The Ruth Turner Fund Incorporated
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various social causes, particularly those focused on homelessness, women's empowerment, mental health, and education. It funds a range of nonprofit organizations, including shelters, advocacy groups, and educational services, reflecting a commitment to addressing critical social issues. The foundation primarily serves recipients in New York, with additional support extending to organizations in Washington, D.C. and New Jersey. Its mission appears to center on enhancing community well-being through targeted charitable contributions.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Established New York–based nonprofits in homelessness, women’s services, mental health, education, or related social services with existing relationships or referrals to the foundation.
Good Fit
- • Located in New York or serving New York communities.
- • Program areas matching homelessness, women’s empowerment, mental health, or social services.
- • An existing relationship, referral, or prior interaction with the foundation or its network.
- • Requests sized in the foundation’s observed grant range (~$10K–$35K) and for general operating support or program funding.
Geography
Observed giving is heavily concentrated in New York: in 2023 about 92% of dollars went to NY recipients despite grants to three states, indicating a narrowly focused state/metro footprint.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 13 distinct independent recipients across homelessness, women’s issues, mental health and education, indicating a broad recipient set for a small foundation despite some dollar concentration among top grantees.
New Applicants
The foundation states it only funds preselected applicants and most grantees were repeat recipients (11 of 13 in 2023); two new recipients appeared in 2023, but no public application route or contact information was found, so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to gain access without referral.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
