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Carmel Hill Fund

Grantmaking

Prioritizing the power of mental health and literacy

At Carmel Hill Fund, we invest up to $15 million annually in organizations and initiatives dedicated to increasing literacy and improving mental health and wellbeing.

We focus on supporting young people, especially those growing up in vulnerable circumstances, to become voracious readers who also have the skills, relationships, nurturing environments, and supports to become emotionally thriving individuals.

High school student smiling towards the viewer

Our commitment

As a funder, we are committed to investing in efforts that support the mental health and wellbeing of young people while nurturing their proficiency in reading and love for learning.

Learn more about our issue areas

Co-creating impact through a relationship-centered approach

The challenges associated with mental health and literacy are complex, and making a meaningful, long-term impact requires collaboration, trust, and a space for shared learning. That’s why we choose our partners and grantees based on their expertise, commitment, and investment in our issue areas—as well as their alignment with our values and approach.

Our approach

We follow a process rooted in collaboration and relationships

We are creating a streamlined, relationship-based process by removing unnecessary barriers and are focused on reducing the burden on organizations seeking funding in order to create opportunities that multiply impact.

What grantees can expect from us

  • No Requests for Proposals or strict funding deadlines
  • Streamlined due diligence process
  • An openness to emerging organizations
  • A priority on building relationships
  • Accessible staff who are ready to engage with and support partners
  • Risk-tolerant, innovation-friendly funding
  • Consideration of support beyond our monetary investment
  • A motivation to learn with and alongside grantees
  • Opportunities to co-create thoughtful, low-burden reporting

What we expect from our grantees

  • Deep commitment to supporting the youth literacy and mental health outcomes of young people growing up in New York City
  • Spirit of collaboration and an interest in building a relationship
  • Future-forward thinking, with a focus on sustainability
  • Transparency and readiness for ongoing reflection, learning, and improvement  
  • Clear alignment in values and shared goals
  • Integrity, clear communication, and follow-through
View our grantees

Common FAQs

Have questions about our grantmaking process? Check out these helpful FAQs.

What are the basic requirements to be eligible for grant funding?

Carmel Hill Fund invests up to $15 million annually in organizations and initiatives dedicated to increasing literacy and improving mental health and wellbeing. In order to be eligible for funding, you must meet our grantee expectations, including:

  • Deep commitment to supporting youth literacy and/or mental health and wellbeing outcomes of young people growing up in New York City
  • Spirit of collaboration and an interest in building a relationship
  • Future-forward thinking, with a focus on sustainability
  • Transparency and readiness for ongoing reflection, learning, and improvement
  • Clear alignment in values and shared goals
  • Strong integrity, clear communication, and follow-through

If you believe your organization would be a good fit, we encourage you to reach out to our team for an exploratory conversation at grants@carmelhill.net.

I think we might be a fit for CHF’s funding priorities. How do I apply for a grant?

Carmel Hill Fund takes a relational approach to exploring partnerships and does not have a formal application process. If your organization is working to support the literacy and/or mental health and wellbeing outcomes of young people growing up in New York City, we encourage you to reach out to our team for an exploratory conversation at grants@carmelhill.net.

Is there a grant cycle or deadline for our application?

In short, no – we do not have a formal grant cycle or deadline. As an organization that takes a relational approach to grantmaking, we are always open to talking about new potential opportunities. Interested organizations who are working to address our issue areas in New York City are encouraged to reach out to us directly for an exploratory conversation at grants@carmelhill.net.

What is the application process?

Carmel Hill Fund does not have a formal application process. Interested organizations working in our issue areas are encouraged to reach out to our team for an exploratory conversation at grants@carmelhill.net.

What type of reporting or documentation do you require?

We utilize a streamlined, relationship-based process that focuses on removing unnecessary barriers and reducing the burden on the organizations with whom we partner. To that end, once we determine there is an opportunity for a partnership and we have approval on a grant, we will co-create innovative, thoughtful, and low-burden approaches to reporting that meets organizations where they are.

I’m based outside of New York City. Can I apply for a grant?

If your organization is located outside of New York City but directly supports efforts for youth growing up in New York City, we encourage you to reach out to grants@carmelhill.net if you can clearly communicate how your work aligns with our mission and focus. However, we do not currently support organizations whose work is focused in communities outside of New York City.

Can our organization apply for a grant in partnership with another organization?

Absolutely! We believe in the power of collaboration and look forward to discussing opportunities to amplify our impact by supporting existing partnerships or exploring new relationships and coalitions. If you are working in our issue areas, please reach out to us directly for an exploratory conversation at grants@carmelhill.net.

Words from our grantees

For more than a decade, Carmel Hill Fund has been a fantastic partner, offering much-needed funding that supports young people with basic literacy skills through fun and approachable activities. Their newest efforts to improve literacy and mental health programs across the city have had a profound effect on countless young people, fostering a lifelong love of reading and providing skills and opportunities for brighter futures.

Casper Lassiter M.S.W., Director, Children’s Aid Dunlevy Milbank Campus

As we work together to respond to the mental health crisis for young people in NYC, Carmel Hill Fund has been a deeply thoughtful and engaged partner. Their leadership is personally invested in our success, and always seeks to develop a more nuanced understanding of the issues we’re working on so they can support us most effectively. It’s a partnership that goes beyond the surface – we’re given a seat at the table so that we can be involved in conversations within philanthropy as a sector about how to best address this crisis for youth, including by finding creative ways we can collaboratively support and empower our workers.

Barbara DiGangi, University Settlement

Carmel Hill Fund has been an incredible ally in helping YVote uplift youth voices and advance citywide mental health and policy solutions through the NYC Youth Agenda. Their trust in our leadership—backed by generous support—has allowed us to dream big, act boldly, and create meaningful platforms for young people to lead. We’re deeply grateful for their partnership and belief in youth power.

Randy M. Frazer, MS.Ed, Executive Director, YVote NY

Carmel Hill Fund is the kind of funder every mission-driven organization hopes for – deeply thoughtful, collaborative, and values-aligned. Their support goes beyond dollars; it’s a true partnership grounded in trust, curiosity, and a shared commitment to equity. We’re deeply grateful for the way they listen, learn, and lead alongside us.

E4E-NY

Let’s partner!

Interested in learning more about our issue areas and grantmaking process?

Contact our program staff.