Since 2006, the Night of Too Many Stars benefit has raised over $30 million toward NEXT for AUTISM’s mission to provide children and adults with autism the opportunity to live fulfilling, engaged, and meaningful lives.
NEXT for AUTISM’s Night of Too Many Stars Grants Program funds initiatives and organizations across the United States whose programs improve the outcomes for individuals on the Autism Spectrum and their families in the following areas:
- EDUCATION
Children with autism often find it challenging to learn in typical circumstances. NEXT for AUTISM supports exceptional schools that teach children with autism to learn, communicate, read and gain fundamental life-long skills.
- EMPLOYMENT
Individuals with ASD face high rates of unemployment. Hands-on programs teach students and adults to work and succeed in a work setting.
- COMMUNITY-CONNECTIONS
Disconnection and isolation are more common for people with autism than many other disabilities. A core challenge for people with autism is socializing and connecting with others. Programs to help them learn to relate to others in a social setting and make friends are supported by NEXT for AUTISM. Recreation, arts, athletic, social and volunteer programs help connect people with autism to their communities.
- SAFETY
NEXT for SAFETY, is an initiative to improve autism awareness among first responders, organizations that serve people with autism as well as help families and individuals learn to navigate safety issues.
- COMMUNITY LIVING
Adults with autism are often isolated and rely extensively on the support of their family. NEXT for AUTISM is committed to ensuring adults with autism have the opportunity for meaningful service support in the community beyond the support of their family. Given the complexity of the needs, NEXT for AUTISM is offering a unique chance for multiple organizations to engage in an innovative collaborative design process for each to launch a Community Living program. The different organizations will convene regularly to support one another in order to have a collective impact on types of community living services available. Multiple large grants dedicated to services and supports to adults living with autism in the community are available. These grants are to develop services. Capital campaigns for buildings will not be considered.
Beyond funding, we also provide strategic, tactical and/or operational guidance to select grantees.
Night of Too Many Stars and NEXT for AUTISM reached hundreds of individuals, families and communities living with autism with grants to the following organizations.
- Abilis
- Actionplay
- Any Baby Can
- Arc of Northern Virginia
- Arc of Westchester
- Arizona Autism United
- Aspiritech
- Association for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
- Autism Training Center
- Autism Speaks
- Banding Together
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bucks County
- Damar
- ELIJA Transitional Programs & Services
- Els for Autism
- Epic Foundation
- Grant a Gift
- Guggenheim Museum
- Have Dreams
- Institute for Educational Achievement
- Jewish Family and Children’s Services
- Jim Henson Foundation
- Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
- KEEN Greater DC – Baltimore
- KEEN New York
- Learning Spring School
- Maine Behavioral Healthcare
- Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
- Mercy Health Development Foundation
- New England Center for Children
- New York Child Learning Institute
- NYC Autism Charter Schools
- Ohio State University Foundation
- Our Place
- Palm Beach School for Autism
- Project SEARCH
- Shepherd’s Way
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
- Spectrum 360
- Spectrum Designs Foundation
- Surfers Healing
- Theatre Development Fund
- Urban Autism Solutions
- Victory Academy
- Young At Art