Annual Mental Health Grant Guidelines

*** The Mental Health Grant Cycle for 2013 is now closed ***

Download the PDF Version (105 KB) (includes complete application and instructions)

The Tower Foundation seeks to prevent or alleviate mental illness – particularly serious mental illness – among children, adolescents, and young adults (to age 26).

How Does the Foundation Define Mental Illness?

The Tower Foundation defines mental illness as:

Medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

What Does the Foundation Want to Accomplish?

The Foundation has identified five goals it will pursue through its mental health funding. Grants will be awarded to projects that show the greatest promise of advancing one or more of these goals:

Stigma related to mental illness is eliminated.
Children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges are identified early and connected to appropriate services.
Young people with mental health challenges understand and manage their conditions and behaviors.
Families understand mental health challenges and help members live productive lives.
Communities offer meaningful opportunities and appropriate support to young people with mental health challenges and their families.

Who Can Apply for a Grant?

Organizations primarily serving residents of the following areas are eligible to receive Tower Foundation grants:

Massachusetts:

Barnstable County
Dukes County
Essex County
Nantucket County

New York:

Erie County
Niagara County

The Tower Foundation makes grants to:

not-for-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation that are not private foundations or described as 509(a)(3) organizations,
not-for-profit public benefit corporations,
public and diocesan school districts,
private and charter schools.

What Types of Projects Will the Foundation Consider?

Projects must focus on children, adolescents, or young adults (up to age 26).
The Tower Foundation encourages multi-year grants with budgets ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 per year.
The majority of grant funds should be for expenses that are new to the organization as a result of the proposed project.

While open to a range of projects that have the potential to advance its four mental health-related goals, the Foundation will give preference to projects focusing on the following:

Screening and assessment: Programs designed to identify individuals at high risk or in need of treatment for mental illness and refer them to appropriate treatment.
Community-Based education and supports:
- Individual education and supports - Education for community members regarding the effects and treatment of mental illness, including programs employing evidence-based prevention curricula; as well as person-centered supportive services for individuals in mental health recovery.
- Family education and supports - Programs promoting family members’ awareness about mental health issues; structured education, support, and resources to help families intervene with, seek treatment of, and promote recovery from mental illness.
- Professional education - Professional development for health, education, youth, and mental health treatment professionals.
Transition/service navigation: Programs to assist individuals seeking treatment for/in recovery from mental illness by connecting them to resources to help stabilize them and manage their conditions.

What Won't the Foundation Fund?

The Foundation does not fund programs or projects that:

provide private benefits for any grant recipient or affiliated person,
attempt to influence legislation or intervene in any political campaign,
contribute to capital improvements or capital campaigns,
consist of scholarships, services, or treatment for specific individuals,
consist largely of general operating support.

How Does My Organization Apply for a Grant?

The first step in applying for a grant is submitting a letter of inquiry not to exceed five pages (see outline included in the application directions). Letters of inquiry must include all requested information and the cover sheet provided*. The Foundation will review each letter of inquiry to determine whether to request a more detailed proposal. The Foundation will accept only one letter of inquiry per organization.

To be considered for a grant in 2013, letters must be received by 4:30 p.m. on March 6, 2013.

Send Letters of Inquiry to:

2013 Mental Health Annual Cycle

Attn: Chuck Colston

The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation

2351 North Forest Road – Suite 106

Getzville, NY 14068

E-mailed or faxed copies will not be accepted.

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Applicants will be notified by April 26, 2013 as to whether the Foundation is requesting a full proposal. A request for a proposal is not an indication of likely support. The deadline for grant proposals, if requested, is June 5, 2013.

2013 Mental Health Annual Cycle Time Line

Letters of Inquiry Due	March 6, 2013
Proposal Invitations Mailed	April 26, 2013
Proposals Due (If Requested)	June 5, 2013
Proposal Decisions Mailed	September 6, 2013
Grant Funds Available	October 2013

Complete Instructions and Application Information

All of the requested information must be received in order to be considered for a Mental Health grant. *For instructions and complete application, click here.

Foundation Contact Information

If you have questions about the Foundation’s Mental Health Grant Guidelines, please contact:

Chuck Colston, Program Officer

cec@thetowerfoundation.org

716-689-0370 x206

Notice for Prospective Applicants

By submitting this proposal to the Foundation, you, as the applicant or its duly authorized representative, hereby agree and consent that the Foundation may disclose to any employee, trustee or professional representative of the Foundation, or to other potential funding sources or their representatives for possible collaboration, this proposal and all supporting materials which have been or will be submitted in connection therewith, including but not limited to the applicant’s letter of inquiry.