EDUCATION

Given the importance of education in building strong individuals, families, and communities, and the primacy of literacy in enabling people to succeed, the Foundation invests in organizations, programs, and projects outside of the public schools that achieve results aligned with the two objectives outlined below. Please note that the "Results Sought" reflect the specific outcomes of interest to us.

Objective 1)

Increase access for disadvantaged children and youth to high-quality academic opportunities.

• Significantly improve the academic performance of disadvantaged students
• Increase the number of disadvantaged students enrolled and retained in independent and other high-quality schools
• Increase the number of disadvantaged students enrolled and retained in college

Objective 2)

Promote excellence in education for disadvantaged children and youth in non-public in-school, after school, early childhood, and other settings, with a particular emphasis on initiatives that expand and enhance the availability of high-quality programs.

• Significantly improve the social, emotional, cognitive and academic development of children
• Measurably improve the caliber and diversity of faculty and staff
• Increase the involvement of parents in their children's education
• Increase the number of families participating in effective literacy activities, particularly early literacy activities

HEALTH
Recognizing the critical role of quality and accessible health and mental health care in the well-being of individuals, families, communities, and the city as a whole, the Foundation invests in organizations, programs, and projects that achieve results aligned with the three objectives outlined below. Please note that the "Results Sought" reflect the specific outcomes of interest to us.

Objective 1)

Promote access to care for underserved and/or uninsured populations.

• Increase the number of New Yorkers with adequate and appropriate health insurance, with a particular focus on building enrollment in existing public and/or publicly subsidized insurance programs
• Significantly reduce language, cultural, physical, financial, and systemic barriers to care

Objective 2)

Increase the capacity of New Yorkers to be active and educated health care consumers who are able to make informed choices about their own health and effective use of the health care system.

• Increase the number of New Yorkers who effectively navigate health systems, utilize care, and manage their health

Within this focus area, priority is given to primary, preventive and other non-disease-specific services.

Objective 3)

Promote the development and delivery of quality and responsive care for the most vulnerable populations.

• Increase the number of vulnerable New Yorkers benefiting from responsive, evidence-based, non-disease-specific services, such as palliative care and family care giving

Within this focus area, priority is given to the creation and demonstration of promising models and the training of practitioners.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES
The Foundation has an historic interest in ensuring that individuals and families living in the city have access to the services and resources they need to pursue and sustain successful lives. The Foundation invests in organizations, programs, and projects that achieve results aligned with the two objectives outlined below. Please note that the "Results Sought" reflect the specific outcomes of interest to us.

Objective 1)

Build and preserve economic security and independence among low-income individuals and families.

• Increase the number of low-income New Yorkers who are placed in and retain jobs that support economic independence
• Increase the number of low-income New Yorkers enrolled in public benefits that complement work
• Enable vulnerable populations (e.g., the elderly) to remain in their own homes and communities, with a focus on systemic efforts to address barriers to independence

Objective 2)

Promote and sustain the availability of, and equitable access to, essential community resources needed to support stable, healthy communities, with an emphasis on systemic efforts.

• Preserve and/or increase the quality and amount of affordable housing, well-maintained parks and open spaces, and other essential community resources

ARTS & CULTURE
The Foundation has had a longstanding interest in the arts, reflecting not only Benjamin Altman’s personal commitment, but also the Foundation’s recognition of the value of the arts in enriching the lives of New Yorkers and the city as a whole. The Foundation invests in organizations, programs, and projects that achieve results aligned with the three objectives outlined below. As a general rule, the programs we support take place outside of the public schools. Please note that the "Results Sought" reflect the specific outcomes of interest to us.

Objective 1)

Promote positive youth development through arts and cultural programming.

• Significantly increase the mastery of program-specific skills and other developmentally appropriate life skills
• Measurably advance the academic progress of students
• Successfully transition participants to high-quality secondary, post-secondary, or professional opportunities

Objective 2)

Promote the acquisition of preprofessional arts skills among underserved youth.

• Enroll and retain promising students from underserved communities in the highest-quality preprofessional training in specific arts disciplines
• Measurably increase the mastery of program-specific skills against a curriculum-based standard
• Successfully transition participants to high-quality secondary, post-secondary, or professional opportunities

Objective 3)

Promote access to the arts and cultural activities for underserved populations.

• Increase sustained engagement and participation of underserved populations in high-quality arts and cultural programming provided by established and meaningful organizations and institutions

SERVICES TO NOT-FOR-PROFITS
The Foundation provides support to organizations that achieve the following:

• Significantly enhance the ability of key umbrella organizations to help their member agencies address critical community issues in the Foundation’s areas of interest
• Measurably improve organizational effectiveness or program quality of community-based or other organizations working in the Foundation’s areas of interest.