Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant Program

The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation provides targeted financial support to nonprofit, community-based organizations across the United States. The Foundation prioritizes grants where a relatively modest investment can lead to substantial outcomes. It has a broad mission and considers requests in diverse areas such as education, health, arts, environmental conservation, youth and senior services, and support for persons with disabilities. The Foundation welcomes applications from a wide spectrum of 501(c)(3) nonprofits, as well as publicly supported institutions such as schools and local government agencies. Founded with a commitment to enhancing the social fabric of communities through philanthropic support, the Foundation does not impose strict programmatic themes or annual funding priorities. Instead, it encourages applicants to present compelling, well-articulated cases for why the funding will have a large impact. The grant amounts typically range from $1,000 to $20,000. The Foundation does not support individuals or emergency funding requests and does not provide multi-year commitments. The application process is managed through the Foundation’s online portal, where new users must first create an Organization Profile using a general, shared email address. Applicants submit a letter of request, a summary of organizational purpose and the population served, and another summary outlining the proposed use of funds. Required attachments include the latest IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, the most recent IRS Form 990 (or operating budget for certain public organizations), and a program budget if requesting program support. Summaries must be clear, direct, and devoid of jargon, serving as the principal basis for consideration. The Foundation operates on a biannual funding cycle. Requests submitted between November 11 and May 10 are considered for the Fall Award Round, with status updates provided via email by the end of October and final decisions mailed by the end of November. Submissions between May 11 and November 10 fall under the Spring Award Round, with email status updates by the end of April and final decisions by the end of May. Applications must be complete at the time of submission; no amendments or late materials will be accepted. While the Foundation does not require pre-application steps such as letters of inquiry or concept papers, all required information must be included in the initial application. The Foundation does not provide feedback on individual applications or engage in calls or meetings due to limited staff capacity. All decisions are based solely on the materials submitted through the application portal, and applicants are advised to adhere strictly to the guidelines provided to avoid disqualification.

Avoid vague or jargon-filled summaries; clarity and conciseness are crucial; ensure all required documents are uploaded as PDFs; application must be final upon submission as no corrections will be accepted.