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Roy A. Hunt Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.3M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.9 million
  • Decision Time: 45 days from LOI submission deadline
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $250,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States, with some international development work in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
  • Total Grants: 300+ grants annually
  • Assets: Approximately $95 million

Contact Details

Address: One Bigelow Square, Suite 630, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3030
Phone: 412-281-8734
Fax: 412-255-0522
Email: info@rahuntfdn.org
Website: https://rahuntfdn.org
Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm Eastern Time, weekdays

Overview

Established in 1966 by the will of Roy Arthur Hunt (with predecessor Hunt Foundation founded in 1951, merged 1994), the Roy A. Hunt Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based family foundation with approximately $95 million in assets. The foundation makes approximately $3.9 million in annual grants to support organizations that strive to improve quality of life. Two to three generations of the Hunt family currently serve as the 35-member board of trustees, continuing the family's legacy in aluminum industry philanthropy. The foundation operates through two distinct funding mechanisms: smaller Trustee-Sponsored General Grants ($5,000-$10,000) for organizations with personal connections to trustees, and larger Initiative/Giving Circle Grants ($15,000-$75,000+) focused on specific strategic outcomes in Community Development, Environment, Youth Violence Prevention, International Development, Community Farming, Opportunity and Inclusion, and Veterans. Under Executive Director Jenny Kelly's leadership since 2015, the foundation emphasizes measurable impact, community-driven solutions, and calculated risk-taking to support both established organizations and emerging leaders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Trustee-Sponsored General Grants: $5,000 - $10,000

  • Over 300 grants awarded annually (317 grants totaling $2,355,775 in 2024)
  • General operating support or direct service programs
  • Trustees personally invite proposals from organizations in communities where they live or work, where family members volunteer, or schools they attended
  • Rolling invitations issued in Spring and Fall

Environment Initiative: $25,000 - $75,000

  • 7 grants totaling $300,000 in 2024
  • Focuses on Climate and Energy, Toxics and Waste, and Clean Water
  • National or multi-state impact preferred
  • LOI submission windows: December 1 - January 16 and June 1 - July 10

Community Development: $25,000 - $250,000

  • 6 grants totaling $300,000 in 2024
  • Program/project grants: $25,000-$75,000; Facilities/public amenities: $50,000-$250,000
  • Focused on Dorchester, Roxbury, and adjacent neighborhoods in Boston, MA; Hill and East End in Pittsburgh, PA
  • LOI submission window: December 1 - January 16

Youth Violence Prevention: $25,000 - $75,000

  • 6-10 grants annually (6 grants totaling $340,000 in 2024)
  • Targets lower-income, higher-crime areas in Allegheny County (PA), Boston (MA), Cleveland (OH), and Martin/St. Lucie Counties (FL)
  • Occasional multi-year commitments
  • LOI submission window: December 1 - January 16

International Development: $15,000 - $25,000

  • 6 grants totaling $150,000 in 2024
  • Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia focus
  • Note: No longer accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry
  • Invitation only

Community Farming Giving Circle: $15,000 - $30,000

  • 5 grants totaling $135,000 in 2024
  • Primarily (but not exclusively) United States
  • LOI submission window: June 1 - July 10

Opportunity and Inclusion Giving Circle: Varies

  • 5 grants totaling $220,000 in 2024
  • United States, location-independent
  • Addresses racial wealth gap, minority entrepreneurship, criminal justice reform
  • LOI submission window: June 1 - July 10

Veterans Giving Circle: $20,000 - $75,000 (estimated)

  • Supports mental and physical health care, employment assistance, community participation, and permanent housing for veterans

Priority Areas

Environment: Renewable energy affordability, reducing carbon-intensive consumption, green chemistry, sustainable design, protecting freshwater and coastal water quality

Community Development: Economic development, neighborhood revitalization, partnerships aligned with neighborhood-approved visions and regional economic development plans

Youth Violence Prevention: Evidence-based multi-setting interventions, proven-risk and higher-risk youth and young adults, leveraging grants to attract additional resources

International Development: Women's socioeconomic welfare and empowerment, women social entrepreneurs, community-driven problem solving, holistic approaches for women and children in poverty

Community Farming: Food equity, fair access to land and work, organic/regenerative farming, leadership development in agriculture, sustainable farming practices

Opportunity and Inclusion: Root causes of inequity, racial wealth gap, minority entrepreneurs and leadership, health outcomes, criminal justice reform

Veterans: Quality mental and physical healthcare, fulfilling and financially sustaining work, community participation, quality permanent housing

What They Don't Fund

Environment Initiative:

  • Capital projects
  • Local watershed or land trust proposals
  • Direct legislative impact grants
  • For-profit business grants

Youth Violence Prevention:

  • Youth suicide, child abuse, domestic abuse, hate crimes, media/online violence, or victim advocacy proposals

General Exclusions:

  • Lobbying or legislative campaigns
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor (with some exceptions)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Jenny Kelly - Executive Director (since 2015): Previously a program officer for the DSF Charitable Foundation, Kelly brings 14 years of grantmaking experience. She manages the foundation's diverse portfolio supporting youth violence prevention, community development, international development, and environmental initiatives.
  • Adrienne Lang - Controller
  • Gina Piccolino - Program Coordinator

Board of Trustees

The board comprises 35 trustees across three generations of the Hunt family, all descendants of Roy Arthur Hunt. The multi-generational structure ensures continuity of the family's philanthropic mission while bringing diverse perspectives.

