Hayes Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $700,000 - $850,000
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only foundation)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $600,000
• Geographic Focus: South Florida (primarily Fort Lauderdale/Broward County)

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.hayesff.org/
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Physical Location: Fort Lauderdale/Lighthouse Point, FL

Overview

The Hayes Family Foundation is a private grant-making foundation established in 2018 with current assets of $26.8 million and annual giving between $700,000-$850,000. The foundation was inspired by the generosity shown to founder John Hayes's family during his mother Lorie's 15-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. This experience created a ripple effect that led the family to pay forward that generosity by establishing the foundation. The foundation's mission focuses on bringing "hope, homes, and healing to kids and families in the South Florida area" with a particular commitment to redefining foster care with the support of the faith-based community. The foundation has grown significantly since 2020, when assets were approximately $8 million, demonstrating substantial expansion in its capacity to support community organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes strategic grants ranging from $25,000 to $600,000 to preselected organizations. They typically award 3-9 grants annually, preferring deep partnerships over broad distribution. Event sponsorships may also be included in their support.

Priority Areas

• Foster care and child welfare initiatives (primary focus on redefining foster care)
• Children and family support services in South Florida
• Faith-based organizations serving local communities
• Human services programs
• Healthcare initiatives, particularly for children
• Mental health services
• Education and community programs
• Housing and homelessness support

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's invitation-only policy and focus on faith-based organizations in South Florida suggests they do not fund:

• Organizations outside their pre-existing relationship network
• Secular organizations without faith-based components
• Programs outside South Florida (with rare exceptions)
• Individual requests or scholarships

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by two trustees who serve without compensation:

• John G Hayes - Founder and Trustee
• Lisa A Hayes - Trustee

The foundation operates without employees as a family-managed foundation. The founding story centers on John Hayes's mother, Lorie Hayes, who battled Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years. The extreme generosity shown to their family during this time inspired the establishment of the foundation to pay forward that kindness to other families facing challenges.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Hayes Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. They explicitly do not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funds. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on pre-existing relationships with organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations seeking support from the Hayes Family Foundation should focus on:

• Building visibility within the South Florida faith-based community network
• Connecting with organizations already supported by the foundation, such as HOPE South Florida, YoungLife, and Reformed University Fellowship
• Demonstrating alignment with the foundation's mission of bringing hope, homes, and healing to children and families
• Participating in faith-based community initiatives focused on foster care and family support in the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County area
• Developing programs that reflect the foundation's founding story of community support during family health crises

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only foundation with trustee-discretion grants, timelines likely vary based on relationship development and trustee meetings.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the Hayes Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. Instead, organizations should focus on:

• Mission Alignment: Demonstrating clear alignment with the foundation's focus on foster care, children, and families in South Florida, particularly through faith-based approaches
• Community Integration: Being actively involved in the South Florida faith-based community network where the trustees are engaged
• Proven Impact: Showing measurable outcomes in areas that reflect the foundation's founding story - supporting families through crises, foster care innovation, or community-based healing
• Partnership Approach: The foundation prefers deep partnerships with select organizations rather than one-time grants, so demonstrating capacity for meaningful long-term relationship is crucial
• Local Focus: Having strong roots and demonstrated impact specifically in the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County area
• Faith-Based Framework: Operating within or partnering with faith-based communities, as evidenced by their support of organizations like HOPE South Florida, YoungLife, and RUF

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Hayes Family Foundation is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - relationship building is essential
• Focus areas strongly emphasize foster care innovation and faith-based approaches to supporting children and families in South Florida
• With assets of $26.8 million and growing, the foundation has substantial capacity but makes relatively few grants (3-9 annually) with larger amounts ($25,000-$600,000)
• The foundation's founding story about community support during Lorie Hayes's MS battle deeply influences their giving priorities
• Success requires being embedded in the South Florida faith-based community network rather than traditional grant writing
• Organizations already supported (HOPE South Florida, YoungLife, RUF) provide models for the type of work and approach the foundation values
• Geographic focus is primarily Fort Lauderdale/Broward County with rare exceptions for other locations

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hayes Family Foundation (EIN 823120634): Form 990-PF filings and financial data. Accessed February 8, 2026.
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Hayes Family Foundation: Grant statistics and trustee information. URL: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/hayes-family-foundation. Accessed February 8, 2026.
• Hayes Family Foundation Official Website: Mission statement and founding story. URL: https://www.hayesff.org/. Accessed February 8, 2026.
• Cause IQ - Hayes Family Foundation Profile: Financial data and organizational classification. URL: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hayes-family-foundation,823120634/. Accessed February 8, 2026.
• GuideStar/Candid - Hayes Family Foundation Profile: Nonprofit verification and basic data. URL: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-3120634. Accessed February 8, 2026.