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Herbert B. Jones Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.9M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.0M
Decision Time
5mo
0

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $858,808 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $17.1 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $25,000 per program (typical)
  • Number of Grants: 10-11 annually
  • Median Grant Size: $38,800 (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: Washington State only
  • Application Deadline: First Monday in April (for fiscal year starting September 1)

Contact Details

Address: Herbert B. Jones Foundation c/o Key Private Bank, 1301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2400, Seattle, WA 98101

Phone: 425-709-4209 or 206-285-1729

Website: www.hbjfoundation.com (Note: Website appears to have technical issues)

Administration: Managed by Key Private Bank

Overview

The Herbert B. Jones Foundation was established by Herbert "Herb" Jones prior to his death in 1998. Born in 1902 in Dubuque, Iowa, Jones moved to the Pacific Northwest at age nine. He worked his way through the University of Washington starting in 1923, initially selling fruit at Pike Place Market. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jones worked closely with faculties at Seattle-area universities, participating on advisory committees and mentor programs where he shared his small business expertise with students.

Since 1995, the foundation has promoted entrepreneurism and small business as "the backbone for the strength of our economic system" through initial and temporary support of new business programs managed by post-secondary educational entities in Washington State. The foundation holds approximately $17.1 million in assets and distributed over $858,000 in grants during 2023. The foundation operates as a private foundation with no paid officers or trustees, relying on investment income and asset sales to fund its charitable activities.

Important Note: Based on recent reports from the University of Washington, the foundation's fund retired in 2024, though the foundation continues to exist and made grants through at least 2023. Prospective applicants should verify current funding availability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation exclusively supports entrepreneurship and small business education programs at Washington State post-secondary institutions. Known supported programs include:

  • Jones + Foster Business Accelerator (University of Washington): Six-month intensive mentoring program with Seattle entrepreneurs and investors, historically providing up to $25,000 in follow-on funding to graduates
  • Jones Progress Awards (Seattle University): Supporting graduating students and recent alumni in launching new businesses through mentoring, grant funds, and connections
  • Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Central Washington University): $15,000 annually for three years (launched 2021)
  • Business Plan Competitions: Grand prizes of $20,000 at Seattle University and similar programs at other institutions
  • Engineering Innovation in Health Summer Incubator (University of Washington)
  • Programs at Seattle Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University, and Green River Community College

Priority Areas

  • New business programs and entrepreneurship centers at universities and colleges
  • Student business accelerators and incubators
  • Business plan competitions
  • Mentorship programs connecting students with experienced entrepreneurs
  • Programs that promote self-improvement through entrepreneurship education
  • Initial and temporary program support (not long-term operational funding)

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly excluded from funding:

  • Equipment purchases
  • Capital projects
  • Gifts or endowments
  • Food costs
  • Programs outside Washington State
  • Non-educational institutions
  • Established programs seeking ongoing operational support
  • Individual students or businesses (only institutional programs)

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is administered through Key Private Bank in Seattle, which serves as trustee. The foundation operates with no paid officers or trustees.

Board Member:

  • Mike Bauer: Board member who served as friend and financial advisor to Herbert B. Jones throughout their twenty-year association. Bauer has stated he tries to "bear in mind how Herb would want the Foundation to allocate the money left in its care" when making grant decisions.

Jones himself worked closely with university faculties throughout the 1980s and 1990s, serving on advisory committees and mentor programs. His philosophy emphasized encouraging self-improvement through small business education, and organizations seeking grants are evaluated on alignment with this philosophy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the foundation's website at hbjfoundation.com, though the website has experienced technical difficulties.

Application Requirements:

  • Submit six (6) stapled copies to the Key Private Bank address
  • Applications must come from post-secondary educational institutions in Washington State
  • Maximum of two (2) requests for consideration are allowed per institution
  • Grants requested are for fiscal years starting September 1st

Deadline: First Monday in April annually

Important: Given reports that the foundation's fund retired in 2024, prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly to confirm current application status before preparing materials.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Applications are reviewed after the April deadline, with grants typically starting for the fiscal year beginning September 1st, suggesting decisions are made between April and September.

Success Rates

With 10-11 grants awarded annually from an undisclosed number of applications, specific success rate data is not publicly available. The foundation has historically supported the same core institutions with ongoing program funding, suggesting preference for established relationships.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation allows a maximum of two requests for consideration per institution per cycle. Policies regarding reapplication after rejection are not documented. Given the focus on "initial and temporary support," successful applicants should anticipate that funding may be time-limited (typically 3-year commitments).

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented history and stated philosophy, successful applications demonstrate:

Alignment with Founder's Philosophy: Organizations receive consideration based on "careful consideration to ensure alignment with Herb's philosophy of encouraging self-improvement." Jones believed in helping those pursuing education in small business and entrepreneurship, particularly students working to better themselves through education as he did.

Program Characteristics:

  • New or developing programs: The foundation emphasizes "initial and temporary support of new business programs," not ongoing operational funding for established entities
  • Student-focused: Programs should directly benefit students learning entrepreneurship and small business skills
  • Hands-on learning: Jones valued practical experience, having worked his way through university himself
  • Connection to experienced entrepreneurs: Programs incorporating mentorship from successful business people align with Jones's own involvement with students

Institutional Profile: The foundation has worked with Seattle University, University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University, Green River Community College, and Central Washington University. These relationships often began in the 1980s-1990s when Jones personally worked with their faculties.

Specific Examples of Funded Programs:

  • Business accelerators providing both mentorship and seed funding
  • Business plan competitions with substantial prizes
  • Innovation institutes connecting students with entrepreneurship resources
  • Summer incubator programs in emerging fields

What Doesn't Work:

  • Requests for equipment, capital projects, endowments, or food costs
  • Programs outside Washington State
  • Long-term operational support requests
  • Applications from non-educational institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Verify funding status first: Contact the foundation directly to confirm whether they are currently accepting applications given 2024 fund retirement reports
  • Institutional applications only: Must apply through a Washington State post-secondary educational institution; no direct funding to students or businesses
  • Emphasize the "new" and "temporary": Proposals should frame requests as seed funding for new initiatives, not ongoing operational support
  • Connect to founder's story: Jones worked his way through college and valued self-improvement through education—proposals should emphasize how programs help students improve themselves through entrepreneurship
  • Established relationships matter: The foundation has long-standing relationships with core institutions; new institutions may face higher barriers
  • Budget restrictions are firm: Do not include equipment, capital, endowments, or food costs in requests
  • Think multi-year but time-limited: Successful grants often span 3 years (e.g., $15,000 annually for three years), but expect support to be time-limited

References

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