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The Hickey Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.2M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,204,150 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $238,621
  • Assets: $138.5 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 26 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National and international (US focus with global projects)
  • Application Method: Invitation only (no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.hickeyfoundation.org/

Address: 530 E Huber St, Mesa, AZ 85203

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests. Grant applications are provided by invitation only.

Overview

The Hickey Family Foundation was formally established in March 2004 by Declaration of Trust under the laws of the State of Arizona, though it existed in spirit through founder Frank Hickey's philanthropic involvement with charitable organizations over prior years. The foundation is a private 501(c)(3) trust with $138.5 million in assets and annual giving of approximately $6-7 million. Frank Hickey, a successful entrepreneur, became actively involved in philanthropy in the late 1980s and 1990s, serving on boards of organizations focused on food, shelter, medical relief, healthcare training, and education. According to Executive Director Nancy Baldwin, Hickey believed "philanthropy could provide the greatest reward and 'kick' beyond anything he had ever experienced in his professional life." The foundation takes a highly strategic, targeted funding approach, proactively identifying and inviting proposals through their network and research rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates across three primary focus areas without separate named grant programs:

Rescue of Youth: Projects addressing medical, social, educational, and training needs of at-risk young people

Medical Technology Development: Investments in promising medical technology and innovation

Medical Training Centers: Financing the establishment of medical training facilities in areas with inadequate or no medical infrastructure

Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope. The average grant size is $238,621, with the foundation making approximately 26 awards annually totaling $6-7 million.

Priority Areas

Youth Support: Programs serving young people who are socially, medically, or educationally at risk, including:

  • Emergency shelter and housing for youth
  • Youth development programs
  • Anti-trafficking initiatives and protection from exploitation
  • Programs supporting vulnerable youth populations

Medical Technology & Innovation:

  • Innovative medical technology development projects
  • Clinical trials addressing critical health needs
  • Medical device and treatment innovation

Global Health Infrastructure:

  • Maternal and infant health programs
  • Reproductive health centers in underserved regions
  • Medical training for healthcare professionals
  • Health center rehabilitation and construction in conflict-affected or resource-poor areas

Recent Funded Projects Include:

  • Columbia University's International Family AIDS Program for improved maternal/infant health outcomes
  • Project Peanut Butter clinical trials addressing malnutrition in Malawi
  • Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network programs fighting domestic minor sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation
  • International Medical Corps projects in Cameroon (health center rehabilitation and maternity clinic construction with staff training)
  • Native American Connections HomeBase program (emergency shelter and supportive services for youth under 25, plus housing capital improvements)
  • Cleveland Clinic Innovations supporting innovative medical technology development
  • CACTIS Foundation pilot project investigating traumatic brain injury in victims of intimate partner violence

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly specify exclusions, but their focused mission suggests they do not fund:

  • General operating support outside their three focus areas
  • Projects unrelated to youth rescue, medical technology, or medical training
  • Organizations without alignment to their strategic priorities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Nancy E. Baldwin - Executive Director and Co-Trustee

  • Primary external liaison for the foundation
  • Manages foundation administration, investment relationships, grant processes, legal, accounting, and auditing services
  • Holds B.S. in Business Administration and professional certification in Nonprofit Management from ASU Lodestar Center
  • Worked with Frank Hickey for 26 years, including 13 years as his personal assistant
  • Intimately involved in Hickey's estate planning beginning in 1994
  • Compensation: $289,611 (58 hours per week)
  • Serves on boards including Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network and ASU Center for Child Well-Being Community Advisory Board

Diana "Dede" Yazzie Devine - Trustee (joined early 2016)

  • CEO of Native American Connections since 1979
  • MBA from Arizona State University
  • Licensed in substance abuse counseling
  • Deep expertise in serving Native American communities

Jon Eliason - Trustee (appointed July 2022)

  • Homicide Bureau Chief, Maricopa County Attorney's Office
  • Background in prosecution and domestic violence prevention
  • JD from Temple Law School

Charles Flanagan - Trustee (joined 2016)

  • Chief U.S. Probation Officer, District of Arizona
  • Extensive background in corrections and juvenile services
  • Degree from University of Amsterdam

Joseph Mangone - Trustee (joined 2018)

  • Registered Investment Advisor and Certified Financial Planner
  • Founded own consulting business in 2011

John Meza - Trustee (appointed April 2022)

  • Inspector General, Arizona Department of Economic Security
  • Retired Mesa Police Department Chief
  • Background in law enforcement and public safety

Helen B. Trop-Zell, M.D. - Trustee (joined early 2014)

  • Medical background with international humanitarian experience
  • MD from Emory University
  • Additional degrees in computer science and mathematics

The board composition reflects the foundation's mission with expertise spanning social services, healthcare, law enforcement, juvenile justice, and financial management - all areas directly relevant to their focus on youth rescue, medical technology, and global health infrastructure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Hickey Family Foundation explicitly states: "Because they are a small foundation, they cannot and do not accept unsolicited requests for funding."

