All grant inquiries and applications for funding are by invitation only. Regretfully, the foundation is unable to respond to unsolicited requests.
We are an accredited 501(c)(3) private foundation with an endowment that enables us to make substantial annual contributions. We focus our giving on education, workforce training and jobs access, and capacity-building and technical assistance. We stress the achievement of positive quantitative outcomes and are particularly interested in programs that are prepared to critically evaluate their work.
Invited applicants must submit a logic model to help us understand exactly what they would do with Heckscher funds, if awarded them.
Current grantees must submit reports for every award received, which are based on their original logic model.
If contacted by our staff to invite an application, you will need to establish an online account (if a first-time applicant). An application invitation email will be sent by our staff and will contain a link to access your online account information and the application form.
We request and consider applications on a year-round, rolling basis by invitation only; applications that are invited are reviewed and responded to promptly by our staff.
Applications must be submitted using our online application. We do not accept applications submitted by mail, fax, or email.
After initial application review by our staff, you may be contacted for further information. Following the review of your application, you will be notified in writing of the Board’s funding decision and terms of an agreement.
In all of our giving, we stress the achievement of positive, measurable, and clear quantitative outcomes. Please see our Logic Model Guidelines, as the foundation critically assesses the logic model as a key piece of the application. We are particularly interested in programs that critically evaluate their work and are prepared to highlight the value-add to the participants served. Funding inquiries should include who is served; size and scale; resources and cost per youth served; program acceptance procedure (what are the application criteria or, if there is none, is participation self-selected or assigned?); timing and length of program; and the comprehensiveness of the program (designed intervention dosage). We are also deeply committed to ensuring that grantees have a strong governance structure and adopt best practices in board composition and support, which should include 100% board participation. We require all grantees to disclose to us the individual financial and other contributions of board members.
We require applicants to complete a logic model to help both your organization and our foundation understand what the participants in your program will be expected to accomplish with our grant. As our Logic Model Guidelines explain, this is different from what activities or program you, the grantee, will offer to participants. Our logic model is intended to guide applicants to set short- and long-term goals. Our staff will work with organizations to help guide the development of acceptable outcomes.
We require the following reports: an interim report six months after the grant date; a final report one year after the grant date; and a possible post-grant report update following the close of the grant and to be scheduled as necessary by our staff. Each reporting requirement consists of a narrative and financial report. Narrative reports are to be based on the original logic model included in each grantee’s application. Financial reports are to be based on the project budget submitted with each grantee’s application. Grantees will receive a reminder email before each report is due, along with a link to their online account to complete the report.
The foundation’s giving takes the form of program support, capacity building, general operating expenses, and specific capital projects.
We do not make grants to political or advocacy groups; nonprofit entities not located and operating primarily in the United States; religious organizations (when funding is to be used for primarily religious purposes); or “umbrella” organizations that provide funding to nonprofits.
There are no minimum or maximum grant amounts considered by the foundation.
Yes.
The number of programs funded by the foundation varies from year to year but in most years, it exceeds 100. Funding in any one year does not guarantee that we will fund the organization or program beyond that year unless specifically agreed in writing.