The Tower Foundation is a family foundation that helps children, adolescents, and young people affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and/or substance use disorders. Our goal is to improve the lives of young people in our geographic footprint of Erie and Niagara Counties in Western New York, and Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket Counties in Eastern Massachusetts.
The Tower Foundation focuses its work on behalf of young people, from birth to age 26, who have intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and/or substance use disorders, understanding that they often intersect and that focusing on one may not be enough. Equity is also a critical component of our work. Paying attention to systemic inequities that intersect with our four focus areas makes us a more intentional and just funder.
Community Change Grants
We understand that many issues can be best addressed when communities work together, pooling resources and expertise, and developing collaborative and creative solutions. By funding cross-organizational initiatives, we can help organizations broaden their outlook and their reach.
Through its Community Change funding, the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation seeks to forge equitable relationships and more just power dynamics among different constituencies relating to young people and their families affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and/or substance use disorders.
Community Change projects must be aligned with the Tower Foundation's goals and involve multiple, diverse stakeholders – especially those most directly harmed by existing conditions and practices – working together towards common ends.
Such work can include (but is not limited to) initiatives that:
- challenge existing beliefs, assumptions, and entrenched practices involving these populations;
- supplement, coordinate, or more effectively resource relevant continuums of care;
- employ creative approaches to workforce recruitment and development that enhance the availability of and access to high-quality, culturally relevant services;
- support coalitions and networks built on community assets; and/or
- employ innovative approaches to creating equitable relationships and practices among elements within and across systems.
- The strongest projects will incorporate most, if not all, elements of the Foundation's values.
Please note that we accept inquiries for Community Change grants on a rolling basis
Strengthening Partner Capacity Grants
The Foundation seeks to fund requests that, build and/or strengthen the systems, structures, cultures, skills, resources, and power that organizations need to serve their communities.” Strengthening Partner Capacity grants are available for board/leadership development; diversity, equity, inclusion; evaluation/evaluation design; organizational development; professional development; program design and planning (not service delivery); small capital projects/equipment purchases; staff mental wellness support; technology planning/purchasing; and other ideas that help organizations better serve their communities as described above. We accept applications for Strengthening Partner Capacity grants multiple times a year. All other grants in this category are by invitation only.
The Healthy Communities portfolio is NOT intended to support programs promoting physical health for the general population. Any work related to physical health to be considered through this portfolio must have a clear and direct connection to one or more of the populations the Foundation serves and the goals it has identified.