Vital Projects Fund Inc
Invitation OnlyNew York, New York · EIN 13-3711340 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$15.6M
Organizations funded94
Typical grant$50,000
Total assets$384.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $25,000 and $110,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2025 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
70% of grants went outside New York.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Funds Inc | New York, NY | General support | $3,850,000 |
| Proteus Fund | Amherst, MA | General support | $2,753,000 |
| Chef Ann Foundation | Boulder, CO | General support | $1,250,000 |
| Association for the Public Defender of Maryland | Baltimore, MD | General support | $500,000 |
| Louisiana Parole Project Inc | Baton Rouge, LA | General support | $470,000 |
| Texas Defender Service | Houston, TX | General support | $400,000 |
| Civil Rights Corps | Washington, DC | General support | $350,000 |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law | St Paul, MN | General support | $230,000 |
| Aclu of Michigan Foundation | Detroit, MI | General support | $210,000 |
| Duke University | Durham, NC | General support | $206,000 |
| Arizona Capital Representation Project | Tucson, AZ | General support | $200,000 |
| The Political Report Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $200,000 |
| Deep South Today | Jackson, MS | General support | $175,000 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | General support | $170,500 |
| City University of NY School of Law | Queens, NY | General support | $150,000 |
| Parole Preparation Project Inc | New York, NY | General support | $150,000 |
| Safe and Just Michigan | Lansing, MI | General support | $150,000 |
| Choosing Justice Initiative | Nashville, TN | General support | $125,000 |
| Nurse Family Partnership | Denver, CO | General support | $125,000 |
| The Hadanou Collective | Denver, CO | General support | $125,000 |
| Alabama Appleseed | Montgomery, AL | General support | $120,000 |
| Atlantic Center for Capital Representation | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $110,000 |
| Food Bank for New York City | New York, NY | General support | $110,000 |
| Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | General support | $110,000 |
| National Religious Campaign Against Torture | Washington, DC | General support | $105,000 |
| Aclu of Pennsylvania Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $100,000 |
| Advancing Real Change | Baltimore, MD | General support | $100,000 |
| Center for Community Alternatives | Brooklyn, NY | General support | $100,000 |
| Deserving Life | Las Cruces, NM | General support | $100,000 |
| Goodnation Foundation | New York, NY | General support | $100,000 |
| Illinois Prison Project | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| Investigative Reports & Editors Inc | Columbia, MO | General support | $100,000 |
| Mad Agriculture | Boulder, CO | General support | $100,000 |
| Mel Blount Youth Home of Pa Inc | Claysville, PA | General support | $100,000 |
| Montana Innocence Project | Missoula, MT | General support | $100,000 |
| Second Look Alliance | Baton Rouge, LA | General support | $100,000 |
| Tides Center (Powell Project) | Denver, CO | General support | $100,000 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | General support | $100,000 |
| Congregation of St Joseph's Ministry | Cleveland, OH | General support | $90,000 |
| Felony Murder Elimination Project | Clayton, CA | General support | $90,000 |
| New York City Ballet | New York, NY | General support | $75,000 |
| Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform | Burlington, VT | General support | $75,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center | Montgomery, AL | General support | $60,000 |
| Tides Foundation | San Francisco, CA | General support | $60,000 |
| Partners for Justice Inc | New York, NY | General support | $56,000 |
| New York Focus News | Brooklyn, NY | General support | $55,000 |
| Players Philanthropy Fund | Towson, MD | General support | $53,000 |
| Center for Justice and Human Dignity | Tempe, AZ | General support | $50,000 |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | General support | $50,000 |
| Families Against Mandatory Minimums | Washington, DC | General support | $50,000 |
| Glide Foundation | San Francisco, CA | General support | $50,000 |
| I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County | New York, NY | General support | $50,000 |
| Look2justice | Seattle, WA | General support | $50,000 |
| Nacdl Foundation for Criminal Justice | Washington, DC | General support | $50,000 |
| New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical School | New York, NY | General support | $50,000 |
| Prison Journalism Proect Incorporated | Chicago, IL | General support | $50,000 |
| Social and Enviormental Entrepreneurs | Calabasas, CA | General support | $50,000 |
| Staten Island University Hospital | Staten Island, NY | General support | $50,000 |
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | General support | $50,000 |
| Type Media Center Inc | New York, NY | General support | $50,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 94 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15,638,500 | 94 |
| 2024 | $15,142,500 | 121 |
| 2023 | $15,743,550 | 133 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 14, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202641349349101334
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 13-3711340
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.