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Hamilton Family Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M
Decision Time
5mo

Hamilton Family Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12,955,497 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $204,494,162
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months
  • Grant Range: Up to $25,000 (first-time grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Philadelphia region (PA), Palm Beach County (FL), Aquidneck Island (RI)
  • Application Frequency: Quarterly (4 cycles per year)

Contact Details

Address: 200 Eagle Road, Suite 308, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 293-2225
Email: oe@hfctrust.org
Website: https://www.hfctrust.org/

Overview

The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust was established in 2017 following the passing of Dorrance Hill Hamilton (1928-2017), who began the family's educational philanthropy in 1992. With total assets exceeding $204 million, the trust made 68 grants in 2023 totaling approximately $13 million. The trust's mission focuses on funding programs that build literacy, workplace, and social-emotional skills to empower K-12 students to achieve academically and prepare for meaningful careers. The trust exclusively supports educational programs with data-driven records of success in improving academic performance, particularly in reading and writing, and providing job-readiness skills for children and youth in under-resourced educational environments. The trust is governed by three family trustees who convene three times annually, alongside a professional staff led by President Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, who joined in July 2022 after serving as President and CEO of the Philadelphia Youth Network.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

First-Time Grants: Up to $25,000 (typically program support; rarely funds new positions)

  • Submitted via Letter of Intent followed by full application if invited
  • Four annual grant cycles with quarterly board meetings
  • Organizations may only apply once per year

Multi-Year Grants: Available to organizations with 3+ consecutive years of funding

  • Requires pre-approval before application submission
  • Reserved for proven grantees with established track records
  • Note: The Trust may request organizations with 3+ years of consecutive funding to take a year off from applying to expand opportunities for other grantees

Priority Areas

Academic Learning Programs (K-8):

  • Literacy enrichment programs devoting at least 70% of time to direct reading and writing instruction
  • In-school, after-school, and summer programs with robust data-driven outcomes
  • Programs demonstrating measurable improvement in academic performance

High School Programs (9-12):

  • High school completion initiatives
  • Post-secondary success programs
  • College and career readiness programs

Youth Workforce Development:

  • Job-readiness skill building for K-12 students
  • Career awareness and workplace skills programs
  • Programs connecting academic learning to meaningful career preparation

Cross-Cutting Priorities:

  • Social-emotional learning programs
  • Educational support services
  • Programs serving students from under-resourced environments (70%+ eligible for free/reduced lunch)
  • Evidence-based, data-driven programming with documented outcomes

What They Don't Fund

  • College or university programs (focus is exclusively K-12)
  • School assemblies (one-time events)
  • Religious education (programming must be nonsectarian, though can occur within religious institutions)
  • Programs outside geographic focus areas (Philadelphia and surrounding counties, Palm Beach County FL, Aquidneck Island RI)
  • Organizations not meeting the 70% free/reduced lunch eligibility threshold
  • General operating support for first-time grants (program support only)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (Family Trustees)

  • Margaret H. Duprey, Board Chair and Trustee
  • Nathaniel P. Hamilton, Co-Vice Chair
  • S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr., Co-Vice Chair
  • Barbara R. Cobb, Trustee
  • Francis J. Mirabello, Esq., Trustee

Staff Leadership

  • Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend, President (appointed July 2022)
  • Susan R. Murray, Director of Finance and Operations
  • Dana M. Henzler, Grants Manager
  • Maryum Darby-Madison, Program Manager
  • Chantelle Scott, Project Assistant

Leadership Perspective

President Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend has articulated a collaborative approach to philanthropy, stating: "Power in philanthropy is the ability to empower and inspire solutions in collaboration with your partners." She emphasizes the importance of being "curious and open to new solutions" and inviting "grantees to share successes and be transparent about growth areas." Fulmore-Townsend brings experience synthesizing information quickly and planning for strategic growth, noting that "the possibility for scaling impact and continuing transformative work gives me great energy in this role."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Establish Grant Portal Account

  • Create account in the Trust's grant management system
  • Complete organizational profile

Step 2: Complete Eligibility Quiz

  • Verify geographic location (Philadelphia region, Palm Beach County, or Aquidneck Island)
  • Confirm K-12 focus and 70%+ free/reduced lunch eligibility
  • Ensure program type aligns with trust priorities

Step 3: Submit Letter of Intent (LOI)

  • All funding requests begin with an LOI submission
  • LOI is prerequisite for full application invitation
  • Deadlines are firm; late submissions will not be reviewed
  • LOI review typically completed within 30 days of deadline

Step 4: Full Application (If Invited)

  • Only organizations receiving LOI approval may submit full applications
  • Application portal access provided upon LOI approval
  • Full application deadline typically 2 months after LOI deadline