Instead, the foundation operates through an invitation-only model where they:

  • Use their extensive network and research to identify appropriate organizations
  • Proactively reach out to organizations aligned with their mission
  • Invite selected organizations to submit proposals for potential projects
  • Review invited proposals for funding consideration

Organizations cannot apply directly to this foundation. Grant opportunities come only through invitation from the foundation's leadership and trustees.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's structure and trustee composition, organizations may increase their visibility through:

Leveraging Board Connections: The foundation's trustees have deep connections in specific sectors:

  • Native American Connections and indigenous service organizations (through Diana Yazzie Devine)
  • Arizona criminal justice, domestic violence prevention, and victim services (through Jon Eliason and John Meza)
  • Youth services, corrections, and juvenile programs (through Charles Flanagan)
  • Medical technology and healthcare innovation sectors (through Helen Trop-Zell)

Participating in Arizona Philanthropy Networks: Nancy Baldwin is active in Arizona Grantmakers Forum and serves on multiple boards, suggesting the foundation engages with the Arizona nonprofit ecosystem. Organizations with strong reputations in Arizona's philanthropic community may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention.

Working in the Foundation's Recent Project Areas: The foundation has demonstrated interest in specific issue areas including anti-trafficking work, Native American housing and youth services, international maternal/child health, malnutrition research, medical technology innovation at major medical centers, and traumatic brain injury research related to intimate partner violence.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available about decision timelines since the foundation operates by invitation only. The review process likely varies by project scope and complexity.

Success Rates

No public information is available about success rates. With 26 grants made from an invitation-only process in 2023, the foundation is highly selective about which organizations they invite to submit proposals.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply unsolicited. Future funding opportunities depend on the foundation's continued research and network outreach.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their funded projects and mission, organizations that may attract the foundation's attention demonstrate:

Mission Alignment with Strategic Focus: Projects must fall clearly within one of three areas:

  • Youth rescue (especially vulnerable populations including Native American youth, trafficking victims, homeless youth)
  • Medical technology development (especially innovation at established medical centers)
  • Medical training infrastructure (especially in international settings with inadequate healthcare)

Evidence-Based Approaches: Recent grants show preference for projects with measurable outcomes:

  • Clinical trials (Project Peanut Butter)
  • Research initiatives (CACTIS Foundation traumatic brain injury study)
  • Technology development with clear applications (Cleveland Clinic Innovations)

International Health Focus: Multiple grants support maternal/infant health, reproductive health infrastructure, and medical training in underserved international contexts (Cameroon, Malawi, global AIDS programs).

High-Impact, Transformative Projects: With an average grant size of $238,621 and only 26 annual awards, the foundation appears to favor substantial projects that can create significant impact rather than numerous small grants.

Established Organizations with Track Records: Funded organizations include major institutions (Columbia University, Cleveland Clinic) and established service providers (Native American Connections, International Medical Corps), suggesting the foundation may prefer organizations with proven capacity.

Alignment with Trustee Expertise: The board includes experts in criminal justice, victim services, Native American community services, healthcare, and youth programs. Projects in these areas may resonate with trustees' professional experience.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Model: You cannot submit an unsolicited proposal to this foundation. Focus on building organizational reputation and visibility within the foundation's areas of interest.
  • Strategic, Not Reactive: The foundation proactively identifies projects through research and networks rather than responding to applications. Being known for excellence in youth rescue, medical technology, or medical training is essential.
  • Three Clear Lanes: Projects must fit within rescue of youth, medical technology development, or medical training centers - there is no flexibility outside these areas.
  • Substantial Investments: With average grants of $238,621, the foundation makes significant investments in fewer organizations rather than small grants to many.
  • Arizona and Board Connections Matter: The foundation's Arizona base and trustees' professional networks in criminal justice, Native American services, healthcare, and youth programs provide potential pathways to visibility.
  • International Health Infrastructure: If your work involves building medical capacity in underserved international regions, particularly maternal/child health or medical training, this foundation has demonstrated consistent interest.
  • Evidence and Innovation: Recent grants favor research, clinical trials, technology development, and programs with measurable outcomes over general services.

References

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