Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc
Alternatives for Youth Foundation, Inc. (AYF) is a public charity based in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Formed in 1996, it describes its purpose as supporting programs and activities consistent with the mission of Key Program, Inc.; Key’s website identifies AYF as its supporting foundation.
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc gave $160K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $160,000
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $44,730,231
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 2000 West Park Drive 250, Marlborough, MA 01581
Phone: (508) 877-3690
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Berkshire Dream Center ($10K). Together the top 10 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 37 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AYF’s 2025 grants went to recipients in Massachusetts and Rhode Island: 88% of grant dollars went to Massachusetts and 12% to Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc gives
- 0% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2023) to $1.0M (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $160K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Dream Center Pittsfield, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Catie's Closet Dracut, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Community Giving Tree Boxford, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Fishing Friends Westfield, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Groundwork Southcoast New Bedford, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Housing Assistance Corp Hyannis, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Immigrants Assistance Center New Bedford, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Independence House Hyannis, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Lazarus House Ministries Lawrence, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Love Your Labels Worcester, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,730,231 | $1,570,492 | $749,658 | $160,000 | 16 | $776,642 |
| 2024 | $39,771,641 | $1,875,402 | $599,059 | $200,000 | 20 | $1,364,402 |
| 2023 | $34,352,326 | $622,527 | $332,990 | $6,003 | Total only | $622,527 |
| 2022 | $31,381,988 | $2,619,195 | $293,425 | $8,460 | Total only | $119,195 |
| 2021 | $33,001,563 | $3,021,580 | $1,566,659 | $1,021,000 | 1 | $1,019,815 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AYF’s stated mission is to provide support for programs and activities consistent with the mission of Key Program, Inc. Its 2024 filing says it funds start-up projects in juvenile justice, child welfare, and mental health; general operating support for nonprofits with a demonstrated record of advancing or improving those systems; and projects addressing significant problems in those fields that could be replicated locally, statewide, or nationally. It also describes academic scholarships for current and former Key clients pursuing education at accredited institutions and for students pursuing advanced social work degrees.
The 2024 filing says AYF maintains grant files containing applications, award documentation, correspondence about the use of funds, and confirmation of intended use and results. Key’s website describes the William J. Wolfe Scholarship for eligible young people aged 25 or younger who have received services from Key or specified state agencies, have demonstrated academic performance and personal development, and intend to pursue a degree or vocational certification. The website says awards are made once a year in June. This scholarship is for individuals, not a grant program for outside organizations.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Catie’s Closet describes its work as providing children in need access to clothing and basic necessities; Community Giving Tree says it supplies low-income children and families with clothing and baby supplies; and Worcester Youth Center describes its mission as providing services for disadvantaged youth. Other grantees describe work including housing assistance, immigrant support, and services for survivors of domestic and sexual assault.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, AYF reported 16 grants totaling $160,000. Each was $10,000. In 2024, it reported 20 grants totaling $200,000; in 2023, it reported no grants.
Among the 2025 grants were $10,000 each to Berkshire Dream Center, Catie’s Closet, Community Giving Tree, Fishing Friends, Groundwork Southcoast, Housing Assistance Corporation, Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Independence House, Lazarus House Ministries, Love Your Labels, Refugee Dream Center, and RI Community Food Bank. The filing states that each of these grants was for general support.
The website gives application guidance for the William J. Wolfe Scholarship: applicants are directed to ask a high school guidance counselor, state agency social worker, or Key clinician how to apply. The stated annual April/May application deadline for this scholarship has passed for 2026. The available information does not describe an application process for AYF’s organizational grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tammy Mello as President and CEO; Edward Feldstein, Esq., as Chairman; Howard Corey as Treasurer; and James Musgrove as Clerk. Directors listed are Marie Ahern, Ronald Ardine, Michael C. Cuscia (through December 2024), Joseph Imbriani, Esq., CPA, Dino Mancini, and Hope Haslam Straughan.
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc is led by Tammy Mello, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tammy Mello
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Feldstein Esq.
Chairman
Chairman & Clerk → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hope Haslam Straughan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Imbriani Esq. CPA
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marie Ahern
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael C. Cuscia
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald Ardine
Director
Director of Administrator & Finance → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dino Mancini
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Woronka
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Stahl
Director of Childrens Charter
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Burke
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard Corey
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Musgrove
Clerk
Director → Clerk, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: William Lyttle (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Allison Bernier (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Kan (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Susan P. Luz (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc
How much does Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc give each year?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc gave $160K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $200K across 20 grants.
What is Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,000, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc give grants?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Worcester, MA (3 grants), New Bedford, MA (2 grants), Hyannis, MA (2 grants) and Providence, RI (2 grants).
Does Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Berkshire Dream Center ($10,000), Catie's Closet ($10,000) and Community Giving Tree ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc reported $44.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What does Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc fund?
AYF’s stated mission is to provide support for programs and activities consistent with the mission of Key Program, Inc. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's EIN?
Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3276173. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/alternatives-for-youth-foundation-inc-morg_72d42cc387ad4634acd311ebabb8b51e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043276173_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/alternatives-for-youth-foundation-inc-morg_72d42cc387ad4634acd311ebabb8b51e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Alternatives for Youth Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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