Funding Priorities and Restrictions
The funding goals of the Foundation have been evolving over the last few years, consistent with the priorities of the next generation of officers. This has allowed us to remain as flexible as possible in these challenging and rapidly changing times, while still remaining true to the McCarthys’ intent. We have recently concentrated on health, (including research into chronic diseases, and assistance and prevention for sufferers of cancer, leukemia, and other debilitating diseases), education and literacy, access to education and job opportunities for the mentally handicapped and economically disadvantaged. We also occasionally make grants to art and cultural institutions. The organizations we support tend to be concentrated in the New York City/Metro area (where his grandchildren currently live.) However, the only geographical limitation on a potential grantee is that it reside within the United States (the Foundation cannot make grants to foreign organizations.)
We only consider nonprofit organizations classified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) (public charities.) We do not make grants to individuals, or to organizations that engage in lobbying activities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.
We are willing to make grants for general operating expenses, research, and project support, but will not make recurring grants or make any contribution commitment longer than a calendar year to any organization. Only with rare exceptions will we make more than one grant to a particular organization during any calendar year.
On average, our grants tend to range in size from $2,000 – $25,000. In extraordinary circumstances, a grant may be larger (up to $100,000.) However, grants of this size tend to be very infrequent.
The best way to get a feel for our interests and funding priorities is to take a look at our recent PF-990 (ID: 13-6150919) and see who we have funded in the past.