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Halvorsen Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$20.9M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.0M

Halvorsen Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $322 million (2024)
  • Annual Giving: $20.9 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 24 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000
  • Average Grant: $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Northeastern U.S. (Connecticut and surrounding states), with some grants to Norway
  • Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: Viking 600 Washington Blvd, 11th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902

Phone: (203) 863-5039

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

Established in 2000, the Halvorsen Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Connecticut with approximately $322 million in total assets as of 2024. The foundation is overseen by Ole Andreas Halvorsen, a billionaire hedge fund manager who co-founded Viking Global Investors, and his wife Diane K. Halvorsen. Both serve as trustees with no reported compensation. The foundation distributed $20.9 million in grants in 2024, focusing on higher education, environmental conservation, biodiversity, arts and culture, outdoor recreation, health, and economic justice. Grantmaking largely centers on Connecticut and the broader northeastern United States, though the foundation occasionally supports organizations in Norway, the founder's native country. Ole Andreas Halvorsen is part of the "Tiger Cubs" group from Julian Robertson's Tiger Management and, like many of his peers, has become a leader in philanthropic giving.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Grants are made to pre-selected organizations with which the trustees have established relationships or personal connections.

Funding Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000 per grant (with an average of $100,000)

Priority Areas

Higher Education: The foundation's primary funding priority, with significant support directed to institutions connected to the Halvorsen family:

  • Williams College (Ole Andreas Halvorsen's alma mater, where he serves on the Board of Trustees) - received $3.7 million in 2019
  • Stanford University Graduate School of Business - received $1 million in 2019
  • Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Rockefeller University

Environment & Biodiversity: Strong focus on conservation, watersheds, and environmental education:

  • Westport River Watershed Alliance
  • Darien Nature Center
  • Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Stowe Land Trust

Arts & Culture: Support for museums and cultural institutions, particularly those with Massachusetts and Connecticut connections:

  • Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (Williamstown, MA) - received $2.1 million in 2019 (both Halvorsens serve as trustees)
  • Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation
  • Darien Library

K-12 Education: Smaller grants compared to higher education, primarily focused on Connecticut schools with some support extending to Vermont schools. Ole Andreas Halvorsen previously served as a trustee of Greenwich Academy.

Additional Focus Areas:

  • Outdoor recreation
  • Health initiatives
  • Economic justice

Geographic Scope

  • Primary focus: Connecticut and the northeastern United States
  • Secondary reach: Vermont, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, California, and France
  • International: Norway (founder's country of origin)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's pattern indicates:

  • Organizations without pre-existing relationships or connections to the trustees
  • General operating support for organizations outside their priority areas
  • Unsolicited requests from unknown organizations

Governance and Leadership

Ole Andreas Halvorsen - Trustee

  • Co-founder and CEO of Viking Global Investors, a Connecticut-based hedge fund
  • Norwegian-American billionaire hedge fund manager
  • Graduate of Williams College, where he serves on the Board of Trustees
  • Also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
  • Previously: Trustee of Greenwich Academy, board member of Right To Play USA, advisory council member of Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Part of the "Tiger Cubs" group from Julian Robertson's Tiger Management
  • Resides in Darien, Connecticut with his wife and three children

Diane K. Halvorsen - Trustee

  • Co-trustee of the foundation alongside her husband
  • Serves on the Board of Trustees of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
  • Active in Connecticut-based philanthropy

Both trustees receive $0 compensation for their roles.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Halvorsen Family Foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships or personal connections.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's closed application process, the only documented pathway to funding appears to be through:

  • Personal connections to the Halvorsen family: The foundation's giving pattern strongly suggests that grants flow to organizations where the trustees have direct involvement (such as Williams College and Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, where Ole Andreas Halvorsen serves on boards).

  • Geographic proximity: Organizations based in or serving Darien, Connecticut, where the Halvorsen family resides, may have a higher likelihood of consideration.

  • Institutional affiliations: Universities and organizations connected to Williams College, Stanford Graduate School of Business, or institutions where the Halvorsens have served on boards or advisory councils may receive consideration.

  • Sector networking: As part of the "Tiger Cubs" philanthropic community from Julian Robertson's Tiger Management, there may be informal knowledge-sharing among this network of hedge fund founders about worthy organizations, though this is speculative.

Note: There is no evidence that sending unsolicited letters or making cold contact will result in funding consideration. The foundation has explicitly stated it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are made through trustee discretion rather than a formal application cycle, there are no published timelines for consideration or notification.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the foundation's giving patterns reveal the following:

Personal Connection is Paramount: Every indicator suggests that grants flow to organizations where the Halvorsen family has direct personal involvement, board service, or long-standing relationships. Williams College, where Ole Andreas Halvorsen serves as trustee and is an alumnus, received one of the largest grants ($3.7 million in 2019).

Geographic Alignment: The foundation shows clear preference for Connecticut-based organizations and institutions in the northeastern United States, particularly those near Darien, CT where the family resides.

Higher Education Focus: The foundation consistently prioritizes elite higher education institutions with personal significance to the founders. The substantial difference in grant size between higher education grants (up to $3.7 million) and other sectors suggests this is the foundation's primary philanthropic interest.

Board Service Indicates Funding Priority: Organizations where Ole Andreas or Diane K. Halvorsen serve on boards appear to receive significant multi-year support (e.g., Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute received $2.1 million in 2019).

Quality and Prestige Matter: Grant recipients tend to be well-established, prestigious institutions rather than grassroots or emerging organizations. Recipients include Stanford, Williams, Columbia, Rockefeller University, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Environmental Conservation Has Growing Importance: While higher education dominates, the foundation has shown consistent interest in environmental causes, particularly watershed protection, biodiversity, and nature centers in Connecticut.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This funder is not accessible through traditional grant application processes - only pre-selected organizations receive funding
  • Personal relationships with the trustees are essential - there is no evidence of successful cold applications
  • Higher education institutions with Halvorsen family connections receive the largest grants - up to $3.7 million for Williams College
  • Connecticut geography matters - organizations based in or serving Connecticut, particularly Darien, receive priority consideration
  • Board service is a strong indicator of funding - both Ole Andreas and Diane K. Halvorsen serve on boards of organizations that receive substantial foundation support
  • The foundation is highly selective - only 24 grants were awarded in 2023 despite $322 million in assets
  • Grant size can be substantial - the foundation can and does make grants up to $1 million, with an average of $100,000

References

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