Hendricks Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.7-4.2 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 8-12 weeks
• Grant Range: Under $30,000 (typical) - $1+ million (major initiatives)
• Geographic Focus: Beloit, Wisconsin area exclusively

Contact Details

• Website: hendricksfamilyfoundation.org
• Phone: 608-473-0238
• Email: contactHFF@hendricksholding.com
• Address: 690 Third Street, Suite 300, Beloit, WI 53511
• Pre-application contact: Strongly encouraged for requests over $100,000

Overview

Founded in 2004 by billionaire businesswoman Diane Hendricks (owner of ABC Supply), the Hendricks Family Foundation is a private independent foundation with approximately $59.8 million in assets. The foundation distributes $3.7-4.2 million annually to strengthen Beloit, Wisconsin, the Hendricks family's hometown. With a motto of "Cultivating Opportunity. Building Community. Honoring Country," the foundation has steadily increased its grantmaking from 13 grants in 2020 to 35 grants in 2024. The foundation focuses on transformative investments in education, workforce development, veterans, public safety, and community vitality, making both significant anchor investments and smaller community grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Impact Grant: Up to $100,000 (rolling basis, no LOI required, 8-week decision)
• Operating Grant: Over $100,000 for program support (LOI required, 8-12 week decision)
• Capital Grant: Over $100,000 for facility/capital projects (LOI required, 8-12 week decision)

Priority Areas

• Career Pathways and Workforce Development
• Education
• Public Safety
• Veterans
• Strong and Vibrant Communities

What They Don't Fund

• Endowments
• Organizations outside the Greater Beloit area
• Multiple applications for ongoing operating support of the same organization/project

Governance and Leadership

Diane Hendricks - President & Chairman: Founder and billionaire owner of ABC Supply, one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing, siding, and windows in the United States. She states: "I can't think of anything more important than helping a child, helping them reach their potential and see all the opportunities there are in this world."

Lisa Furseth - Executive Director: Leads day-to-day operations. She emphasizes: "It comes to a point where effort alone is not enough. You have to take a step back and ask the hard questions. The most important of those is, how are our kids doing?"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the foundation's electronic grant management system at hendricksfamilyfoundation.org. Applicants must complete an eligibility quiz before accessing the application. For grants over $100,000, a Letter of Interest (LOI) must be submitted first. The foundation strongly encourages pre-application contact for larger requests.

Decision Timeline

• Impact Grants (under $100,000): 8 weeks from submission
• Operating/Capital Grants (over $100,000): 8 weeks for LOI review, then 8-12 weeks after full application deadline
• Notification methods not specified in public documentation

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application success rates. In 2024, they made 35 grants totaling $4.2 million, up from 32 grants totaling $3.7 million in 2023.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. The foundation explicitly states it does not consider multiple applications for ongoing operating support of the same organization/project.

Application Success Factors

The foundation evaluates applications based on:

• Geographic alignment: Must serve Beloit community directly - Diane Hendricks emphasized supporting "the family's hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin"
• Strategic priority alignment: Projects should clearly connect to one of the five key priority areas
• Community partnerships: The foundation specifically looks for "meaningful community partnerships" as part of evaluation criteria
• Sustainability planning: Applicants must demonstrate how activities will continue beyond the grant period
• Youth focus: Diane Hendricks stated "our community can expect that we will continue to help meet the critical need of increasing the number of quality educational options for children"
• Career readiness: The foundation particularly values projects that help youth "consider all the possibilities that allow for a prosperous future and personal achievement"
• Avoid repeat operating requests: The foundation will not consider multiple applications for ongoing operating support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Beloit-only focus: Applications from outside Beloit will not be considered - this is non-negotiable
• Make pre-application contact: For grants over $100,000, reach out before investing time in the application
• Highlight community partnerships: The foundation explicitly evaluates "meaningful community partnerships"
• Demonstrate sustainability: Include clear plans for how activities will continue after grant funding ends
• Align with workforce development: The foundation has made multi-million dollar investments in career preparation initiatives
• Consider multi-year potential: Major initiatives like Lincoln Academy and CareerTek received sustained multi-year support
• Average grant increasing: While many grants are under $30,000, the 2024 average was $100,000, showing growing ambition

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hendricks Family Foundation Inc (projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/200874851) - Accessed January 2025
• GuideStar Profile - EIN 20-0874851 (guidestar.org/profile/20-0874851) - Accessed January 2025
• Cause IQ - Hendricks Family Foundation (causeiq.com/organizations/hendricks-family-foundation,200874851/) - Accessed January 2025
• Inside Philanthropy - Hendricks Family Foundation Profile - Accessed January 2025
• Hendricks Family Foundation Official Website (hendricksfamilyfoundation.org) - Accessed January 2025
• Beloit Daily News - Multiple articles on foundation grants and initiatives (2021-2024)
• Form 990-PF filings (2021-2023) via ProPublica and GuideStar