3rd Generation Trustees (11 members): Torrence M. Hunt, Jr., Daniel K. Hunt, Terry Hunt, Christopher M. Hunt, Marion M. Hunt, Rachel Hunt Knowles, John B. Hunt, Helen Hunt Bouscaren, Susan Hunt Hollingsworth, Andrew M. Hunt, William E. Hunt

4th Generation Trustees (partial list): C. Graybill, Caroline Zaw-Mon, A. James Hunt, Joan Hunt Maxwell, Alexandra K. Hunt, Torrence W. B. Hunt, B. H. Pierson, Evan M. Hunt, Lila C. Hunt Davies, Tyler B. Hunt

Founding Philosophy

Roy A. Hunt's credo emphasized five allegiances in order of importance: God, country, family, work, and community organizations. This philosophy continues to guide the foundation's commitment to improving quality of life through strategic grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Roy A. Hunt Foundation operates primarily on an invitation-only basis, but accepts Letters of Inquiry (LOI) for most programs. Application methods vary by grant type:

For Current General Grant Grantees:

  • No letter of inquiry required unless five years have passed since last funding
  • Foundation staff issues proposal invitations in Spring and Fall
  • Trustees select organizations annually

For New Applicants or Initiative Grant Seekers:

  • Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through online application system at rahuntfdn.org
  • Must be a 501(c)(3) organization or have a fiscal sponsor
  • System allows easy updates to organization profile
  • Automatic acknowledgement upon submission

International Development:

  • No longer accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry
  • Invitation only

Letter of Inquiry Submission Deadlines

General Grants:

  • For May 2026 Meeting: January 7 - February 17, 2026
  • For November 2026 Meeting: June 15 - August 3, 2026

Environment Initiative:

  • For May 2026 Meeting: December 1, 2025 - January 16, 2026
  • For November 2026 Meeting: June 1 - July 10, 2026

Community Development & Youth Violence Prevention:

  • For May 2026 Meeting: December 1, 2025 - January 16, 2026

Community Farming Giving Circle:

  • For November 2026 Meeting: June 1 - July 10, 2026

Opportunity and Inclusion Giving Circle:

  • For November 2026 Meeting: June 1 - July 10, 2026

Decision Timeline

  • Trustees respond within 45 days of submission deadline
  • Response indicates whether Trustees will invite a full proposal
  • Trustees meet semi-annually (typically May and November) to make grant decisions
  • Full proposal invitations issued in Spring and Fall

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have not received funding in the past five years must submit a new Letter of Inquiry. Current grantees receive annual consideration from trustees without submitting LOI unless five years have elapsed since last funding.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Measurable Impact: The foundation emphasizes "measurable impact" across all programs. Use simple, clear metrics (e.g., "percentage increase in women's income" or "number of people reached"). Avoid vague outcomes; show how you will assess and track results.

Community-Driven Approach: Proposals should demonstrate "community-driven approach to problem solving and program implementation—with programs designed by people with proximity to the issues." Organizations with community-based leaders in decision-making positions are strongly preferred.

Show Calculated Risk-Taking: The foundation "may act as early risk capital when the applicant shows a method for assessing risk, adapting along the way, and learning from any changes or failure." They explicitly support "taking risks such as funding a strong, young leader who doesn't yet have an extensive track record or customizing a best practice to align with a local need."

Alignment with Local Plans: For Community Development, proposals "must closely connect with a neighborhood-approved vision or plan and/or regional economic development plan." Research and reference these plans explicitly.

Systemic and National Impact: For Environment initiative, "projects demonstrating broad environmental benefits, systemic change, and influence on private-sector decision-making are prioritized. The Foundation focuses on national or systemic impact."

Right-Sized Organizations: The foundation shows preference for organizations with "overall organizational budgets in the low to mid six figures" where "modest funding can have significant impact." They aim to be influential without creating overdependency.

Economic-Environmental Balance: For Environment grants, "promote economic incentives for environmental responsibility" and "encourage compatibility between environmental protection and economic development."

Unrestricted Funding Preference: Across multiple programs, the foundation states "preference for unrestricted funding, however, grants for specific projects will also be considered."

Evidence-Based Approaches: For Youth Violence Prevention, emphasize "evidence-based programs" and "age-appropriate, research-based approaches to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention."

Holistic Models: For International Development and Community Farming, use "holistic models and multi-faceted approaches" that acknowledge interconnected needs (e.g., "a woman's health and well-being will be in jeopardy unless she has, for example, a home").

Multi-Year Sustainability: While most grants are one-year, the foundation "will consider multi-year commitments" for programs demonstrating sustainable, longer-term solutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Know your connection: General Grants are invitation-only based on trustee connections, but most Initiative/Giving Circle programs accept LOI submissions. Research whether trustees have connections to your geographic area or sector before applying.

  • Right program, right size: Match your request carefully to program guidelines. General Grants are $5,000-$10,000, Initiative Grants are $25,000-$75,000+. Organizations with mid-six-figure budgets are ideal candidates.

  • 45-day window matters: You'll know within 45 days whether trustees want a full proposal. Use this tight timeline to plan strategically around LOI deadlines.

  • Geographic specificity is critical: Most initiatives have very specific geographic requirements (Dorchester/Roxbury, Pittsburgh Hill/East End, Allegheny County, etc.). Don't apply if you don't serve these areas.

  • Show your risk management: The foundation explicitly supports "calculated risk" and "early risk capital." Frame innovative approaches with clear methods for assessing and adapting to risk.

  • Community voice is paramount: Ensure people with lived experience are in decision-making roles. The foundation prioritizes "community-based women in decision-making positions" and "community-based leaders."

  • International Development is closed: This initiative no longer accepts unsolicited applications, so don't waste time on an LOI unless specifically invited.

References

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