Charles R. Wood Foundation Grants

The Charles R. Wood Foundation offers grant funding to nonprofit organizations working in the fields of children’s services, healthcare, and the arts. Established in 1978 by Charles R. Wood—entrepreneur and philanthropist known for founding Storytown USA and co-founding the Double H Hole in the Woods Camp—the Foundation continues to uphold his vision by supporting projects addressing special needs in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. Headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, and administered through Foundation Source, the Foundation operates as a private philanthropic entity guided by a Board of Trustees. The Foundation's grant programs are tailored to assist IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charities whose work aligns with the Foundation’s core mission. There are three main avenues of support: Core Granting, Collaborative Granting, and the Special Healthcare Initiative. The Core Granting program provides funds for nonprofit organizations serving children, healthcare, or arts in the Lake George area. The Collaborative Granting track prioritizes projects involving multiple nonprofits working together to address shared community challenges. The Special Healthcare Initiative is distinct in its focus on regional health improvement through innovation and cooperation. This initiative is restricted to New York counties including Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington, and requires detailed project plans, defined service populations, measurable outcomes, and a 3–4 year timeline. Applicants are required to complete an Eligibility Quiz on the Foundation’s website to determine appropriate application pathways. All applications must be submitted online. The Foundation specifies two annual submission deadlines—March 1 and September 1—for review at spring and fall Board meetings, respectively. Applications are reviewed in the order received, and decisions are typically made within five months of submission. Organizations are allowed to apply only once within a twelve-month period. Grants are not provided for operational salaries or to institutions of higher education, including colleges and universities. Award amounts vary and are determined based on Foundation resources and the scope of each request. Recent award examples include $300,000 for the Adirondack Experience museum, $150,000 for an arts education facility, and $115,000 for early childhood literacy programs in multiple New York counties. These distributions reflect the Foundation’s commitment to impactful, regional investments across various scales. The Foundation emphasizes collaborative and well-documented approaches, particularly for healthcare-related projects. Evaluation criteria include documented need, population size served, and clarity of execution plans. While there is no formal pre-application required, the online eligibility check acts as a gating step. Contact for inquiries is available through Foundation Source via email or phone, and no specific program officer is listed by name. Applications received by the March 1 deadline will be reviewed at the Board’s May meeting, while those received by September 1 will be considered in November. Though applications are accepted year-round, these two review windows determine final action. Recurrence is annual, with consistent deadlines, and the Foundation maintains a stable review structure with a long-standing commitment to community development and well-being in its service region.

Priority given to collaborative and well-documented proposals with measurable impact.