Step 5: Grantee Orientation (If Funded)

  • Mandatory orientation for all funded organizations

Grant Cycle Deadlines (2025-2026)

Cycle 1:

  • LOI Submission Window: July 1 - August 15, 2025
  • Full Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
  • Board Decision Meeting: February 2026

Cycles 2 & 3 (2026): Not accepting new Letters of Intent

Required Documentation

Financial Documents:

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status documentation
  • Project budget and organizational operating budget
  • Two-year comparative financial statements:
    • Internally prepared, reviewed, or audited acceptable for organizations under $750K revenue
    • CPA-audited required for organizations over $750K revenue
  • Current IRS Form 990 (not older than 10.5 months after fiscal year-end)

Program Documents:

  • Evidence of data-driven outcomes
  • Demonstration of at least 70% free/reduced lunch eligibility among participants
  • For K-8 programs: documentation of 70%+ time devoted to reading/writing instruction

Decision Timeline

  • LOI Review: Approximately 30 days following submission deadline
  • Application to Decision: 4-6 months following full application deadline
  • Board Meetings: Three times annually (February, June, October typically)
  • Notification: Applicants notified following board decision meetings

Reapplication Policy

  • Application Frequency: Organizations may apply only once per year
  • Successful Grantees: May reapply annually for continued support
  • Multi-Year Grants: Available after 3+ consecutive years of funding with pre-approval
  • Sabbatical Policy: The Trust may request organizations with 3+ consecutive years of funding to take a year off to expand opportunities for other potential grantees
  • Unsuccessful Applicants: No specific waiting period documented; may reapply in subsequent cycles

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Data-Driven Impact

The Trust explicitly seeks "programs with a data-driven record of success for improving academic performance." Successful applicants must provide robust evidence of measurable outcomes, particularly in reading and writing achievement. Include specific metrics, standardized test score improvements, reading level gains, or other quantifiable academic achievements.

Show Strong Free/Reduced Lunch Demographics

Programs must serve populations where 70% or more of participants qualify for free or reduced lunch. This is a hard eligibility requirement that demonstrates focus on "children and youth in under-resourced educational environments."

Emphasize Direct Instructional Time (K-8 Programs)

For elementary and middle school literacy programs, at least 70% of program time must be devoted directly to reading and writing instruction and activities. The Trust prioritizes intensive, focused academic intervention over broader enrichment programming.

Align with Career Preparation Mission

Even K-12 programs should connect to the Trust's broader mission of preparing students for "meaningful careers." Show how literacy development or academic achievement connects to workplace skills and future career readiness.

Be Realistic for First-Time Applicants

First-time grants cap at $25,000 and are designated for program support. Do not request funding for new staff positions or general operating support in initial applications. Focus on specific program activities with clear deliverables.

Build Toward Multi-Year Support

The Trust values long-term partnerships. Organizations receiving three consecutive years of funding become eligible for multi-year grants. Position your first grant as the beginning of a potential long-term relationship by demonstrating sustainability and scalability.

Geographic Precision Matters

Clearly document service in eligible counties: Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, or Camden (PA); Palm Beach County (FL); or Aquidneck Island (RI). Programs serving areas outside these boundaries are not eligible.

Examples of Funded Programs

Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia: Received $1.5 million multi-year investment (largest grant in 20-year relationship), providing approximately 450 K-8 scholarships annually. This demonstrates the Trust's willingness to make significant investments in proven partners with data-driven track records.

The Franklin Institute: Received $6 million in 2019 (largest single grant at that time) for educational programming expansion, showing the Trust's capacity for major investments in established organizations with strong educational missions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start small, think long-term: First-time grants max at $25,000, but proven partners can receive multi-year commitments and significantly larger investments after 3+ years of consecutive funding
  • Data is non-negotiable: This is a "data-driven" funder requiring robust evidence of academic improvement outcomes; anecdotal success stories alone will not suffice
  • The 70% rule applies twice: 70% of students must qualify for free/reduced lunch AND K-8 literacy programs must devote 70% of time to direct reading/writing instruction
  • Geographic boundaries are strict: Confirm your service area matches one of the three specific regions before investing time in an application
  • Quality over frequency: Organizations can only apply once per year, so make your single application count with thorough documentation and clear outcomes
  • Relationship-building matters: President Fulmore-Townsend emphasizes collaboration with partners and being "open to new solutions"—this is a trust that values genuine partnership over transactional funding
  • Plan for the long game: Successful organizations may be asked to take a sabbatical year after 3+ consecutive grants to allow opportunities for new grantees, so build financial sustainability beyond this single source

References

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