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The Huneeus Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.5M
Grant Range
$40K - $2.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,500,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $40,000 - $2,300,000
  • Geographic Focus: San Francisco Bay Area, Chile, and select international locations

Contact Details

The Huneeus Foundation 1010 Lombard Street San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 931-5146 Email: [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1999 by Agustín Huneeus and Valeria Quesney, the Huneeus Foundation is a private independent foundation operating in both Chile and the United States. With assets of approximately $31-40 million, the foundation distributes approximately $3.5 million annually through 13-15 grants. The foundation's mission centers on supporting civil society organizations with a strong emphasis on equity, culture, harmony, and humanity. The foundation has deep ties to Chile and demonstrates a particular commitment to educational equity, human rights, and social justice initiatives that serve vulnerable and marginalized populations. The foundation operates as a family foundation with leadership committed to creating lasting social impact, particularly in education for excluded children.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Huneeus Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion and established relationships. Recent grants have ranged from a median of $40,000 to a high of $2.3 million.

Major Recent Grants (2024):

  • Hogar de Cristo USA Inc: $2,300,000 - Supporting programs serving vulnerable populations in Chile
  • Friends of Catholic University in Chile: $600,000
  • Fundacion de Beneficiencia: $600,000
  • Teach for All: $277,610

Priority Areas

Education for Vulnerable Populations: The foundation has made significant commitments to education for children excluded from traditional school systems. A notable partnership with SUMATE of Hogar de Cristo focuses on reentry schools serving approximately 700 students per year who have been excluded due to poverty, discrimination, and vulnerability.

Chile-based Initiatives: Strong focus on supporting civil society organizations in Chile, particularly those addressing poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.

Social Justice and Human Rights: The foundation prioritizes organizations working on fundamental social justice issues and human rights advocacy.

International Development: Support for international causes, particularly in Latin America, with grants distributed across California, Florida, Maryland, New York, and internationally in Chile.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though the foundation's pattern suggests a focus on established organizations with clear social impact in education, human rights, and poverty alleviation rather than general operating support for smaller organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Agustín Huneeus - President (Part-time, Unpaid) Agustín Huneeus is a prominent California vintner and philanthropist with deep ties to both the United States and Chile. He sits on the Advisory Board for the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Friends of the Catholic University of Chile, and is a board member of the Chile-California Council. Huneeus has stated that his commitment to philanthropy stems from "elementary social justice reasons" and believes that "philanthropy needs to be stimulated in Chile, developing a culture of giving, almost a competition for who gives more."

Valeria Huneeus (Quesney) - Secretary/Treasurer (Part-time, Unpaid) Valeria Huneeus holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia University and spent ten years conducting research in cholesterol and cell metabolism with the Veterans Administration and the University of California at San Francisco.

Ana Maria Parra - Executive Director (Full-time, $211,605 compensation) Ana Maria Parra manages the day-to-day operations of the foundation. She has an educational background from Universidad de Chile and brings experience from previous roles in the financial sector.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Huneeus Foundation operates as a private family foundation that awards grants through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships. Grants appear to be made based on the trustees' philanthropic interests and strategic partnerships rather than through an open application process.

The foundation's grantmaking is characterized by:

  • Multi-year commitments to select organizations
  • Significant investments in organizations aligned with the founders' values
  • Partnerships with established institutions and intermediaries (such as Hogar de Cristo, Catholic University of Chile, Teach for All)

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's leadership has demonstrated a specific approach to identifying grantees:

Institutional Partnerships: The foundation works through established intermediary organizations, particularly those with Jesuit connections. As Agustín Huneeus explained regarding the SUMATE partnership, associating with the Jesuits and Hogar de Cristo gave him confidence in the program's sustainability and administration.

Chile-California Connections: Board members are actively involved in Chile-California networks, including the Chile-California Council and Friends of the Catholic University of Chile. Organizations with connections to these networks or working at the intersection of U.S.-Chile relations may have better visibility.

Advisory Board Involvement: Agustín Huneeus sits on advisory boards for the Center for Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley and Friends of the Catholic University of Chile. These existing relationships appear to inform funding decisions.

Focus on Administrative Efficiency: Huneeus has explicitly stated that his foundation partners with organizations to avoid administrative inefficiencies, suggesting that demonstrating strong organizational capacity and established track records is essential.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The foundation appears to make grants on a rolling basis as opportunities align with trustee priorities.

Success Rates

Not publicly available, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation appears to make multi-year commitments to selected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize their funding approach:

Long-term Commitment Over One-time Gifts: Agustín Huneeus's commitment to SUMATE exemplifies this approach—he donated $1 million initially, committed to another $1 million the following year, and $2 million more in 2019, even considering an endowment for program sustainability.

Partnership with Established Institutions: The foundation favors working with recognized organizations and intermediaries. As Huneeus stated, partnering with the Jesuits and Hogar de Cristo provided confidence that the work would continue beyond his lifetime.

Social Justice Rationale: Huneeus explicitly connects his philanthropy to "elementary social justice reasons," indicating that organizations should be able to articulate how their work addresses fundamental inequities.

Focus on Vulnerable and Excluded Populations: Recent grants demonstrate clear priority for organizations serving those excluded from traditional systems—particularly children excluded from education due to poverty, discrimination, and vulnerability.

Chile Connection: While U.S.-based organizations receive funding, there is a strong preference for organizations working in Chile or connecting U.S. and Chilean communities.

Administrative Efficiency: The foundation explicitly values efficient administration and established operational capacity, avoiding organizations perceived as administratively inefficient.

Sustainability Vision: Huneeus considers how organizations will continue their mission long-term, seeking partners who can sustain impact beyond initial funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This is a private family foundation making grants through trustee discretion and established relationships
  • Chile focus is paramount - Organizations working in Chile or connecting U.S.-Chile communities have strongest alignment
  • Multi-year partnerships preferred - The foundation makes substantial, sustained commitments rather than small one-time grants
  • Education for excluded children is a priority - Particularly programs serving those excluded from traditional schooling due to poverty and discrimination
  • Institutional credibility matters - Partnerships with established institutions (Jesuits, Catholic University, Teach for All) indicate the level of organizational capacity expected
  • Social justice must be core - Funding rationale centers on addressing fundamental social inequities, not incremental improvements
  • Network through Chile-California connections - Advisory boards and councils connecting the two regions provide the best pathways to foundation awareness

References

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