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  1. About
    1. Founder's Statement & History
    2. E-Mail Notifications
    3. Grant Eligibility Criteria
      1. MA Map
      2. NY Map
  2. What We Fund
    1. Grant Eligibility Criteria
    2. Mental Health
      1. Annual Mental Health Grant Guidelines
      2. RWJF - Local Funding Partnerships Request for Proposals
    3. Intellectual Disabilities
      1. Annual Intellectual Disabilities Grant Guidelines
    4. Organizational Capacity-Building
      1. Organizational Scholarships
        1. Scholarship Recipients
      2. Technology Initiative Request for Proposals (RFP)
        1. Phase I
        2. Phase II
    5. Substance Abuse
    6. Learning Disabilities
  3. Grant Recipients
  4. FAQs
    1. Glossary of Terms
    2. Grant Eligibility Criteria
  5. E-mail Notifications
  6. Contact Us

Welcome > About

About Us

The Tower Foundation has adopted strategic grantmaking, the focused attempt to accomplish specific outcomes, as our primary means of making grants. Simply put, this means that all of our grantmaking is geared toward achieving the funding objectives identified in each grantmaking category.

The Foundation has four primary funding categories: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Learning Disabilities and Intellectual Disabilities. We also have another category, Organizational Capacity Building, which provides support to eligible organizations that offer programs and services in our primary funding categories. The Foundation does not provide general operating support. We have chosen to focus our attention on projects that enhance or improve existing programs and services, or those that introduce a different approach to achieving the same outcomes.

To be eligible for funding, an organization must be located within our geographic funding areas and have a project that: 1) serves the right target population; 2) addresses one or more of the priority areas identified in the grant guidelines; and 3) is sustainable once grant funds terminate.

The Foundation has a number of ways in which organizations can apply for funds:

Annual Grant Guidelines

Our grant guidelines provide information about the Foundation's interests and the application procedure. The Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities categories have their own objectives, funding priorities and application deadlines.

Our guidelines are updated annually.

Requests for Proposals (RFPs)

RFPs are released periodically throughout the year. Each RFP lists project specifications and application procedures.

Organizational Capacity Building

Organizational Capacity-Building initiatives seek to improve organizational effectiveness through strengthening the organization’s infrastructure.

Community Partnerships

Partnerships with community organizations are sought when there is a strong overlap of interest or mission between the Foundation and a community organization. Community partnerships are characterized by mutual trust, flexibility, and open communication. Successful partnerships include a high degree of collaboration between the Foundation and the partnering organization, with both parties being actively involved in the project planning process. Community partnerships are often long-term relationships. Priority is given to projects that have a lasting impact, leverage internal and/or external resources, and affect a large number of people.