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    1. Founder's Statement & History
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    3. Grant Eligibility Criteria
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  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
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    2. Grant Eligibility Criteria
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Welcome > FAQs > Grant Eligibility Criteria

Grant Eligibility Criteria

The Tower Foundation has four distinct funding categories: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Intellectual Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities.

One or more of the following methods may be used for making grants in a given funding category: (1) annual grant cycles; (2) requests for proposals (RFPs); and (3) community partnerships. Each method or initiative is accompanied by its own particular set of grant guidelines, which specifies purpose, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and deadline dates. Deadline dates differ from category to category and from year to year.

There are, however, certain general eligibility criteria that apply to all grant-seeking organizations. They are as follows:

  1. Tax-Exempt Status – The Foundation makes grants only to:

    • tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service that are neither private foundations nor described as 509(a)(3) organizations
    • diocesan and public school districts
    • charter schools
    • nonprofit public benefit corporation

  2. Geographic Areas – Organizations must be located in and primarily serve residents of one of the following geographic areas:

    Massachusetts:

    • Barnstable County
    • Dukes County
    • Essex County
    • Nantucket County

    New York:

    • Erie County
    • Niagara County

  3. Other Restrictions - The Foundation does not provide funds that:

    • grant requests largely consisting of general operating support
    • programs or projects that may be used for the private benefit of any grant recipient or affiliated person
    • attempts to influence legislation
    • attempts to influence or intervene in any political campaign
    • capital campaigns or improvements
    • scholarships

Please refer to separate grant guidelines in the What We Fund section for specific eligibility requirements and additional restrictions.