Civis Foundation

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-6215329 Website

Health Mental health care Diseases and conditions Immune system diseases HIV and AIDS

Civis Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established as the successor to the H. van Ameringen Foundation and Galvan Foundation. Founded by the late Henry van Ameringen, a fragrance industry heir and noted social-liberal philanthropist, and T. Eric Galloway, a Harvard-trained lawyer and real estate developer, the foundation continues their shared commitment to advancing the common good. The foundation invests in arts and letters, cultural preservation, and community initiatives that inspire awareness of "the other," increase compassion, and foster responsibility for a shared and interdependent future.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$88.1M

+18.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$230K

-98.4% YoY

Grant Count

+133.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$33K

-99.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Civis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's mission encompasses funding for programs in:

HIV/AIDS
Gay and lesbian issues
Sentencing reform and prison reform
Legalization of medical and legal marijuana
Arts and letters
Cultural preservation
Community initiatives

Grantmaking

The foundation operates through strategic partnerships with major cultural institutions and supports both large-scale endowed programs and smaller sustaining grants. Notable programs include:

Grant Range

** $12,500 to $5,000,000+ (endowment gifts)

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

National and international, with particular emphasis on:

Hudson, NY
Providence, RI
Savannah, GA
New York City

Grant Distribution by State

New York $42.5M (95%)

District of Columbia $1.4M (3%)

California $220K (0%)

Oregon $100K (0%)

Colorado $75K (0%)

Texas $60K (0%)

Alabama $50K (0%)

Pennsylvania $50K (0%)

+3 more states

States

Alabama California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Massachusetts New York Oregon Pennsylvania Texas Virginia

Cities

AbileneBostonBronxBrooklynDelray BeachDenverHarrimanHudsonLos AngelesMilfordMontgomeryNew YorkPortlandRestonWashingtonWest Hollywood

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $88 million (as of FY 2024)

2023 Financial Summary:

Revenue: -$1,050,089
Expenses: $15,049,247
Total Assets: $74.5 million
Total Liabilities: $2.2 million

Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since June 1967

EIN: 13-6215329

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$88,060,938	$74,534,012	$88,431,478
Revenue	$14,406,462	$-1,050,089	$16,469,252
Expenses	$1,020,442	$15,049,247	$11,495,692
Qualifying Distributions	$231,500	$14,635,132	$10,732,250
Net Investment Income	$2,635,315	$358,701	$938,430
Distributable Amount	$3,921,470	—	—

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

84 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Black Theater ($50,000), Headcount ($50,000), Open to Debate ($30,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER WASHINGTON, DC	PROTECTING VOTER ACCESS	$25,000
NATIONAL BLACK THEATER NEW YORK, NY	SUPPORTING PROGRAMS	$50,000
OPEN TO DEBATE NEW YORK, NY	SUPPORTING PROGRAMS	$30,000
HEADCOUNT NEW YORK, NY	SUPPORTING PROGRAMS	$50,000
STUDENT PIRG BOSTON, MA	SUPPORTING PROGRAMS	$25,000
TEH LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER NEW YORK, NY	SUPPORTING PROGRAMS	$25,000
THE HUDSON ATHENS LIGHTHOUSE HUDSON, NY	SUPPORTING PROGRAMS	$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
ERIC GALLOWAY	TRUSTEE	10	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2025

Savannah Performance Alliance received a $12,500 matching grant from Civis Foundation in 2025.

Civis Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details - Hinchilla

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Health Mental health care Diseases and conditions Immune system diseases HIV and AIDS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Civis Foundation fund?

The foundation's mission encompasses funding for programs in: • HIV/AIDS • Gay and lesbian issues • Sentencing reform and prison reform • Legalization of medical and legal marijuana • Arts and letters • Cultural preservation • Community initiatives

How do I apply for a grant from Civis Foundation?

**Grant Range:** $12,500 to $5,000,000+ (endowment gifts) **Annual Giving:** $231,500 (FY 2024 charitable disbursements) **Decision Timeline:** Varies by program; The Democracy Cycle program has a 5-6 month decision timeline **Success Rate:** 2% The foundation operates through strategic partnerships with major cultural institutions and supports both large-scale endowed programs and smaller sustaining grants. Notable programs include: • **Civis Hope Commissions:** Administered through the Fisher…

Where does Civis Foundation make grants?

National and international, with particular emphasis on: • Hudson, NY • Providence, RI • Savannah, GA • New York City

What size grants does Civis Foundation award?

In 2024, Civis Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $230K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Civis Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Civis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.