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Hersey Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.7M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $970,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $700,000
  • Geographic Focus: Multi-state (Minnesota, Florida, Rhode Island, Virginia, South Dakota)

Contact Details

Address: 400 Selby Ave Ste B, St Paul, MN 55102-4520

Phone: 651-289-4794

Website: Not available

Email: Not available

Overview

The Hersey Foundation is a private foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, established as an EIN 23-7001771 organization. With total assets of $23.1 million, the foundation awarded $970,000 in grants during 2023 through 6 grants, representing a giving rate of 4.2% of assets. The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including education, conservation, community projects, and religious activities. Unlike many private foundations, the Hersey Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant recipients span multiple states, demonstrating a geographically diverse approach to philanthropy. The foundation's giving has varied significantly year-over-year, with $1.7 million distributed in 2022 compared to $970,000 in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single discretionary grant program with no fixed application deadlines or public guidelines. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees on an invitation-only basis.

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $700,000
  • Median Grant: $75,000 (2023)
  • Number of Annual Grants: Approximately 4-6 grants per year

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant awards (2023), the foundation has supported:

  • Education: Grants to institutions like Brown University and Oglala Lakota College for educational purposes
  • Conservation: Environmental and conservation projects through organizations like The Everglades Foundation and The Conservation Fund
  • Healthcare: Community healthcare projects such as support for Hamm Clinic
  • Religious Activities: Support for religious organizations including Christ Memorial Chapel
  • Community Projects: Broad community development initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, as an invitation-only funder, the foundation does not consider applications from organizations outside their existing network of relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Detailed information about the foundation's trustees, officers, and leadership is not publicly available through standard nonprofit databases. Leadership information may be found in the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings, which are public documents available through the IRS or nonprofit transparency platforms.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Hersey Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have pre-existing relationships or knowledge.

Organizations cannot submit applications, letters of inquiry, or proposals unless specifically invited to do so by the foundation's leadership.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation, grant decisions are made internally by trustees based on their own timeline and priorities.

Success Rates

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

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as organizations cannot apply without invitation.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive grants from this foundation do so through:

  • Pre-existing relationships with trustees or foundation leadership
  • Trustee initiative: Trustees identify and select organizations to support based on their own research and interests
  • Geographic diversity: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to support organizations across multiple states, not limiting itself to Minnesota-based organizations
  • Cause diversity: Recent grants show support for a wide range of sectors including education, conservation, healthcare, and religion

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Hersey Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on a purely invitation-only basis
  • The foundation awards relatively few grants annually (4-6), but grant sizes can be substantial, ranging from $5,000 to $700,000
  • Geographic reach extends beyond Minnesota to include organizations in Rhode Island, Florida, Virginia, and South Dakota
  • Funding priorities are diverse, spanning education, conservation, healthcare, community projects, and religious activities
  • Annual giving fluctuates significantly ($1.7M in 2022 vs. $970K in 2023), suggesting discretionary rather than programmatic giving
  • With assets of $23.1 million and a 4.2% giving rate, the foundation maintains a conservative distribution approach
  • Organizations cannot proactively seek funding from this foundation; all grants are initiated by trustee discretion

References

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