As federal and state funding sources become increasingly more competitive, other sources of funding for research, education and clinical programs need to be considered. In 1989, over $81 million was given by private sources in support of programs that directly benefited the elderly. This article examines methods for seeking private funding and provides a list of foundations with either specific or possible interest in geriatrics and mental health. We also offer specific suggestions for enhancing the chances of obtaining funding from these foundations.
KEY worms-Geriatrics, mental health, funding, foundations. Demographic shifts in the population have important political, medical and sociological implications resulting in increasing demands on health care and education. Decision-makers are faced with major difficulties in their efforts to utilize information in the literature to identify gaps in knowledge that impact research and education as well as health care policy. To meet these increasing health care demands and provide accurate information to policy-makers, new solutions and stronger collaborative efforts are needed between agencies that serve older individuals, including the academic and research centers concerned with ageing, and the public and private institutions that provide essential funding for these services. Although many investigators and educators in geriatric psychiatry are aware of federal and state supported granting agencies, less is known about private sources of funding.
In 1990, an estimated $122.57 billion was given in the support of human services by private foundations, corporations, individuals, charitable organizations, and agencies. This is a 1% increase over the 1989 figures after adjusting for inflation. When this figure is broken down by field, health care is the third largest recipient, $9.90 billion, with religion receiving the largest share, $65.76 billion,