Hearst Foundations' Mission

The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

Hearst Foundations' Goals

The Foundations seek to achieve their mission by funding approaches that result in:

• Improved health and quality of life
• Access to high quality educational options to promote increased academic achievement
• Arts and sciences serving as a cornerstone of society
• Sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults
• Stabilizing and supporting families

Funding Priorities

The Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of interests – culture, education, health and social service – and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Culture

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those which enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Education

The Hearst Foundations fund educational institutions demonstrating uncommon success in preparing students to thrive in a global society. The Foundations’ focus is largely on higher education, but they also fund innovative models of early childhood and K-12 education, as well as professional development.

Types of Support: Program, scholarship, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Health

The Hearst Foundations assist leading regional hospitals, medical centers and specialized medical institutions providing access to high-quality healthcare for low-income populations. In response to the shortage of healthcare professionals necessary to meet the country’s evolving needs, the Foundations also fund programs designed to enhance skills and increase the number of practitioners and educators across roles in healthcare. Because the Foundations seek to use their funds to create a broad and enduring impact on the nation’s health, support for medical research and the development of young investigators is also considered.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, endowment support

Social Service

The Hearst Foundations fund direct-service organizations that tackle the roots of chronic poverty by applying effective solutions to the most challenging social and economic problems. The Foundations prioritize supporting programs that have proven successful in facilitating economic independence and in strengthening families. Preference is also given to programs with the potential to scale productive practices in order to reach more people in need.

Types of Support: Program, capital and general support

Walmart’s more than 2 million associates are residents, neighbors, friends and family in thousands of communities around the globe. Walmart works to strengthen these communities through both retail business and community giving, and we support and invest in communities through local giving. The following programs have open application processes with specific deadlines for eligibility and consideration.

Local Community Grants

Each year, our U.S. stores and clubs award local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5,000. These local grants are designed to address the unique needs of the communities where we operate. They include a variety of organizations, such as animal shelters, elder services and community clean-up projects.

Areas of Funding

• There are eight (8) areas of funding for which an organization can apply. Please review the areas listed below to ensure your organization’s goals fall within one of these areas.
• Community and Economic Development: Improving local communities for the benefit of low-income individuals and families in the local service area
• Diversity and Inclusion: Fostering the building of relationships and understanding among diverse groups in the local service area
• Education: Providing afterschool enrichment, tutoring or vocational training for low-income individuals and families in the local service area
• Environmental Sustainability: Preventing waste, increasing recycling, or supporting other programs that work to improve the environment in the local service area
• Health and Human Service: Providing medical screening, treatment, social services, or shelters for low-income individuals and families in the local service area
• Hunger Relief and Healthy Eating: Providing Federal or charitable meals/snacks for low-income individuals and families in the local service area
• Public Safety: Supporting public safety programs through training programs or equipment in the local service area
• Quality of Life: Improving access to recreation, arts or cultural experiences for low-income individuals and families in the local service area

NOTE:

Application forms must be requested each year online prior to submitting an application. When you submit an LOI, a member of the foundation staff will be contacting you within the next five business days regarding the status of your request.

Full applications are due at the "full proposal" deadline above. 

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

NOTE: BBCF will host three Virtual Grant Seeker’s Workshops for organizations who are interested in applying for a Community Grant. Attendance at one of the virtual workshops is highly recommended, especially for first-time organizations who are new to this grants process. 

Community Grants Program

The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is announcing its 2023 Community Grant Cycle. BBCF is looking for community-based organizations from Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Wilcox Counties.

BBCF invites organizations based in and serving Alabama’s Black Belt to apply for one-year grants for community-led activities. Grant awards will range from $500 to $5,000, or more depending on available resources. BBCF supports community efforts that will contribute to the strength, innovation, and success of Black Belt citizens and communities. BBCF will invest in organizations engaging Black Belt citizens in addressing the most pressing community needs.

Examples of the kind of projects include but are not limited to the following:  

• Education with a focus on reading literacy, career exploration and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
• Community Economic Development that builds and strengthens community.
• COVID-19 Prevention and Intervention
• Health with a focus on healthy living, nutrition, and physical activities
• Mental Health and Counseling Activities
• Volunteer Fire Department Projects
• Civic Engagement and Participation (Voter Education, Voter Registration, and Voter Restoration)
• Childcare and Senior Citizens Programs
• Criminal Justice Reform and Intervention
• Recreational Programs

Digital Inclusion Fund sponsored by Google Fiber Grant Description

In partnership with Google Fiber, the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville launched the Digital Inclusion Fund in 2018 to support digital inclusion efforts in the City of Huntsville. This grant program provides funding to organizations that are preparing students for technology careers, supporting workforce development, and teaching people to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.

