MetLife Foundation
Contact information:
Sibyl C. Jacobson
CEO and President
27-01 Queens Plaza N.
Long Island City, NY 11101-4007
Phone: (212) 578-6272
Website: http://www.metlife.org
Type of foundation: Company-sponsored
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife for the purpose of supporting educational, health and civic and cultural organizations. The foundation's goals are to strengthen communities, promote good health and improve education.
Areas of focus include:
Culture and Public Broadcasting
In recognition of the arts' contribution to the health, vitality and development of our communities, MetLife Foundation provides grants to a variety of cultural organizations throughout the country. Support is emphasized for projects with large and diverse audiences that help promote greater understanding among different cultures. In addition, grants are made for arts education initiatives that contribute to the development of young people. Specific initiatives include:
- Arts Education
- Awards for Cultural Excellence
- Public Broadcasting
- Traveling Exhibitions
- National Performance Tours
- Access to the Arts Initiative
- Museum Initiatives
Recent public broadcasting grants:
- KUVO Denver Educational Broadcasting, $25,000
- Rhode Island Public Television, $10,000
- Sesame Workshop, $10,000
Education
Teaching and learning across the lifespan are critical to the well-being of all people, particularly as 21st century demands require a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. MetLife and MetLife Foundation demonstrate longstanding commitment to strengthening the quality of education by supporting activities initiatives that:
- Develop the leadership skills of principals, teachers and students.
- Promote access and opportunity to schooling, including a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Create connections between schools and communities to encourage shared understanding.
- Foster supportive relationships between educators and students through mentoring.
Education is the cornerstone of all Foundation programs because it brings together diverse groups, sparks creativity, promotes economic freedom, and inspires a lifetime of knowledge acquisition. These ideals are pivotal to all of our initiatives across all of our program areas.
Health
To help people of all ages make more informed decisions about their health, grants are directed toward national health promotion and education initiatives. Emphasis is given to:
- Alzheimer's and Aging.
- Parenting Skills.
- Campaign Healthy Habits.
- HIV/AIDS Awareness.
- Substance Abuse Prevention.
Civic Affairs
Foundation grants work to build healthy communities with access and opportunity for all. Emphasis is given to:
- Affordable housing.
- Economic and Skills Development.
- After-School Initiatives.
- Mentoring.
- Volunteering and Civic Engagement.
Eligibility: MetLife Foundation makes contributions only to organizations that have been granted exemption from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Limitations: The Foundation does not make grants to:
- Private foundations.
- Religious, fraternal, political, athletic, social or veterans organizations.
- Hospitals.
- Individuals.
- Organizations receiving support from United Way.
- Local chapters of national organizations.
- Disease-specific organizations.
- Labor groups.
- Organizations whose activities are mainly international.
- Organizations primarily engaged in patient care or direct treatment, drug treatment centers. and community health clinics.
- Elementary and secondary schools.
- Endowments.
- Courtesy advertising or festival participation.
Deadline: Requests are accepted and reviewed throughout the year.
How to apply: Requests must be made in writing.
Read more about grant applications
Anticipated funding amount: Approximately $2.4 million to be allocated in 2007.
Assets (year ended 12/31/06): $172,699,694
Total giving (year ended 12/31/06): $31,999,651
