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Hawley Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $212,608 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Estimated $5,000 - $21,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Colorado, California, Minnesota, and Florida)
  • Total Assets: $4.4 million
  • Number of Awards: Approximately 20 grants per year

Contact Details

Address: 884 8th Street, Golden, CO 80401

Phone: (303) 819-2434

Email: jimhtree@gmail.com (Jim Hecker, Executive Director)

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or formal online presence.

Overview

The Hawley Family Foundation was established in 1994 as a private family foundation based in Golden, Colorado. With total assets of $4.4 million, the foundation has consistently provided grants to nonprofit organizations focused on environmental conservation, wildlife protection, education, and the arts. In 2024, the foundation distributed $212,608 in charitable grants, maintaining its decade-long commitment to supporting approximately 20 organizations annually. The foundation is led by MacDonald Hawley (President, Director, Treasurer) and James Hawley (Vice President, Director, Secretary), both of whom serve without compensation, while day-to-day operations are managed by Executive Director Jim Hecker. The foundation's funding priorities center primarily on environmental causes and animal welfare, with secondary support for educational initiatives and the arts.

Funding Priorities

Primary Focus Areas

Environmental Conservation: The foundation actively supports organizations working on environmental protection, conservation efforts, and sustainable practices. Recent grantees include the Natural Resources Defense Council and Amazon Conservation Team.

Wildlife and Marine Mammal Protection: Wildlife conservation and marine mammal preservation are core funding priorities. Notable recipients include Audubon of Florida, Earth Island Institute, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

Education and Scholarships: The foundation supports educational initiatives and scholarship programs, including funding to Greenhouse Scholars.

Indigenous Community Support: The foundation has demonstrated interest in supporting indigenous communities, particularly through environmental and conservation work.

Arts: Secondary funding is provided to arts-related organizations and initiatives.

Grant Amounts

Based on available data, the foundation typically awards grants ranging from approximately $5,000 to $21,000, with an average grant size of approximately $10,000-$12,000. The foundation distributed $212,608 across approximately 20 awards in 2024.

Geographic Preferences

While based in Colorado, the foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular emphasis on:

  • Colorado
  • California
  • Minnesota
  • Florida

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but as a small family foundation, they likely do not fund:

  • Individuals (except through established scholarship programs)
  • For-profit entities
  • Political organizations
  • International organizations without U.S. operations

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

MacDonald Hawley - Director, President, Treasurer

  • Serves approximately 5 hours per week
  • Uncompensated volunteer position
  • Family member and co-founder

James Hawley - Director, Vice President, Secretary

  • Serves approximately 5 hours per week
  • Uncompensated volunteer position
  • Family member and co-founder

Executive Staff

Jim Hecker - Executive Director

  • Works approximately 20 hours per week (part-time)
  • Compensation: $94,992 (2024)
  • Primary operational contact for the foundation
  • Email: jimhtree@gmail.com
  • Phone: (303) 819-2434

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hawley Family Foundation does not have a public application process or formal grant guidelines. As a private family foundation, grants are typically awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic interests and existing relationships with nonprofit organizations.

Organizations interested in being considered for funding should be aware that:

  • There is no online application portal
  • No application deadlines are published
  • Grant decisions are made by the board of directors based on their strategic priorities
  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals through a formal process

Reaching the Foundation

Organizations wishing to introduce themselves to the foundation may contact:

Jim Hecker, Executive Director

  • Email: jimhtree@gmail.com
  • Phone: (303) 819-2434
  • Address: 884 8th Street, Golden, CO 80401

Any correspondence should be brief, professional, and clearly aligned with the foundation's documented funding priorities (environmental conservation, wildlife protection, education, and the arts).

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish information about board meeting schedules or decision timelines. As a private foundation, decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors throughout the year.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish data on application volumes or success rates. With approximately 20 grants awarded annually from a total giving budget of approximately $200,000-$230,000, the foundation maintains selective grantmaking practices.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies or restrictions for organizations that have previously received funding or been declined.

Application Success Factors

Since the Hawley Family Foundation operates without a formal public application process, success in securing funding typically depends on:

Alignment with Core Priorities

Organizations with the strongest alignment to the foundation's documented funding interests have the best chance of consideration:

  • Environmental conservation and protection - demonstrated by grants to Natural Resources Defense Council and Amazon Conservation Team
  • Wildlife and marine mammal protection - evidenced by support for Audubon of Florida, Earth Island Institute, and Conservancy of Southwest Florida
  • Educational initiatives - particularly scholarship programs like Greenhouse Scholars

Track Record and Impact

Based on the grantee profile, the foundation appears to favor:

  • Established organizations with proven track records
  • Organizations with clear, measurable conservation or educational outcomes
  • Nonprofits operating in Colorado, California, Minnesota, or Florida (though not exclusively)

Organizational Characteristics

The foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests preference for:

  • Mid-sized regional or national organizations
  • Organizations with strong environmental or conservation credentials
  • Educational institutions and scholarship programs
  • Groups working with indigenous communities on environmental issues

Relationship Building

As a private family foundation without formal application procedures:

  • Personal connections and relationships likely play a significant role
  • Organizations currently funded may have longstanding relationships with the trustees
  • Introduction through trusted intermediaries or peer organizations may be beneficial

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No formal application process exists - the Hawley Family Foundation awards grants through trustee discretion rather than open competitive processes
  • Environmental focus is paramount - the foundation's primary interest is environmental conservation and wildlife protection, making this the strongest alignment point for potential grantees
  • Modest grant sizes - expect grants in the $5,000-$21,000 range, with most falling around $10,000-$12,000
  • Limited annual capacity - with only 20 grants awarded per year and total giving around $200,000-$230,000, the foundation has selective capacity
  • Geographic preferences - while national in scope, the foundation shows preference for organizations in Colorado, California, Minnesota, and Florida
  • Contact the Executive Director - Jim Hecker serves as the operational lead and primary contact point for the foundation
  • Multi-year relationships - successful engagement likely requires relationship building over time rather than one-time solicitation

References

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