Matthew Neuenhaus Foundation

​​Grant Application Guidelines

Initial Inquiry

Nonprofit organizations based in Rockland County New York and northern New Jersey that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and fall within the program areas of the Foundations are welcome to submit an inquiry or proposal letter by regular mail. (Please do not send CDs, DVDs, computer discs, video tapes, or proposals unless requested.)

An initial inquiry to The Matthew Neuenhaus Foundation should include only the following items:

1.    A proposal letter that briefly summarizes the history of the project, need, objectives, time period, key staff, project budget, and evaluation plan.

2.    Latest annual report.

3.    Latest complete audited financial statements.

4.    IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exemption letter.

Program Interests

Funding is spread over three program areas:  Education,  Public Policy, and Youth athletics.

Declined Categories

The Foundation generally does not make grants for the following purposes or program areas:

  • Nonprofit organizations outside of New York and New Jersey
  • Annual appeals, dinner functions, and fundraising events
  • Endowments and capital campaigns
  • Loans and deficit financing
  • Organizations or projects based outside the U.S.
  • Small art, dance, music, and theater groups
  • Individual K-12 schools (except charter schools)
  • National health and mental health organizations
  • Government agencies or nonprofit organizations significantly funded or reimbursed by government agencies


Proposal Processing

The inquiry or proposal letter can be sent to:

Matthew Neuenhaus Foundation
300 Corporate Drive
Mahwah, NJ 07430

There are no deadlines and applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Each request is reviewed by staff and will usually receive a written response within thirty days.

Those requests deemed consistent with the interests and resources of the Foundations will be evaluated further and more information will be requested. Staff may request a site visit, conference call, or meeting. All grants are reviewed and approved by the Trustee(s) at one of their board meetings.

Because of the high number of applications and the small size of our staff, we cannot meet with every grantseeker and we can only fund a small number of the many worthwhile proposals received. Our limited resources prevent us from typically funding the same organization on an ongoing annual basis.