American Psychological Foundation
The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is a public charity based in Washington, DC. It supports innovative psychological research and applications intended to advance psychological knowledge and promote people’s wellbeing.
American Psychological Foundation at a glance
In short: American Psychological Foundation gave $1.1M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $28K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,065,719
- +533.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +3700.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $28,045
- -83.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $33,852,266
- +13.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to American Psychological Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 750 First Street Ne, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5843
Website: https://ampsychfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
71 open opportunities from American Psychological Foundation
Alice F. Chang Cancer Wellness Grant: Graduate Student
American Psychological Foundation
Amount
Up to US $16,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alma Empowering Minds Scholarship & Mentorship Program
American Psychological Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
APA Congressional Fellowship Grant
American Psychological Foundation
Amount
US $75,000 - US $90,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who American Psychological Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Psychological Assn ($225K). Together the top 10 received $576K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 45 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing shows grants to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were DC (37%), California (10%), Georgia (6%), Illinois (5%), and New York (4%). These figures describe the locations of recipients, not a stated geographic restriction on APF funding. APF’s FAQ says it welcomes applicants from diverse geographic backgrounds.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How American Psychological Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1536% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2020) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Psychological Assn Washington, DC | Research & Fellowship Grant | $224,890 |
| APF Access LLC Washington, DC | Research Grant | $128,875 |
| Palo Alto University Inc Palo Alto, CA | Research Grant | $34,000 |
| Coalition for the Common Good DBA Antioch University Keene, NH | Research Grant | $30,545 |
| Children's Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Research Grant | $29,497 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Research Grant | $28,000 |
| Texas Tech University Lubbock, TN | Fellowship | $25,000 |
| The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA | Fellowship | $25,000 |
| University of Denver Denver, CO | Fellowship | $25,000 |
| University of Miami Atlanta, GA | Fellowship | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with American Psychological Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
APF’s website says the foundation was founded in 1953, while its 2024 filing lists 1952 as the year formed.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,852,266 | $9,229,119 | $3,957,181 | $1,065,719 | 38 | $3,646,009 |
| 2023 | $29,776,865 | $7,708,422 | $2,849,264 | $168,371 | 1 | $553,839 |
| 2022 | $21,867,610 | $4,040,095 | $2,372,061 | $125,182 | 2 | $1,114,442 |
| 2021 | $25,860,627 | $7,353,491 | $2,057,963 | $65,150 | 2 | $3,357,806 |
| 2020 | $21,241,755 | $1,162,912 | $1,849,692 | $60,492 | 2 | $439,423 |
| 2019 | $20,293,815 | $1,378,258 | $2,647,818 | $430,921 | 23 | $136,702 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
APF’s website states that its mission is to leverage philanthropy to advance psychological knowledge by investing in innovative research and applications that prioritize people and their wellbeing. Its vision is a world where people are healthy, happy, and living with dignity.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes funding for research and academic work, implementation science, achievement awards, travel scholarships, and non-research projects. It says APF is committed to programs serving marginalized communities, preventing violence, ending prejudice and stigma, and addressing mind-body-health connections. The filing also says APF provided funding to 237 students, psychologists, and organizations.
Examples of supported organizations include the American Psychological Association, whose stated mission is to advance, communicate, and apply psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives; the University of Denver, which describes its mission as promoting learning, scholarly inquiry, critical and creative thought, and knowledge; and Rhode Island Hospital, whose mission is delivering health with care.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, APF reported 38 grants totaling $1,065,719. Grant amounts ranged from $5,906 to $224,890, with a median of $20,000. Among the largest awards were $224,890 to the American Psychological Association for a research and fellowship grant, $128,875 to APF Access LLC for a research grant, and $34,000 to Palo Alto University for a research grant. Other listed awards included $30,545 to the Coalition for the Common Good, doing business as Antioch University, and $29,497 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, both for research grants.
APF’s funding website provides a Program Match Tool listing programs by application deadline, with filters for eligibility, topic, sponsor, and program type. The FAQ says APF supports original, innovative research and projects, and may also fund derivative projects that are part of larger studies. Institutional indirect, administrative, overhead costs, and fees are not allowed; if an institution accepts funds on an applicant’s behalf, it must follow the approved budget and affirm in writing that it will waive those costs.
The supplied program information includes awards for early-career psychologists and dissertation research by Native psychology students. The program records were last updated in 2025; no application deadline is provided here.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on APF’s 2024 filing are Melba Vasquez, president; Katherine Nordal, vice president; Linda Forrest, treasurer; and W Bruce Walsh, secretary. The filing also lists J Gayle Beck, Dorothy Cantor, Douglas C Haldeman, Anthony Jackson, Antonio E Puente, and Derek Phillips as board members.
American Psychological Foundation is led by Michelle Quist Ryder, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michelle Quist Ryder
CEO
Program Director → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2021
37.5 hrs/week
$120K (2021) → $291K (2024)
Melba Jt Vasquez PhD
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony W. Jackson PhD
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Antonio E. Puente
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aurelio Prifitera
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie S. Chan PhD
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas C. Haldeman
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Gayle Beck
Board Member
Trustee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine C. Nordal PhD
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Forrest
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W. Bruce Walsh
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derek Phillips
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dorothy Cantor
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Camilla P. Benbow EdD (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dorothy W. Cantor Psyd (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Terence Keane PhD (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Miriam Isserow (2019–2022) — CEO
- Former: Michelle Besse-Laino (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Archie L. Turner (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Arthur C. Evans Jr. PhD (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Ashwanda Fleming (2019–2020) — Chief Executive Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $291K, to Michelle Ryder (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about American Psychological Foundation
How much does American Psychological Foundation give each year?
American Psychological Foundation gave $1.1M across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $168K across 1 grant.
What is American Psychological Foundation's typical grant size?
American Psychological Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $28,045, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does American Psychological Foundation give grants?
American Psychological Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (10%) and Georgia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Atlanta, GA (3 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and St. Louis, MO (2 grants).
Does American Psychological Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on American Psychological Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grant" (31 grants) and "Fellowship" (5 grants).
Who are American Psychological Foundation's largest grantees?
American Psychological Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Psychological Assn ($224,890), APF Access LLC ($128,875) and Palo Alto University Inc ($34,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Psychological Foundation?
American Psychological Foundation reported $33.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.2M.
What does American Psychological Foundation fund?
APF’s website states that its mission is to leverage philanthropy to advance psychological knowledge by investing in innovative research and applications that prioritize people and their wellbeing. Its vision is a world where people are healthy, happy, and living with dignity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Psychological Foundation?
American Psychological Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ampsychfdn.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is American Psychological Foundation's EIN?
American Psychological Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6051733. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in District of Columbia
District of Columbia Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Psychological Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). American Psychological Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/american-psychological-foundation-morg_8af1bfde482f4c289673e5f8823ad3d7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_526051733_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{American Psychological Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/american-psychological-foundation-morg_8af1bfde482f4c289673e5f8823ad3d7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 American Psychological Foundation'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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