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Francis Noz Heritage Fund

Annual Giving
$2.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.4M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,033,363 (2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A (No public application process)
  • Decision Time: N/A (Board discretion)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $390,000
  • Geographic Focus: Nationwide and International

Contact Details

  • Mailing Address: 285 West Court Street, Suite 206, Woodland, CA 95695
  • Website: None
  • Phone: Not publicly available
  • Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Francis Noz Heritage Fund is a private independent foundation established in 2021 from the $41 million estate of Franciscus X. Naz. With assets now exceeding $50 million, the foundation has rapidly scaled its grant-making from 13 awards totaling $473,054 in 2023 to 29 awards totaling over $2 million in 2024. The foundation operates with a mission to make annual distributions to charitable projects worldwide, focusing particularly on animal shelters, elderly care homes, orphanages, and other human services. As a family-run foundation led by Paul Noz as President/CEO, it operates through board discretion without a public application process, often partnering with community foundations to distribute funds to worthy causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes discretionary grants at the 5% minimum distribution requirement, with typical awards ranging from $5,000 to $390,000. All grants are made at board discretion with no formal application process.

Priority Areas

  • Animal Welfare: Animal shelters, wildlife conservation (including international projects like IFAW's elephant conservation in Zambia)
  • Child Welfare: Orphanages, programs serving underserved children
  • Elderly Care: Elderly people's homes and senior services
  • Human Services: Basic needs support, food programs (Meals on Wheels)
  • Education: Educational initiatives
  • Health: Including specific disease research (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation)

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but grant patterns suggest focus on direct service organizations rather than advocacy or policy work.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Paul Noz - President/Chief Executive Officer
  • Erwin Noz - Treasurer/Secretary
  • Chris Konwinski - Assistant Treasurer
  • Dennis Burns - Trustee
  • Susanne Van Der Kooij - Trustee

The foundation appears to be family-run by relatives of the founder. Paul Noz has been quoted regarding the foundation's commitment to "long-term solutions" in their grant-making approach, particularly emphasizing sustainable impact in conservation efforts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees. Organizations may attempt to contact the foundation via mail at their registered address: 285 West Court Street, Suite 206, Woodland, CA 95695. The foundation has been known to work through intermediary organizations such as community foundations to identify and distribute funds to worthy causes.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on documented grant patterns, the foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through:

  • Partnerships with community foundations (Sacramento Regional Community Foundation, Stanislaus Community Foundation have served as intermediaries)
  • Board member connections and research into organizations aligned with their mission
  • Direct outreach to established organizations in their priority areas

The foundation has shown openness to both local California organizations and national/international causes, suggesting geographic proximity is not a requirement.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants made at board discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not available due to lack of public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of funded organizations and grant patterns:

  • Mission Alignment: Organizations serving vulnerable populations (children, elderly, animals) receive priority consideration
  • Direct Service Impact: The foundation favors organizations providing direct services rather than advocacy - evidenced by support for Meals on Wheels, animal shelters, and gift card distributions to families
  • Trust-Based Approach: The Oakdale grant demonstrated the foundation's willingness to provide unrestricted funds with minimal reporting requirements
  • Long-Term Solutions: Paul Noz has emphasized funding "long-term solutions" rather than temporary fixes, as seen in their multi-year IFAW partnership
  • Community Foundation Partnerships: Organizations already vetted by community foundations may have better access to funding
  • Scale of Impact: Recent grants show preference for organizations that can demonstrate significant reach (IFAW's international conservation, Oakdale serving 243 children)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a rapidly growing foundation that doubled its grant-making from 2023 to 2024, suggesting expanding opportunities
  • Without a public application process, relationship building through intermediary foundations or direct mail contact is essential
  • The foundation demonstrates trust-based philanthropy, providing flexible funding with minimal restrictions
  • International projects are welcome if they align with core priorities of animal welfare, elderly care, or child welfare
  • Average grant size of approximately $61,000 in 2024 suggests mid-sized requests may be most appropriate
  • The foundation's growth trajectory (from $473K to $2M in one year) indicates potential for continued expansion of grant-making
  • Consider partnering with California community foundations who may have existing relationships with the fund

References

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