One Hive Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1,436,772 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 6-10 weeks (varies by funding round)
Grant Range: Small grants up to $75,000 per year
Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Vermont, followed by Northeast US, with consideration for US and Canada-wide projects
Application Method: Two-phase process with rolling Letter of Intent submissions

Contact Details

Website: www.onehivefoundation.org

Application Portal: goapply2.akoyago.com/OneHive

Primary Grantmaking Contacts:

Gioia Perugini, Philanthropic Advisor: gperugini@hembar.com
Rachel Goldberg: rgoldberg@hembar.com

Address: 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109-1827

Overview

One Hive Foundation was established in 2023 as a private grantmaking foundation with the mission to promote pollinator health and ecologically responsible agriculture. The foundation is advised and led by an intergenerational beekeeping family with deep roots in Vermont agriculture, specifically the renowned Mraz family, which has operated Champlain Valley Apiaries since 1931. In 2023, the foundation distributed $1,436,772 through 26 grants with a median award of $8,000. The foundation operates according to five core values: science-based decision-making, inclusivity, community support, collaboration across disciplines, and family-centered stewardship. In April 2025, One Hive announced over $1.7 million in grants to 10 Vermont organizations for pollinator conservation work, responding to urgent pollinator losses with commercial beekeepers reporting an average 62% colony loss in early 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Program: $500 - $75,000 per year

Two-phase application process (Letter of Intent, then full proposal by invitation)
Rolling Letter of Intent submissions accepted year-round
Multi-year funding accepted and encouraged
Both project-specific and general operating support welcomed
Unique feature: $500 proposal development stipend provided to ALL organizations invited to submit full proposals, regardless of funding outcome

Geographic Priorities:

Primary focus: Vermont
Secondary focus: Northeast United States
Also considered: Other US states and Canada

Priority Areas

Scientific & Research Focus:

Pollinator health threats and research
Public education on pollinators, food security, and water quality
Pesticide reduction research and advocacy
Science-to-public translation projects
Research-to-policy initiatives

Capacity & Collaboration:

General operating support for advocacy organizations
Next-generation farmer and scientist networks
Agricultural-public health impact projects
Business-partnership pollinator conservation initiatives
Habitat restoration programs
Youth education programs on pollinators

What They Don't Fund

Individuals (unless affiliated with a 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor)
Government entities
Private foundations

Governance and Leadership

Advisory Council Chair: Charles Mraz

Advisory Council Members:

Curtis Mraz, Advisor (4th generation of Mraz beekeeping family)
Scott McArt, PhD
Marla Spivak, PhD
Gene Brandi
Judy Wu-Smart, PhD
James Frazier, PhD
Maryann Tomasko Frazier

Staff:

Samantha Alger, PhD - Scientific Advisor
Gioia Perugini - Philanthropic Advisor
Alisha Utter, PhD - Program Manager, Agricultural Stewardship Programs
Leslie Spencer - Communications and Events Specialist

Leadership Philosophy: The foundation describes itself as "led and advised by scientists, beekeepers, and communications and philanthropy professionals." The foundation's values emphasize being science-based, inclusive of marginalized communities historically affected by industrial agriculture, community-oriented with roots in Vermont and rural agriculture, collaborative across professions, and family-centered with intergenerational leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Phase I - Letter of Intent (LOI):

Submit online through the One Hive Foundation Grant Portal
Rolling submissions accepted year-round
Organizations with urgent funding needs can contact the team to discuss timeline
Includes contact/demographic information and short project summary

Phase II - Full Proposal (By Invitation Only):

Only organizations invited after LOI review submit full proposals
Includes longer narrative, detailed budget, and organizational financial information (audit or 990, budget, etc.)
All invited applicants receive a $500 proposal development stipend paid at time of decision, regardless of funding outcome
Submit through online portal at goapply2.akoyago.com/OneHive

Pre-Application Guidance: Applicants are encouraged to discuss proposed projects with foundation staff before submitting. Contact Gioia Perugini (gperugini@hembar.com) or Rachel Goldberg (rgoldberg@hembar.com) with questions.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a structured timeline with key milestones approximately 6-10 weeks apart:

Example Funding Cycle (based on 2023-2024 cycle):

LOI submissions reviewed on rolling basis
Selected applicants invited to submit full proposals (typically 4 weeks after LOI deadline)
Full proposals due (typically 6-10 weeks after invitation)
Funding decisions made (typically 6-10 weeks after proposal deadline)

Grants are paid to applicants at the time of the Advisory Council's final decision on the project.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. In 2023, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $1,436,772. In their 2025 Vermont initiative, they awarded grants to 10 organizations totaling over $1.7 million.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Applicants should contact foundation staff for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Insights

Calibrate Your Request: The foundation specifically advises applicants to calibrate their funding request based on:

Budget size of the project or organization
Expenses needed to carry out the program
Availability of other private or public funds
Ability to help meet budgetary needs so staff can focus on program delivery

Science-Based Approach: As a foundation that values being "science-based," successful proposals should demonstrate evidence-driven approaches and cite research findings to support their work.

Community and Inclusivity: The foundation prioritizes "empowering marginalized communities historically affected by industrial agriculture." Applications should demonstrate how they serve or include these communities.

Collaboration: The foundation values "partnering across professions and disciplines." Projects involving partnerships or interdisciplinary approaches align with their values.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects:

Intervale Center: Expanding pollinator habitat, increasing variety of habitat structures and bloom times, reducing invasive species, enhancing crop pollination, restoring fallow fields, improving native plant seed collection and distribution
Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center: Pollinator Learning Series workshops on pollinator conservation and native plants
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Statewide efforts to curb pesticide use
Xerces Society: Pollinator-friendly farming practices
Vermont Center for Ecostudies: Pollinator research and monitoring
Shelburne Farms: Community-led habitat restoration and youth education programs

Multi-Year Funding: The foundation "accepts and encourages requests for multi-year funding" which provides more sustainable support. Don't hesitate to request longer-term funding.

Operating Support Welcome: The foundation explicitly states they "will accept both project and operating support requests," making them more flexible than many foundations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Submit LOIs year-round: Unlike many foundations with fixed deadlines, One Hive accepts rolling LOI submissions and can accommodate urgent funding needs through direct contact
Request the right amount: Grants range from small awards to $75,000 annually; calibrate your request thoughtfully based on actual needs and other funding sources
Emphasize science and evidence: This foundation is explicitly "science-based" and led by scientists and beekeepers—ground your proposal in research and data
Think multi-year and operating support: They actively encourage multi-year requests and welcome operating support proposals, which many foundations avoid
Highlight collaboration and inclusivity: Show how your work involves partnerships across disciplines and serves marginalized communities affected by industrial agriculture
Vermont connection helps: While they fund across the US and Canada, Vermont and Northeast projects are prioritized given the foundation's roots
Unique stipend benefit: If invited to full proposal stage, you'll receive $500 regardless of outcome—rare recognition of the cost of proposal development

References

Accessed: December 2025