Hyer Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,648,870 (fiscal year 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $170,000 - $1,100,000 (based on recent grants)
• Geographic Focus: Tampa Bay area, Florida

Contact Details

Address: 3919 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605

Phone: (813) 508-1888

Website: No public website available

Note: This foundation does not have a public application process.

Overview

The Hyer Family Foundation Inc was established in 2012 as a private grantmaking foundation serving the Tampa Bay area. With total assets of $18.6 million as of fiscal year 2024, the foundation has experienced exceptional growth, increasing revenue by an average of 31.6% annually over the past four years. The foundation is governed by the Hyer family, with Raymond Hyer serving as President, and Sean Hyer and Michael Hyer as Vice Presidents. Since 2020, the foundation has awarded 36 individual grants totaling $1,923,663. In fiscal year 2024, charitable disbursements reached $2,648,870, representing a significant increase from $840,988 in 2023. The foundation focuses primarily on education and social service organizations in the Tampa Bay region.

Funding Priorities

Recent Grant Awards

Based on the most recent available data, the foundation has made grants to:

• Jesuit High School of Tampa: $1,100,000 - Catholic college-preparatory high school for young men in Tampa
• New Life Village: $250,000 - Intergenerational community supporting families raising foster and adopted children impacted by trauma
• Academy Prep Center of Tampa: $170,000 - Nonprofit middle school serving economically disadvantaged students with need-based scholarships and college-preparatory education

Priority Areas

Based on grant history, the foundation's funding priorities include:

• Education: Private and nonprofit schools, particularly those serving disadvantaged youth and providing college-preparatory programs
• Youth Development: Programs supporting children and adolescents, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
• Social Services: Organizations addressing critical community needs, including foster care and family support services
• Faith-Based Institutions: Catholic educational institutions and programs

Geographic Focus

The foundation focuses its grantmaking exclusively on organizations serving the Tampa Bay area, particularly Hillsborough County, Florida.

What They Don't Fund

Based on their grant history and private foundation structure, the foundation likely does not fund:

• Organizations outside the Tampa Bay region
• For-profit entities
• Individual scholarships or grants to individuals
• Political organizations or campaigns

Governance and Leadership

Officers (as of most recent filing):

• Raymond Hyer, President
• Sean Hyer, Vice President
• Michael Hyer, Vice President

The foundation is managed by the Hyer family with no paid staff or compensation reported for leadership. All officers serve in a volunteer capacity, reflecting the family's commitment to maximizing charitable impact by minimizing administrative costs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hyer Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation and awards grants through trustee discretion. There is no online application portal, formal application forms, or published application deadlines.

Grants appear to be awarded to organizations known to the trustees or identified through the family's connections to the Tampa Bay community. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's focus on Tampa Bay educational institutions and social service organizations, potential grantees might consider:

• Building relationships within Tampa Bay philanthropic circles: The Hyer family has demonstrated connections to Catholic educational institutions and organizations serving vulnerable populations in Tampa. Establishing a presence in these networks may increase visibility.

• Board connections: The foundation's trustees, Raymond, Sean, and Michael Hyer, may have business or community connections. Organizations with board members who have connections to the Hyer family or their business interests may have better access.

• Brief inquiry letter: While the foundation does not accept formal applications, organizations whose mission closely aligns with the foundation's demonstrated funding priorities (education for disadvantaged youth, foster care support, faith-based education) might consider sending a brief introductory letter to the foundation's address explaining their work and its alignment with the foundation's past grants.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. As a private foundation operating on trustee discretion, grant decisions are likely made on an irregular basis rather than following fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. Given the foundation's small number of grants (11 awards in recent years), competition for funding is likely very high, and only organizations with strong connections to the trustees are likely to receive funding.

Reapplication Policy

No information is publicly available regarding reapplication policies. Organizations that have received grants in the past appear more likely to receive future support, as is typical with private family foundations.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a public application process, success factors are based on analysis of the foundation's grant history:

1. Geographic alignment: All identified grants support Tampa Bay organizations, specifically those serving Hillsborough County communities.

2. Focus on education: The foundation has demonstrated strong support for educational institutions, particularly those serving economically disadvantaged students and providing college-preparatory programming.

3. Support for vulnerable populations: Grants to New Life Village and Academy Prep Center demonstrate interest in organizations serving children impacted by trauma, poverty, or foster care.

4. Catholic connections: The significant grant to Jesuit High School of Tampa suggests the foundation may prioritize Catholic or faith-based educational institutions.

5. Established organizations: Recent grantees are well-established organizations with proven track records rather than startup nonprofits.

6. High-impact programs: Grant amounts ranging from $170,000 to $1,100,000 suggest the foundation prefers to make significant investments in organizations where their funding can create substantial impact.

7. Multi-year relationships: Private family foundations typically develop long-term relationships with grantees rather than making one-time grants to many organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This is a private family foundation operating through trustee discretion
• Tampa Bay focus only - All grants support local Tampa/Hillsborough County organizations
• Education is a primary priority - Particularly college-preparatory programs for disadvantaged youth
• Large grant sizes - Recent grants range from $170,000 to $1,100,000, indicating preference for significant investments
• Relationship-driven - Without a public process, grants likely flow to organizations known to the Hyer family
• Growing capacity - The foundation's assets and annual giving have grown substantially, suggesting increasing grantmaking capacity
• Faith-based alignment - The major grant to Jesuit High School suggests affinity for Catholic institutions

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hyer Family Foundation Inc (EIN 27-4216901). Form 990-PF tax filings for fiscal years 2020-2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/274216901 (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Cause IQ - Hyer Family Foundation profile. Financial data and grant information. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hyer-family-foundation,274216901/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Instrumentl - Hyer Family Foundation Inc 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/hyer-family-foundation-inc (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Charity Navigator - Hyer Family Foundation Inc Profile (EIN 274216901). https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/274216901 (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Academy Prep Center of Tampa - About and Mission. https://tampa.academyprep.org/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• New Life Village - Mission and Programs. https://newlifevillage.org/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Jesuit High School of Tampa - About. https://www.jesuittampa.org/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)