The Achelis and Bodman Foundations have made grants totaling nearly $100 million to nonprofit charitable organizations since their founding in the 1940s.
Program Areas
In keeping with the broad purpose in their charter documents, the Foundations have chosen to spread their grant program widely. Most grants are made in New York City, reflecting its vibrant not-for-profit sector, continuing needs, and the staffs and trustees local knowledge. In addition, The Bodman Foundation makes some of its grants in northern New Jersey in recognition of its donors ties to that state. Over 90% of grants fall into six program categories:
* Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions are one of New York Citys critical resources. They attract visitors from around the world, fueling much of its tourism. They are also major employers and are a reason so many talented people choose to live here. The arts were important to both Miss Achelis and the Bodmans and the Foundations have continued to fund this area, generally by supporting the Citys cultural gems.
* Education: The failure of inner-city public education is a national tragedy with consequences not only for the children left behind but for the rest of society. The Foundations have long believed that one strategy for improvement is accountability and competition. In furtherance of this view we have funded a large number of charter schools and voucher programs and studies.
* Employment: Chronic unemployment is a harsh, demoralizing burden. The welfare reforms of the mid-1990s increased the need for effective job training and placement programs. The Foundations are particularly interested in supporting programs aimed at placement in private sector rather than public sector jobs and those which foster entrepreneurship.
* Health: It is difficult for a donor as small as the Foundations to make a significant impact in a field as large as healthcare. Here the focus of our grants has been on the health needs of children and on basic biomedical research, where we believe that a small grant at a pivotal time in a researchers career can make a disproportionate impact. Over the past two years the Foundations have also supported the Manhattan Institute in several of its initiatives addressing healthcare policy as this is a field in need of fresh ideas.
* Public Policy: Our funding in this category covers a broad variety of issues including studies on: welfare reform, charter schools and vouchers (listed under Education), marriage, race, litigation reform, and faith-based programs.
* Youth: The disparate needs of New York Citys disadvantaged youth are being served by hundreds, if not thousands, of charitable institutions, ranging from established settlement houses to small neighborhood organizations. We are particularly interested in funding smaller, neighborhood-based institutions that have not yet attracted broad philanthropic funding and choose to rely on private rather than governmental support. There are also a number of projects related to strengthening families.