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Hawthornden Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.6M
Grant Range
$8K - $0.5M

Hawthornden Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,600,000
  • Success Rate: Invitation-only (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $7,500 - $500,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (U.S., U.K., Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Southwest Asia)
  • Assets: Approximately $215 million

Contact Details

Website: https://www.hawthornden.org

Email:

Mailing Address: 1 PPG Place, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Staff respond to inquiries within a few days due to high volume.

Overview

The Hawthornden Foundation was established in 1982 by British-American literary philanthropist Drue Heinz (1915-2018), heiress to the Heinz fortune and devoted patron of the literary arts. With approximately $215 million in assets and annual giving of $5.6 million, the foundation supports contemporary writers and literary arts organizations globally. The foundation operates three writer residency programs at Hawthornden Castle (Scotland), Casa Ecco (Lake Como, Italy), and Hawthornden Brooklyn (New York). Beyond residencies, the foundation makes grants to literary nonprofits, presses, journals, festivals, and writing centers worldwide, with particular emphasis on regions with limited philanthropic infrastructure for the literary arts. The foundation also administers the prestigious Hawthornden Prize, originally founded in 1919 and revived in 1987, which recognizes imaginative literature. In 2024, the foundation renewed its three-year commitment to the British Academy Book Prize (alongside the Ford Foundation), demonstrating its continued investment in international literary excellence.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Direct Grantmaking (Invitation-Only)

  • Range: $7,500 - $500,000
  • Median: $50,000
  • Typical total annual giving: $5.6 million (48 awards in 2023)
  • Application method: Invitation only - the foundation identifies and contacts organizations proactively

Capacity-Building Grants via National Book Foundation

  • Amount: $5,000 or $10,000
  • Total pool: $350,000 (49 recipients in 2024)
  • Application method: Annual competitive application through National Book Foundation

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Words Without Borders: $75,000 (general operating support, 2024)
  • Highlights Foundation: $50,000 (in-community retreats, 2024)
  • British Academy Book Prize: Multi-year support (2024-2027)
  • 54 literary nonprofits via National Book Foundation: $5,000-$10,000 each (2024)

Priority Areas

Organization Types:

  • Literary presses and journals
  • Book festivals and literary presenters
  • Literary centers and service organizations
  • Organizations supporting youth as readers and creative writers
  • Culturally-specific poetry organizations
  • International literary festivals
  • Playwright residencies
  • Translation publishers
  • Fiction literary prizes

Geographic Priorities:

  • Regions with weak literary infrastructure
  • Areas with limited philanthropic resources for literature
  • Global reach: U.S., U.K., Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Caribbean, Southwest Asia

Literary Forms:

  • Poetry
  • Fiction
  • Playwriting
  • Creative nonfiction
  • Translation (all languages)
  • Emerging writers

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowments
  • Organizations that are not U.S. 501(c)(3) charities or non-U.S. equivalents to U.S. public charities
  • Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Sir Jonathan Bate, CBE, FBA, FRSL - Chair
  • David Campbell, FRSL - Vice-Chair
  • Victoria Gray, FRSL - Secretary
  • Joe Versace - Treasurer
  • Alexandra Jacobus - Trustee
  • Merve Emre - Trustee

Executive Leadership

  • Ellyn Toscano - Executive Director
  • Nina Stemwedel - Chief of Staff
  • Billy Hamilton - Director of Facilities & Risk Management
  • Nunyala Sogbo - Manager of Residencies & Programs
  • Camille Lannan - Head Librarian

Site Directors

  • Hawthornden Castle (Scotland): Hamish Robinson
  • Casa Ecco (Italy): Jay Deshpande
  • Hawthornden Brooklyn (New York): Lauren Goldenberg

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

Hawthornden Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for all direct grants. The foundation's small, Brooklyn-based staff works proactively to identify organizations with which it wishes to collaborate. The foundation states: "The Foundation identifies and contacts selected organizations to explore mutual interests, priorities and needs, and may then invite full proposals for consideration."

