inc., 271 Madison Avenue, Suite 606, New York, NY 10016 www.gimbelfoundation.org
The Gimbel Foundation, incorporated in 1943, accepts proposals in the areas of education, social welfare, and reproductive rights. They look for new solutions to existing problems, model programs, and projects that involve participants over the long term. They support organizations working for public school reform; programs that seek to increase teacher recruitment and parental involvement and programs that promote the core curriculum (language arts, social studies and sciences) working closely with teachers.
In 2003 they awarded $3,587,650 in grants, $850,000 in Education. Among the educational organizations supported were Advocates for Children, Child Care and Early Education Fund, East Harlem Tutorial Program, Literacy, Inc. and Teach for America, New York.
Toyota USA Foundation, 9 West 57th Street, Suite 4900, New York, NY 10019 www.toyota.com/foundation
Toyota feels that helping people improve the quality of life in their communities is an essential corporate responsibility. Education is its primary focus. For over ten years the Toyota USA Foundation has been working with charitable organizations to fund K-12 educational programs, especially in the areas of mathematics and science, but also addressing family literacy and environmental education. Currently they are providing $1.9 million to support innovative math and science projects.
Some of their national programs include "Toyota Youth for Understanding Summer Exchange Scholarship Program"; "Toyota International Teacher Program", a Japan study-abroad program for U.S. teachers; and grants for math and science teachers.
Some of the educational organizations receiving support are The Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University for the development, testing and national distribution of a mathematics software package, O'Neill Sea Odyssey to develop an ocean-based science and environmental education stewardship program for elementary students, Guggenheim's Learning Through Art Program, New York.
K-12 public and private schools may not directly apply for a grant, but may be the recipient of an independent nonprofit organization's funding request.
The Achelis and Bodman Foundations, 767 Third Avenue, Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10017-2023 www.foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/achelis-bodman
Although the officers, trustees, staff, guidelines and contact information are the same for The Achelis Foundation (founded in 1940) and The Bodman Foundation (founded in 1945) they are independent and legally separate. For convenience, applicants may send one proposal to "The Achelis and Bodman Foundations".
A major focus of these foundations has been K-12 school reform.
From 1994-June 2002 they have made over $8,000,000 in educational grants for a variety of purposes including research, publications, adult literacy, parent programs, curriculum development, private and Catholic school scholarships.#
