Hoveida Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,038,500 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $10,000,000
• Geographic Focus: National (U.S.), with focus on scientific and medical research institutions
• Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Website: https://hoveidafoundation.org

Address: 4551 Flying Goat Ave NE, Suite A120, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-5477

Phone: (206) 717-4560

Important: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. They directly invite proposals by contacting organizations.

Overview

The Hoveida Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization established in 2020 and based in Bainbridge Island, Washington. The foundation holds assets totaling approximately $66.5 million (2022). Led by founders Bahman Hoveida (President) and Rebecca Hoveida (Vice President), the foundation is dedicated to promoting scientific and engineering education and research "to make the world a better place for all humanity and all living things." Bahman Hoveida founded Open Systems International, Inc. (OSI) in 1992 and retired in 2021 before launching the foundation. The foundation describes its wealth as having been "traced to science and engineering education" and now reinvests in scientific philanthropic causes. Recent major commitments include a $10 million grant to Mayo Clinic for AI-driven cancer detection research and a $1 million grant to Hilo Medical Center in Hawaii.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes strategic, often multi-year grants to established institutions and organizations. Recent major grants include:

• Mayo Clinic Cancer Discovery and Interception Fund: $10 million (multiyear commitment for AI-enabled early cancer detection and interception research)
• Hilo Medical Center (Hawaii): $1 million (healthcare workforce development and mental health services expansion)
• University of Illinois Foundation: Amount not disclosed (established the Dr. Peter Sauer – Bahman Hoveida Distinguished Chair in Electric Power, supporting a chair position and graduate fellowships in Electrical and Computer Engineering)
• IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative: Amount not disclosed (scholarships for power and energy engineering students)
• American Veterinary Medical Foundation: Amount not disclosed (Hoveida Family Foundation Research Scholarship for veterinary medicine students)
• BetterGrids Foundation: $10,000 (2022, for educational webinars and community engagement)
• Washington State Academy of Sciences: Amount not disclosed (supporting STEM workforce development, Indian and Native health, and COVID-19 impact assessment)

In 2022, the foundation made 7 grants totaling $4,038,500, with individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $2,000,000 (median: $250,000).

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on scientific, academic, and public health programs:

• Environmental research and conservation
• Energy research and clean/renewable energy
• Health and medical research (particularly cancer detection, rural healthcare access, mental health)
• Science education (scholarships, endowed chairs, graduate fellowships)
• Engineering education (particularly electrical engineering and power systems)
• Veterinary medicine

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not support:

• Grants to influence legislation or carry on propaganda
• Political campaign participation or intervention
• Pursuits contrary to scientific principles
• Individual fundraising activities
• Generally does not make grants directly to individuals (only through institutional scholarship programs)
• Organizations outside their scientific and research focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Bahman Hoveida - President (serves without compensation)

• Member of the National Academy of Engineering
• Member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences
• Founded Open Systems International, Inc. (OSI) in 1992; retired in 2021
• Background as senior electrical engineer
• Quote on cancer research grant: "We understand the importance of research into cancer interception that will use AI to better predict risk factors"
• On Hawaii healthcare grant: "Families should not have to suffer the expense and time it takes to travel off island"

Rebecca (Becky) Hoveida - Vice President (serves without compensation)

• Co-founder and co-chair of the foundation
• Resident of Hawaii Island, involved in identifying local healthcare needs

Amethyst Lucille Nelson - Secretary Treasurer (compensated position: $91,375)

The foundation is governed by a small board that makes strategic decisions about which organizations to invite for funding. The leadership demonstrates deep personal involvement in identifying funding opportunities aligned with their scientific mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. According to their website, they "will directly invite proposals by contacting organizations."

When invited to submit a proposal, organizations must provide:

• Proposal summary
• Proposed budget
• Outcome monitoring framework
• IRS determination letter (501(c)(3) documentation)

The foundation awards the majority of its grants to U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations identified by their staff.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-only model and strategic nature of grants, decision timelines likely vary significantly by project scope and institutional partnership requirements.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than accepting competitive applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations are selected and invited by foundation leadership based on alignment with funding priorities.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Institutional Credibility: Recipients include nationally recognized institutions (Mayo Clinic, University of Illinois) and established professional organizations (IEEE, American Veterinary Medical Foundation), suggesting the foundation prioritizes organizations with proven track records in scientific research and education.

Alignment with Scientific Mission: All funded projects demonstrate clear scientific or engineering focus. The foundation's stated priority is supporting causes that "make people's lives better and those that positively impact the environment and humanity" through science.

Measurable Outcomes: The foundation requires an "outcome monitoring framework" from invited applicants, indicating they value accountability and measurable impact.

Innovation and Future-Focused: Recent grants emphasize cutting-edge approaches (AI for cancer detection, clean energy research, power grid improvements), suggesting the foundation is drawn to innovative scientific solutions to major challenges.

Geographic Connection: While national in scope, some grants show geographic preferences connected to the founders (Washington State, Hawaii where they are residents).

Leadership Quotes on Priorities:

• Bahman Hoveida emphasizes AI and predictive science for cancer: "We understand the importance of research into cancer interception that will use AI to better predict risk factors"
• Dr. Cheryl Willman (Mayo Clinic) on the foundation's vision: "Mayo Clinic will disrupt cancer at its earliest stages when it is most treatable"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No pathway for cold applications: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They identify and invite organizations themselves.

• Large-scale, strategic giving: With a median grant of $250,000 and recent awards up to $10 million, this foundation makes substantial investments in select projects rather than numerous small grants.

• Science-focused mission: Every aspect of funding must connect to scientific research, engineering education, or evidence-based solutions to environmental, energy, or health challenges.

• Institutional partnerships preferred: The foundation favors established academic institutions, medical centers, and professional associations over grassroots organizations.

• Multi-year commitments possible: The $10 million Mayo Clinic grant is described as a "multiyear commitment," indicating the foundation is willing to make sustained investments in aligned priorities.

• Personal connections matter: Bahman Hoveida's membership in the National Academy of Engineering and Washington State Academy of Sciences (both grant recipients) suggests professional networks may influence funding decisions.

• Focus on education and research infrastructure: Grants frequently support endowed chairs, fellowships, and scholarships rather than direct service programs, emphasizing capacity-building in scientific fields.

References

• Hoveida Family Foundation website, About Us page: https://hoveidafoundation.org/about-us (Accessed January 2026)
• Hoveida Family Foundation website, Mayo Clinic announcement: https://hoveidafoundation.org/f/the-hoveida-family-foundation-gifts-10-million-to-mayo-clinic (Accessed January 2026)
• Hoveida Family Foundation website, University of Illinois announcement: https://hoveidafoundation.org/f/the-foundation-establishes-a-fund-at-the-university-of-illinois (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Hoveida Family Foundation (EIN 85-4041310): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/854041310 (Accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report, Hoveida Family Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/hoveida-family-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
• Honolulu Star-Advertiser, "Hilo Medical Center given $1M to expand services," November 29, 2023: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/11/29/hawaii-news/hilo-medical-center-given-1m-to-expand-services/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Washington State Academy of Sciences, "WSAS receives generous donation to support key activities": https://washacad.org/wsas-receives-generous-donation-to-support-key-activities/ (Accessed January 2026)
• BetterGrids Foundation, Winter 2022 Newsletter: https://www.bettergrids.org/winter-2022-bettergrids-newsletter (Accessed January 2026)
• IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative, 2023-2024 Hoveida Family Foundation Scholars: https://ee-scholarship.org/2023-2024-hoveida-family-foundation-scholars/ (Accessed January 2026)