Important:

  • Unsolicited proposals will not be accepted
  • Letters of inquiry are not accepted
  • An invitation to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding, but all invited proposals receive careful review

Alternative Funding Route: Organizations may apply for capacity-building grants ($5,000-$10,000) through the National Book Foundation's annual Capacity-Building Grant Program, which is funded by Hawthornden Foundation. This program has a public application process open to eligible U.S.-based literary nonprofits.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's invitation-only approach means relationship-building and visibility are essential. Based on available information specific to Hawthornden:

Foundation-Specific Strategies:

  • National Book Foundation Partnership: Apply through the National Book Foundation's Capacity-Building Grant Program - this Hawthornden-funded initiative could provide visibility and a foot in the door
  • Literary Events: The foundation supports major literary festivals and events globally; active participation in these spaces (particularly in underserved regions) may increase visibility
  • Focus on Underserved Markets: The foundation explicitly prioritizes "regions with limited philanthropic resources" and "weak literary infrastructure" - organizations working in these areas align with stated priorities
  • Translation and International Work: Hawthornden supports translation publishers and international literary festivals; organizations doing cross-cultural or multilingual work fit the foundation's global vision
  • Contact for Existing Grants: If you already have a grant in progress, use grants@hawthornden.org; for all other inquiries, use inquiry@hawthornden.org (though this does not constitute an application)

What NOT to Do:

  • Do not send unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry - these will not be reviewed
  • Do not contact the foundation about capital campaigns or endowment funding
  • Do not expect a public application timeline or deadlines

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. The foundation operates on a rolling basis for its invitation-only grantmaking. Organizations invited to submit proposals receive careful review, but specific timeframes from invitation to decision are not disclosed.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public comparison. Since the foundation only invites proposals from organizations it has identified proactively, there is no traditional "success rate" to report. In 2023, the foundation made 48 awards totaling $5.6 million.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process. The foundation's ongoing relationships with grantees and invitation-based approach means reapplication is handled through continued dialogue between the foundation and previously funded organizations.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of Hawthornden's grantmaking, traditional application success factors differ from open-application funders. The following insights are specific to this foundation:

Alignment with Stated Priorities:

  • Underserved Regions: The foundation explicitly seeks organizations in areas with "weak literary infrastructure" and "limited philanthropic resources." Organizations can position themselves by clearly demonstrating they serve such communities.
  • Global and Multilingual Focus: Hawthornden funds "literary arts, publishing, events and festivals all over the world and in any language." Organizations with international reach or culturally-specific programming align with this vision.
  • Diverse Literary Forms: The foundation's language about supporting "culturally-specific poetry organizations, international literary festivals and presenters, playwright residencies, fiction literary prizes" suggests breadth is valued.

Recent Funding Patterns: Organizations that have received recent support include 826 National affiliates, Archipelago Books, Cave Canem, translation publishers like Words Without Borders, and capacity-building for mid-sized literary nonprofits. This suggests the foundation values:

  • Organizations serving youth and emerging writers
  • Translation and international literary exchange
  • Organizational sustainability and infrastructure development
  • Culturally-specific and community-based literary programs

Foundation Values: The foundation's commitment to "fostering an inclusive culture welcoming of visible and invisible differences" (encompassing age, ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status) indicates that diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values. Organizations demonstrating these commitments may align well.

Strategic Approach: Since the foundation "identifies and contacts selected organizations to explore mutual interests," visibility in the literary sector matters. Organizations should:

  • Build strong reputations in their literary niches
  • Maintain active presence at literary events and festivals
  • Cultivate relationships within the broader literary philanthropy ecosystem
  • Consider the National Book Foundation's Capacity-Building Grant Program as an entry point

What the Foundation Has Said: While direct quotes from leadership about grantmaking priorities are limited in public sources, the foundation's stated objective is clear: supporting "literary organizations globally that foster creative writing across all languages and writer types" and funding "organizations serving literary communities—particularly in regions with limited philanthropic resources and weak literary infrastructure."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is strictly an invitation-only funder; do not send unsolicited proposals
  • Build visibility strategically - focus on establishing strong reputation in the literary sector, particularly in underserved regions or with underrepresented communities
  • Consider the National Book Foundation pathway - their Capacity-Building Grant Program (funded by Hawthornden) offers a public application route and potential visibility with Hawthornden
  • Emphasize global or multilingual work - Hawthornden's international scope and support for translation suggests organizations with cross-cultural reach align with priorities
  • Demonstrate work in underserved areas - the foundation explicitly prioritizes regions with weak literary infrastructure and limited philanthropy
  • Focus on organizational sustainability - the Capacity-Building Grant Program and general support grants suggest the foundation values strong, sustainable literary organizations
  • Align with inclusion values - the foundation's explicit commitment to diversity across multiple dimensions should be reflected in your organization's work and culture
  • Grants range widely - from $7,500 to $500,000 with a median of $50,000, suggesting the foundation funds both small and large-scale initiatives

References

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