F.B. Heron Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Heron's stated focus is community-led development, mainly in rural communities facing persistent poverty, and the filing says it considers the model applicable in urban, rural and exurban communities too, so a small organisation working with local residents on shared prosperity may fit.
- It looks for places where people are already developing solutions and partnerships, and it prefers not to be the only funder there, so it helps to name the other support your work already has.
- Most grants are small: half of its 296 grants to organisations were $1,500 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $200 and $150,000, so a modest request is the realistic starting point, while its largest grant of $15,000,000 went to an organisation that regrants to others and is not a typical size.
- Repeat giving is heavy, with 94% of grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded the year before, so an introduction or an existing relationship is worth pursuing before you ask.
- The filing does not state an application method or timing, so confirm both with the foundation before sending anything, and it states no exclusions.
Overview
F.B. Heron Foundation is a US private foundation based in New Haven, CT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Heron does not confine its support to a prescribed programme area, legal form or financial tool. It works directly with local organisations embedded in, trusted by and driven by their neighbours, investing in their know-how, skills and determination to build shared prosperity. Its work is mainly in rural communities facing persistent poverty, systemic challenges, historic disinvestment and disenfranchisement, while it considers the model applicable in urban, rural and exurban communities across geographic regions. Heron looks for communities where people are already developing solutions and partnerships, and prefers not to be the only funder in a place. Its approach combines long-term financial support with research, peer learning and stronger collective agency and social bonds.
Themes
- Community-led development
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in the United States and Virginia.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 94% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 296 grants to organisations were $1,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Heron tends to work in communities where residents demonstrate agency, are already thinking about solutions and are forming key partnerships.
- Heron prefers not to be the only funder operating in a place, to avoid creating funder dependency.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 5%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 45% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations F.B. Heron Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 83% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 131 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $1,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Black Belt Community Foundation · General Support$15,000,0002023 tax year
- Black Belt Community Foundation · Project-Based$2,000,0002023 tax year
- Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises · Pass-Through$300,0002023 tax year
- Urban Institute · Project-Based$175,5002023 tax year
- Center for Higher Ambition Leadership · General Support$150,0002023 tax year
- Self-Help Enterprises · General Support$150,0002023 tax year
- Jubilee Gift Galaxy · General Support$150,0002023 tax year
- Stratos Partners · Project-Based$150,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kelly Donnelly — Managing Director - Secretary
- Enrique Virgil — Treasuer
- Mary Jo Mullan — President
- Greg Watson — Director
- Dan MC Kay — Director
- Felecia Lucky — Director
- Jim King — Director
- Buzz Schmidt — Chairman
- Nhadine Leung — Vice President / Treasurer
- Paul Costello — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $36,349,061 | $29,986,986 | $311,913,606 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $24,916,796 | $19,480,286 | $326,924,230 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to F.B. Heron Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (475) 250-1020
- info@heron.org
- New Haven, CT
- heron.org
Applying to F.B. Heron Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (475) 250-1020
- info@heron.org
- New Haven, CT
- heron.org