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The Cecil And Irene Hylton Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.2M
Grant Range
$10K - $2.2M
Decision Time
3mo

The Cecil And Irene Hylton Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,187,298 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $91.6 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle
  • Grant Range: Varies widely - from small local grants to $2.2M
  • Median Grant: $79,167
  • Number of Grants: 20 grants awarded in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: Prince William County, Virginia (primary); Northern Virginia regional

Contact Details

Address: 5593 Mapledale Plaza, Dale City, VA 22193

Phone: (703) 590-1111

Email: CIHFDN@COMCAST.NET

Contact Person: Conrad C Hylton, President

Website: No public website available

Overview

The Cecil And Irene Hylton Foundation Inc was established in 1989 following the vision of real estate developer Cecil Don Hylton, who developed Dale City and built over 22,000 homes throughout his career. The foundation has been supporting nonprofits in Prince William County and Northern Virginia for over 35 years. With total assets of $91.6 million and annual giving of approximately $5.2 million, the foundation primarily supports organizations in Prince William County, Virginia, with particular focus on hospitals, education, human services, performing arts, and youth programs. The foundation's legacy includes major gifts to establish the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University, the Hylton Family Birthing Center at Prince William Hospital, and ongoing support for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Prince William County. The foundation operates as a private family foundation led by Conrad C Hylton, son of the founders, and maintains a focused approach to supporting organizations that align with the family's longstanding commitment to Prince William County's development and well-being.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but reviews applications on a quarterly basis with submission deadlines before March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1.

Grant Characteristics:

  • Median Grant: $79,167
  • Range: From smaller community grants to major gifts (largest recorded: $2.2M to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital)
  • Types of Support: Project support, general operating support, building funds, equipment

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds organizations in the following areas:

Health & Medical Care:

  • Hospitals and in-patient medical care
  • Hospital capital projects
  • Cancer research
  • Birthing centers

Education:

  • Educational facilities and programs
  • Science education (e.g., Science in the Park program)
  • Scholarship programs
  • Schools and educational infrastructure

Arts & Culture:

  • Performing arts centers
  • Arts organizations and alliances
  • Cultural programming

Youth Development:

  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Youth services programs
  • Children's programs
  • Elementary student support programs

Human Services:

  • Hunger and homelessness initiatives
  • Community housing
  • Veteran support services
  • General social services

Conservation & Religion:

  • Land conservation and ecological support (no geographic limitation)
  • Religious organizations (particularly in Prince William County and metropolitan Washington)

Geographic Focus

Primary: Prince William County, Virginia - organizations serving this community receive priority consideration

Secondary: Northern Virginia region, including Alexandria, Arlington, Dale City, Woodbridge, and metropolitan Washington, D.C.

Exceptions: Land conservation and ecological projects are considered without geographic limitation

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation appears to focus on established 501(c)(3) organizations with strong community ties to Prince William County. Organizations outside the geographic focus area or without clear alignment to the foundation's priority areas are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

President: Conrad C Hylton (son of founders Cecil and Irene Hylton)

Treasurer: Kendall B Lewis (highest-paid staff member at $198,077 annually)

Assistant Controller: Toni Hodge

Directors:

  • Cynthia D Carpenter
  • Conrad C Hylton Jr

The foundation operates as a family foundation continuing the legacy of Cecil Don Hylton, the real estate developer who built Dale City. Cecil Hylton's philanthropy began in his later years and extended to multiple community institutions. According to historical records, his estate was estimated at more than $200 million. The foundation is guided by the family's deep roots in Prince William County and commitment to supporting the community's growth and development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
  • Must submit a copy of IRS exemption certificate with proposal request
  • Geographic alignment with Prince William County or Northern Virginia preferred

Submission Deadlines: Applications must be received BEFORE:

  • March 1 (for Q1 review)
  • June 1 (for Q2 review)
  • September 1 (for Q3 review)
  • December 1 (for Q4 review)

Contact Method: Submit proposals to: Email: CIHFDN@COMCAST.NET Phone: (703) 590-1111 Address: 5593 Mapledale Plaza, Dale City, VA 22193

Application Format: The foundation does not appear to have an online portal or standardized application form. Contact the foundation directly for current application procedures and requirements.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a quarterly review cycle, with deadlines before the first day of March, June, September, and December. Specific decision timelines after these deadlines are not publicly documented. Organizations should expect to hear back within the quarter following their submission.

Success Rates

  • 2023: 20 grants awarded
  • 2022: 22 grants awarded
  • 2021: 16 grants awarded

Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly available. However, with approximately 16-22 grants awarded annually, the foundation maintains a selective grantmaking approach focused on organizations with strong alignment to its priorities.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Given the foundation's history of multi-year support to certain organizations (e.g., Cecil D Hylton Memorial Chapel Foundation received $851,818 in 2023 and $699,678 in 2024), the foundation appears to support ongoing relationships with grantee organizations.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented funding patterns and history, the following factors appear to increase likelihood of success:

1. Prince William County Connection: The foundation has supported Prince William County nonprofits for over 35 years. Organizations demonstrating deep roots and service in this community align with the foundation's core mission. The foundation's support for the Science in the Park program, serving over 800 K-6th grade students using Prince William County parks, exemplifies this local focus.

2. Established Track Record: The foundation has maintained long-term relationships with key beneficiaries, including the Hylton Performing Arts Center, Prince William Hospital, and Boys and Girls Clubs. Organizations with proven impact and established operations appear to receive preference over startup initiatives.

3. Capital Projects and Infrastructure: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to fund major capital projects, including "a major new addition to Potomac Hospital" and the transformative gift to complete construction of the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Organizations seeking building funds or equipment support should present well-developed capital plans.

4. Youth and Education Focus: Multiple grants support programs for elementary students, youth services, and Boys and Girls Clubs. The Science in the Park program specifically serves K-6th grade students with hands-on science education aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning.

5. Alignment with Hylton Family Values: The foundation reflects the interests of founder C.D. Hylton, whose philanthropy focused on healthcare, education, religious organizations, and community development in Prince William County. Understanding this legacy helps frame proposals appropriately.

6. Multi-Year Impact Potential: The foundation's support for the Hylton Performing Arts Center included not only construction funding but also a generous gift to ensure Arts Alliance members could present rent-free "amid pandemic-related financial burdens," showing interest in sustaining organizational capacity during challenging times.

7. Collaboration and Leveraging: The Hylton Center's success in combining the foundation's gift with additional fundraising ($46,010 raised) to waive fees for 18 months demonstrates the foundation's interest in catalytic gifts that leverage additional support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic alignment is critical: Organizations must demonstrate clear service to Prince William County or Northern Virginia communities; this is the foundation's primary geographic focus

  • Submit before quarterly deadlines: Plan proposals to arrive before March 1, June 1, September 1, or December 1 to ensure quarterly review

  • Include IRS documentation: Applications must include a copy of the organization's IRS 501(c)(3) exemption certificate

  • Emphasize local impact: With 35+ years of supporting Prince William County, the foundation values deep community connections and demonstrated local impact

  • Consider capital projects: The foundation has funded major capital initiatives including hospital expansions and performing arts center construction; well-developed infrastructure proposals align with funding patterns

  • Build relationships: The foundation maintains multi-year relationships with key grantees; consider this a potential long-term partnership rather than one-time funding

  • Contact directly for guidance: Without a public website or detailed application guidelines, reaching out to Conrad C Hylton or foundation staff at CIHFDN@COMCAST.NET or (703) 590-1111 is advisable for current application procedures

References

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