The New Approach Advocacy Fund funds state-level drug policy reform and harm-reduction campaigns, with a strong emphasis on ballot measures and advocacy groups working to change laws around cannabis and psychedelics. Grants are mostly unrestricted/general purpose and directed to state advocacy coalitions and national policy coalitions that drive legislative or voter initiatives. The foundation favors pragmatic, electoral/ballot-focused strategy rather than service delivery or research funding.
New Approach Advocacy Fund’s recent giving is defined by a single large ballot-measure grant: $2,015,000 to Natural Medicine Colorado for general purpose support. That pattern points to a funder backing state-level drug policy reform through campaign-oriented organizations rather than direct service providers. Its 2023 grants also included six-figure support for Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible and Legal Missouri 2022, showing an emphasis on voter and legislative change around cannabis and psychedelics. The funder’s public charity structure and national scope align with this strategy, with grants spread across multiple states and coalition groups working on policy shifts. The portfolio also includes support for New Approach North Dakota, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, and Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, indicating that the fund looks both to state campaigns and broader advocacy infrastructure. Grants are listed as general purpose awards, which suggests flexible support for organizations engaged in advocacy, coalition work, and campaign operations. In 2023, its giving totaled $3,327,820, a level that places the foundation among active funders of drug policy reform organizing.
The clearest theme in the portfolio is state ballot-measure work. New Approach Advocacy Fund gave $2,015,000 to Natural Medicine Colorado for general purpose support, $712,820 to Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible for general purpose support, and $300,000 to Legal Missouri 2022 for general purpose support. Those awards show a focus on campaigns tied to cannabis and psychedelic policy change at the state level. The foundation also supports state advocacy organizations: it granted $240,000 to New Approach North Dakota for general purpose support, indicating backing for local policy reform infrastructure beyond single election cycles. A smaller $50,000 grant to Psychedelic Medicine Coalition shows interest in coalition-building around psychedelic policy, while $10,000 to Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center connects the portfolio to harm reduction and public health work on substance use.
The foundation’s typical grant size is relatively large: the 25th percentile is $97,500, the median is $270,000, and the 75th percentile is $609,615. In 2023, every recent grant listed was a general purpose award, pointing to flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding. The recent record also shows repetition around the same policy arena, with multiple grants in the same year going to drug policy reform campaigns and advocacy coalitions rather than isolated one-off issue areas. New Approach Advocacy Fund is a public charity and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$265K
$249K
$1.1M
$995K
Most grants fall between $98K and $610K, with a median of $270K.
25th Percentile
$98K
Median
$270K
75th Percentile
$610K
About 17% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Highly concentrated giving: very few grants per cycle with several large, single-purpose awards focused on state ballot/advocacy campaigns. Grants are typically large, one-time general operating support to campaign or coalition organizations rather than many small grants or multi-year, diversified funding.
Notable grantees: Natural Medicine Colorado, Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible, Legal Missouri 2022, New Approach North Dakota, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition
Giving is national, with recipients spread across U.S. states and all listed grants going to U.S. organizations. Colorado appears most often in the recipient mix by state count, and Washington, DC accounts for 17% of grants. Recent recipients were based in Denver, Oklahoma City, St Louis, Fargo, Washington, DC, and Honolulu, showing a broad geographic footprint tied to state campaign work and coalition advocacy. The distribution includes both state-level campaign hubs and national advocacy centers.
It supports state ballot-measure campaigns, state-level drug policy advocacy groups, psychedelic policy coalitions, and harm-reduction/public health organizations. Recent grants went to groups such as Natural Medicine Colorado, New Approach North Dakota, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, and Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.
The recent grants are listed as general purpose awards. That includes the largest award of $2,015,000 to Natural Medicine Colorado and other substantial grants such as $712,820 to Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible and $300,000 to Legal Missouri 2022.
Its typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $97,500, the median is $270,000, and the 75th percentile is $609,615. The recent grants list ranges from $10,000 to $2,015,000.
Colorado is the top state by grant count among recipients. Washington, DC accounts for 17% of grants, and the recent recipient list also includes organizations in Oklahoma, Missouri, North Dakota, and Hawaii.
No. The portfolio covers cannabis and psychedelics policy work, plus harm reduction. Recent grants include support for state ballot measures in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri, a policy coalition in Washington, DC, and a harm-reduction organization in Honolulu.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts for Mental Health Options | Boston, MA | $90,481 | 2024 | general purpose donation |
| Marijuana Policy Project | Washington, DC | $75,000 | 2024 | general purpose loan |
| Oklahoma Donor Alliance Inc | Edmond, OK | $50,000 | 2024 | general purpose donation |
| Marijuana Policy Project Foundation | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | general purpose donation |
| Natural Medicine Colorado | Denver, CO | $2,015,000 | 2023 | general purpose grant |
| Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible | Oklahoma City, OK | $712,820 | 2023 | general purpose grant |
| Legal Missouri 2022 | St Louis, MO | $300,000 | 2023 | general purpose grant |
| New Approach North Dakota | Fargo, ND | $240,000 | 2023 | general purpose grant |
| Psychedelic Medicine Coalition | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | general purpose grant |
| Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center | Honolulu, HI | $10,000 | 2023 | general purpose grant |
Massachusetts for Mental Health Options
$90,481general purpose donation
Marijuana Policy Project
$75,000general purpose loan
Oklahoma Donor Alliance Inc
$50,000general purpose donation
Natural Medicine Colorado
$2,015,000general purpose grant
Yes on 820 - Oklahomans for Sensible
$712,820general purpose grant
Legal Missouri 2022
$300,000general purpose grant
New Approach North Dakota
$240,000general purpose grant
Psychedelic Medicine Coalition
$50,000general purpose grant