Priorities

Based on feedback from a Digital Inclusion Community Conversations held between 2018 and 2021, our community’s priorities for this Digital Inclusion fund are as follows 

• Education (access to information/research)
• Job training (workforce development)
• Economic development (creating jobs)
• Social connection (interpersonal connection)
• Health care (health information and access)
• Digital Equity/Equitable Access 
• Digital Literacy 

Target Populations

• Low-income members of our community
• Senior adults/elderly
• Homeless
• Disabled
• Adult learners
• English language learners/new Americans
• Foster children
• Individuals/groups who need workforce training

AARP Foundation Grantmaking Overview

Our Unique Approach

As a charitable affiliate of AARP, AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping older adults build economic opportunity. Through our grantmaking, we collaborate with organizations to advance projects that can become sustainable solutions to the challenges facing older adults living with low income.

AARP Foundation focuses on achieving equitable outcomes for older adults who are struggling, with specific objectives of increasing income and earnings, securing benefits, and helping older adults gain access to refunds for which they’re eligible. Our work prioritizes equitable strategies and services that address systemic barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and other biases that perpetuate economic instability.

AARP Foundation is currently concentrating its efforts in 22 U.S. states and territories with high rates of senior poverty: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

Advancing Economic Opportunity Among Older Adults – Direct Service

AARP Foundation invites organizations to submit a pre-application for forward-thinking direct-service projects that develop and test new approaches and solutions for helping older adults with low income secure the essentials and increase economic opportunity.

AARP Foundation is seeking forward-thinking direct-service projects that develop and test new approaches and solutions to help older adults with low income secure the essentials. We aim to fund organizations working to solve urgent problems and will support projects across the lifecycle, including program implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of learnings. This opportunity will provide funding for two to three years.

These projects would test or expand new methods for helping vulnerable older adults grow their income and reduce their expenditures, leading them on a path toward financial stability.

We are seeking proposals for:

•  Innovative program pilots
• Expansion of successful programs to include:
  • A focus on older adults with low income for the first time
  • A new intervention component 

AARP Foundation Grantmaking Overview

Our Unique Approach

As a charitable affiliate of AARP, AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping older adults build economic opportunity. Through our grantmaking, we collaborate with organizations to advance projects that can become sustainable solutions to the challenges facing older adults living with low income.

AARP Foundation focuses on achieving equitable outcomes for older adults who are struggling, with specific objectives of increasing income and earnings, securing benefits, and helping older adults gain access to refunds for which they’re eligible. Our work prioritizes equitable strategies and services that address systemic barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and other biases that perpetuate economic instability.

AARP Foundation is currently concentrating its efforts in 22 U.S. states and territories with high rates of senior poverty: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

Advancing Economic Opportunity Among Older Adults – Field Building

AARP Foundation invites organizations to submit a pre-application for field-building projects that advance economic opportunity and financial stability for older adults on a systemic level. AARP Foundation is interested in established organizations that are exploring systems-level change, assessing the effectiveness of existing interventions, and answering questions about how to best serve older adults with low income.

Questions we are looking to answer include:

• How (or to what extent) are public benefits changing the financial health of older adults with low income?
• What outreach strategies for various programs are most effective for older adults?
• What are the reasons for participant “drop-off” during program implementation? For instance, what happens when somebody is reached, shows interest in applying for benefits or participating in a workforce program, but does not continue?

Other potential topics aligned with this opportunity include:

• Identifying improvements in the collection and sharing of data across organizations or systems with regard to older adult populations
• Addressing systems that create conditions in which senior poverty takes hold and proposing solutions to improve or disrupt these systems
• Furthering solutions that lift seniors out of poverty — for example, the evaluation of an intervention addressing senior poverty

We are open to receiving proposals for relevant projects that are not explicitly described above, but projects must focus on sharing insights and learnings for systems-level change that ultimately leads to increased income or decreased expenditures for older adults with low income.

Building Capacity to Increase Older Adult Access to Benefits

AARP Foundation has specific objectives to achieve outcomes for older adults with low income. These objectives focus on increasing income and decreasing expenditures, primarily through gainful employment, securing benefits, and accessing refunds and credits. Our work prioritizes equitable strategies and services that address systemic barriers, racial and ethnic disparities, and other biases that perpetuate economic instability.

Capacity building grants offer up to $50,000 to support direct service organizations in their efforts to work more efficiently and effectively with and for older adults. These grants are intended to aid organizational development at a structural level. Capacity Building grants are not intended to pay for general operating expenses or existing programs and services. These projects should instead focus on enhancing, optimizing or streamlining resources, processes, or programs to better assist eligible older adults with enrollment in multiple benefits during and beyond the grant cycle. Proposals must demonstrate that the expanded capacity is sustainable (financially and operationally) beyond the project lifecycle.

Capacity building support offered through this RFA is limited to organizational planning, implementation or evaluation of projects that focus on enhancing, optimizing or streamlining resources, processes or programs to better assist eligible older adults with enrollment in multiple benefits during and beyond the grant cycle.

Projects in the following categories are eligible:

• Planning
• Partnership/Relationship Development
• Operations
• Technology