Faith-based Grants

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

NOTE: The Boards meet 10 times a year and applications are reviewed in the order they are received on a rolling basis with no deadlines. The Board will review up to thirty-five (35) applications per meeting. ​

Mission

The mission of the Henry E. Niles Foundation is to help in the nurturing and uplifting of people in need. The Foundation strives to support humanitarian efforts, including faith-based endeavors, that:

• strengthen education including special education, literacy and others; 
• fight economic hardships through self-help opportunities;
• enhance public health and sanitation on a global basis.

Primary Program Interests

The Board is currently highlighting the following areas:  

Education – Included in this interest area are primary, secondary and higher education for those motivated individuals who are unable to obtain the benefits of quality education without assistance.

Economic Self-Sufficiency – This program area includes but is not limited to: job training, the encouragement and support of entrepreneurialism, mentoring, and micro-credit initiatives.

Health & Independence – Special interests here include medical and public health assistance for the elderly, the poor, the disadvantaged and the disabled.

Guiding Principles & Considerations

• Favors programs addressing long-term solutions to the causes of problems, as distinguished from programs that simply treat the symptoms.
• Added emphasis on programs and organizations that address the intersection of its various program interests.
• Encourages pilot initiatives that test new program models.
• Particular interest in organizations that promote collaborative efforts among groups and organizations.
• Qualities sought by the Foundation in its grantee organizations are: effective and dynamic personnel; passionate leadership; a bias against bureaucracy; prudent management & governance practices; and commitment to results and overall assessment of program impact.

Grants range from $2,500 up to $50,000. In unique circumstances, the Foundation does consider a more significant grant for a program having a major impact in one or more of its areas of interest.

NOTE: Before being invited to apply for an Impact Grant, a Concept Note with a cover letter must be submitted.

Versacare Foundation

We are an independent foundation which has been serving Seventh-day Adventist ministries and a select few other humanitarian efforts with financial grants since 1990. We are a self-funded lay organization, and our board is comprised of both lay Adventists and present and former Adventist church employees, all committed to furthering the Kingdom of God and to restoring the “image of God” in those in need. 

Versafund Grant Program: Impact Grant

The Versafund Grant Program offers three levels of potential funding.

• Impact Grant: $40,001 to $100,000

The Impact Grant is offered by invitation to applicants implementing proven successful practices as well as organizations demonstrating creativity and innovation in the delivery of services that meet the needs of individuals or groups.

Project Priorities: Versacare Foundation funds projects that address the following needs:

• Church community engagement
• Disadvantaged or underserved communities
• General education and science education
• Health and wellness
• Humanitarian efforts
• Social justice
• Women and children’s efforts
• Youth and young adults

NOTE: Applications may be submitted at any time during this funding cycle, open from Feb 1 to the deadline above. Please note that applications will only remain active in our system for 90 days, and at the end of this period they will be automatically rejected.

Guidelines

Local Community grants range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $5,000. Eligible nonprofit organizations must operate on the local level (or be an affiliate/chapter of a larger organization that operates locally) and directly benefit the service area of the facility from which they are requesting funding.Organizations may only submit a total number of 25 applications and/or receive up to 25 grants within the 2019 grant cycle.

Versacare Foundation

We are an independent foundation which has been serving Seventh-day Adventist ministries and a select few other humanitarian efforts with financial grants since 1990. We are a self-funded lay organization, and our board is comprised of both lay Adventists and present and former Adventist church employees, all committed to furthering the Kingdom of God and to restoring the “image of God” in those in need. 

Versafund Grant Program: Venture Grant

The Versafund Grant Program offers three levels of potential funding.

• Venture Grant: $10,001 to $40,000

The Venture Grant is designed to assist projects and programs in reaching clearly stated goals and objectives. It is also intended to help projects and programs become self-sustaining. Venture Grant applicants are expected to provide information based on objective assessments of their programs. 

Project Priorities: Versacare Foundation funds projects that address the following needs:

• Church community engagement
• Disadvantaged or underserved communities
• General education and science education
• Health and wellness
• Humanitarian efforts
• Social justice
• Women and children’s efforts
• Youth and young adults

Youth Service America’s 2022-2023 Partner Grants are a strategy for increasing youth participation rates to 50% by America’s Semiquincentennial (America250) in July 2026. Applicants from the same geographical area are encouraged to apply for applicable grant opportunities to maximize funding impact in your area. 

The 2022-2023 Lead Agency program supports local governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, and K-16 schools and institutions that lead partner coalitions or organize projects to engage youth volunteers on National Days of Service: 

• 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance (September 11, 2022)
• MLK Day of Service (January 16, 2023)
• Global Youth Service Day (April 28-30, 2023). 

Grants of $3,000 or $6,000 will be awarded based on the number of youth volunteers engaged. Applicants may work locally, regionally, statewide, or in multiple states and must be based in the United States. 

Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and AmeriCorps, the Lead Agency program offers grant funding, capacity-building training, and ongoing support to effectively engage young people in meaningful service and service-learning activities. 

Volunteering for the first time in childhood is an expressway to a lifetime of civic participation. National days of service – such as 9/11 Day of Service, MLK Day of Service, and Global Youth Service Day – are the perfect on-ramps. By engaging youth as volunteers on national days of service, Lead Agencies fulfill a vital role to increase youth participation in their community. 

Two types of Lead Agency grants will be awarded: 

• Partner Coalitions are convened by the applicant. The applicant will co-lead the coalition, sharing knowledge and tools learned with coalition partners and reducing barriers to youth leadership and participation.
  • $3,000: 15 external Coalition Partners collectively activating 1,000 youth during the program year. 
  • $6,000: 30 external Coalition Partners collectively activating 2,000 youth during the program year. 
• Project Organizers use the knowledge and tools shared by YSA to support youth in their network to organize youth-led service projects. For example, you are a state association or network (BGCA, YMCA, FCCLA, FFA, Camp Fire, etc.) and seek funding to support 15 chapters or affiliates across your state with youth-led service projects.
  • $3,000: 15 internal Project Organizers collectively activating 1,000 youth during the program year.
  • $6,000: 30 internal Project Organizers collectively activating 2,000 youth during the program year.

Partner Examples:  

• K-12 schools, colleges, and universities 
• Youth development, afterschool, and extracurricular programs 
• Community and faith-based organizations 
• Government agencies 
• National service programs 
• Volunteer centers, etc. 

Regardless of the grant type selected, 80% of youth engaged must be middle and high school age, and 50% must be from low-income families. All Lead Agencies must engage youth in a service activity or host a coalition capacity-building activity on 9/11 Day of Service.

To support Lead Agencies in building their own capacity or the capacity of their coalition members, we will provide training and networking opportunities throughout the year.  

• Grantees are required to participate in a virtual Youth Service Institute (YSI) tentatively scheduled for July 18. There may be an opportunity for grantees to attend an in-person training. In that case, YSA will cover the travel cost.

In turn, Lead Agencies will engage youth, ages 5-25, to lead service or service-learning projects on national days of service, through which they:

• Build youth-adult partnerships that create connections with caring adults who encourage them to use their Sparks (passions, interests, and skills) to help others,
• Provide opportunities to learn and practice 21st Century Skills (Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking),
• Strengthen their community by working towards achieving the Global Goals (17 UN Sustainable Development Goals), and
• Lead ASAP (through Awareness, Service, Advocacy, and Philanthropy projects).

Grantees are expected to submit periodic project activity reports to outline proposed activities for National Days of Service and describe the impact of service projects.