← Back to US Funders Directory

Samuel P Hunt Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M

Samuel P Hunt Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $546,165
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed twice annually (March 15 and September 15 deadlines)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: New Hampshire only

Contact Details

Address: 555 Canal St Apt 710, Manchester, NH 03101-1517

Phone: 603-622-4052 or 603-472-5531

Website: The foundation does not maintain a website

Email: Not publicly available

Application Method: Contact the foundation directly by mail or phone to request a grant application form

Overview

The Samuel P Hunt Foundation was established in 1951 by Samuel P. Hunt, a prominent Manchester industrialist who served as Director of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company and founder of the Manchester Gas Light Company. Hunt, who died in 1958, had no children, and the people of Manchester and New Hampshire became his "surrogate children." With current assets of $11.4 million (2023), the foundation distributed $546,165 in grants through 38 awards in 2023. The foundation supports arts and culture, health, children and youth services, Christian agencies and churches, educational institutions, and human services across New Hampshire. The foundation is managed by a board of three trustees and operates as a traditional private foundation with twice-yearly application deadlines. The foundation is known for its lack of transparency, not maintaining a public website or detailed guidelines.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single general grant program with the following characteristics:

  • General Operating Support: $5,000 - $50,000
    • Applications accepted twice annually with deadlines of March 15 and September 15
    • Must be NH registered 501(c)(3) entities
    • Organizations must contact the foundation by mail or phone to request an application form

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds organizations working in the following areas:

  • Arts and Culture: Performing arts, historical activities, and cultural organizations
  • Children and Youth Development: Youth services, special population support, and educational programs
  • Health: Healthcare organizations, mental health care, and medical equipment
  • Education: Educational institutions and educational programming
  • Human Services: Family services, shelter and residential care, and social services
  • Christian Organizations: Christian agencies and churches
  • Natural Resources: Environmental and conservation organizations

The foundation's giving is exclusively focused on New Hampshire communities, including Manchester, Temple, Nashua, Rumney, Merrimack, Concord, Portsmouth, Londonderry, Bedford, and Peterborough.

What They Don't Fund

While explicit exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's restrictions include:

  • Organizations located outside New Hampshire
  • Organizations not in compliance with NH Director of Charitable Trusts, IRS, and NH Secretary of State requirements
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Grants outside the $5,000 - $50,000 range

Governance and Leadership

The Samuel P Hunt Foundation is governed by a board of three co-trustees, each compensated at $12,000 annually (as of 2023):

  • Douglas A. McInninch, Co-Trustee
  • James C. Tyrie, Co-Trustee
  • Gregory G. Hood, Co-Trustee

The foundation operates with minimal overhead, with officer compensation accounting for only 5.4% of total expenses ($36,000 out of $672,342 in 2023), while charitable disbursements comprised 84.8% of expenses ($570,266). The trustees manage assets that have ranged between $7.7 million and $12.6 million over the past decade, showing consistent charitable disbursement patterns typically allocating 72-87% of annual expenses toward charitable purposes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Samuel P Hunt Foundation requires prospective grantees to:

  1. Initial Contact: Contact the foundation directly by mail or phone to request a grant application form

    • Phone: 603-622-4052 or 603-472-5531
    • Mail: 555 Canal St Apt 710, Manchester, NH 03101-1517

  2. Required Materials:

    • Completed grant application (obtained from the foundation)
    • Tax exempt status letter (501(c)(3) determination letter)

  3. Eligibility Verification: Organizations must be in compliance with:

    • NH Director of Charitable Trusts registration and reporting requirements
    • IRS requirements
    • NH Secretary of State requirements

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadlines: March 15 and September 15
  • Application Schedule: Two funding cycles per year
  • Decision Timeline: Specific timeframes from submission to decision are not publicly disclosed
  • Notification Method: Not publicly documented

Success Rates

The foundation made 38 awards in 2023, 23 awards in 2022, and 31 awards in 2021. However, the foundation does not publicly disclose the total number of applications received, making it impossible to calculate a formal success rate. The foundation's lack of a website and public guidelines limits the transparency around application competitiveness.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation directly to inquire about reapplication procedures and any potential waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Impact in New Hampshire Communities

The foundation has funded a diverse range of organizations serving New Hampshire communities. Successful grant recipients include:

  • Crotched Mountain Foundation: Received $25,000 for their CMF Kids program, which supports students with complex disabilities across NH, partnering with school districts from economically disadvantaged communities
  • The Lukas Community (Temple, NH): Received funding for facility improvements, specifically roof repair for Birch House
  • Circle Program: Funded CPR and first aid training for teens
  • Palace Theatre: Supported a new orchestra pit cover project
  • Family First Health & Support Center: Funded dental equipment upgrades

Key Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding history and structure, organizations are most likely to succeed when they:

  1. Demonstrate Clear NH Impact: The foundation exclusively funds NH organizations serving NH communities
  2. Show Compliance: Organizations must be fully compliant with all NH state requirements and IRS regulations
  3. Focus on Traditional Charitable Purposes: Grants support arts, health, youth, education, Christian organizations, and human services
  4. Request Appropriate Amounts: Grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000
  5. Serve Local Communities: The foundation has shown support for organizations in specific NH communities including Manchester, Temple, Nashua, and other NH towns
  6. Address Practical Needs: Funded projects include equipment, facilities, programs, and capacity-building

Common Characteristics of Funded Projects

  • Equipment purchases and facility improvements
  • Youth development and education programs
  • Healthcare and mental health services
  • Arts and cultural programming
  • Support for vulnerable populations
  • Community-serving Christian organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • NH Organizations Only: The foundation exclusively funds New Hampshire 501(c)(3) organizations. If your organization is not based in NH and serving NH communities, this is not the right funder.

  • Plan for Application Deadlines: With only two annual deadlines (March 15 and September 15), organizations must plan their submission timeline carefully. Contact the foundation well in advance to obtain application materials.

  • Right-Sized Requests: The foundation consistently awards grants between $5,000 and $50,000. Tailor your request to fall within this range and match the scale of the foundation's giving.

  • Compliance is Essential: Ensure your organization is fully compliant with NH Director of Charitable Trusts, IRS, and NH Secretary of State requirements before applying. This appears to be a strict eligibility requirement.

  • Direct Communication Required: Without a website or online application portal, building a relationship through phone or written communication is necessary. Be prepared for a more traditional, less transparent application process.

  • Diverse Funding Interests: The foundation supports a wide range of causes from arts to health to youth services. Organizations should clearly articulate how their work aligns with the foundation's broad charitable mission and serves NH communities.

  • No Public Guidelines: The lack of detailed public guidelines means organizations should contact the foundation directly to understand current priorities, recent funding trends, and application expectations.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory