Grant to support Grassroots Mental Health Programs

The Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Local Grant Program is a funding opportunity for grassroots mental health non-profits based in the United States. The Foundation’s mission is to prioritize mental health in communities where support is most needed. It seeks to increase awareness and education by fostering conversations and supporting educational programs that help reduce stigma associated with mental health issues. Additionally, it aims to improve access to care by increasing the availability of mental health resources and to build protective factors by strengthening attitudes, behaviors, and relationships that provide a foundation for mental health. This grant opportunity is designed to support up to ten local, community-based organizations that focus on providing direct access to mental health care. The Foundation values organizations that have unique approaches to supporting mental health, especially those serving youth, women, communities of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. Applicants are encouraged to highlight how their programs address gaps in mental health services for these priority communities. Eligible organizations must be registered 501(c)(3) public charities in good standing with the IRS and must have been in existence for at least one year. They must either have a mission centered on direct access to mental health care or operate a program with that focus within the United States. Organizations must be nonpartisan, provide high-resolution imagery and a logo, and be able to sign the Saks Foundation’s standard grant agreement. Priority is given to local organizations that are independent of larger systems or federated non-profits, have an annual revenue under ten million dollars, and have not received a Saks Fifth Avenue grant in the past two years. Applicants are required to submit a proposal by July 1, 2025, using the provided format. Each proposal may include up to three initiatives, although only one will be funded. The proposal must include an overview of the non-profit and its mission (150 words or less), details of the proposed program and its goals (300 words or less), a timeline of key program milestones from October 2025 to October 2026, specific impact goals (such as the number of individuals served and populations helped), and a detailed budget. The requested funding should be between $10,000 and $30,000, and the budget narrative should describe how the funds will directly impact the program. Applicants must upload a proposal document containing all required elements. The application process opens on April 30, 2025, and closes on July 1, 2025. The Saks Foundation will review applications from July to September and may request additional information or meetings during this stage. Grantees will be notified between October 1 and October 3, 2025, and public announcements will be made on October 10, 2025. If applicants have not heard from the Foundation by September 26, 2025, they should consider their application as not moving forward in the process. Due to the volume of applications, the Foundation is unable to provide individual responses. For questions, applicants are instructed to contact saksfoundation-apply@saks.com.