Statement of Purpose

The Foley Hoag Foundation was established by the law firm of Foley Hoag in 1981 to improve race relations in Greater Boston, particularly among the city’s youth population. Through its grantmaking activities, the Foundation is committed to fostering a spirit of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, for the long-term benefit of all residents of the city. The Foundation hopes that its funding interests and activities will encourage other firms and professional organizations to become more involved in community-based philanthropy, and to be more sensitive to racial inequities.

Types of Support

The Foundation allocates its grant resources across multiple fields including arts, education, training and research, cultural activities, and social services. It places an emphasis on collaborative programs and projects which engage youth of different races in a common effort to raise awareness of and eliminate racism.

Types of program-related activities can include:

  • Creative approaches to the problem of social isolation and racial segregation in Greater Boston through projects in any discipline, including education, employment, recreation and the arts. These may also include targeted responses to isolated incidents or patterns of racial tension, violence or injustice.

  • Collaboration between organizations with different constituencies.

  • Civic engagement and/or community empowerment, particularly for minority or immigrant populations.

  • Diversity training for nonprofit organizations.

  • Research and advocacy on race-related matters in Greater Boston.

The Foundation’s annual grants budget is approximately $80,000. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $8,000. In 2006, the average grant size was $3,240.

Special Emphases

The Trustees have added several refinements to the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy in an attempt to deepen and improve the impact of its funding on the complex and multi-faceted problem of racism. 

  • A preference for requests from smaller organizations, where a small grant is likely to have a high impact.

  • A preference for funding organizations with diverse boards and staff - or with active plans to diversify organizational leadership - that reflect the constituency of communities served 

  • Interest in leveraging support either by making conditional or challenge grants.

  • A focus on Greater Boston.

Limitations

Because of limited grant resources, and in fairness to all applicants, grants are generally awarded for one year only. Refunding for consecutive years may be possible after successful completion of first-year funding. There is no automatic renewal of multi-year grants. The Foundation also prefers to fund project-related requests, and is reluctant to support general operations.

Application Procedures

The Foundation makes use of the common proposal and report forms developed by Associated Grant Makers. These may be found online at www.agmconnect.org Applicants must submit one copy of a full proposal to Yasmin Shah at Grants Management Associates. Attachments should include:
  • Two copies of the AGM cover summary, not to exceed two pages.
    Form available for download at: http://agmconnect.org/cpf/CPF_Cover_Sheet.doc

  • A proposal narrative, up to ten pages, which should include organizational background information and a description of the purpose for which the grant is sought.

  • An itemized project budget, including a listing of revenues already received, and a copy of the organization's operating budget. Form available for download at: http://www.agmconnect.org/cpf/CPF_Budget_Template.xls

  • Audited financial statements AND IRS Form 990 for the most recently completed fiscal year.

  • A copy of the IRS Determination Letter under Section 501(c)(3).

  • A list of the current board of directors, with their professional affiliations.

  • A completed board and diversity form, can be downloaded at: www.hyamsfoundation.org

Evaluation

All grant recipients are expected to provide an evaluation report within a year of the date of their grant. Grantees may use the AGM Common Report format, accessible online at: www.agmconnect.org.

Meeting Schedule and Application Deadlines

For the Trustees’ June grantmaking meeting, the application deadline is April 1st. For the Trustees’ December grantmaking meeting, the application deadline is October 1st. Applications must be received in the Grants Management Associates offices by 5:00 PM on the deadline date. When the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, proposals are due the following business day.

Contact Information

Yasmin Shah
Program Associate
Foley Hoag Foundation
c/o Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-426-7080 x317
Fax: 617-426-7087
E-mail: yshah@grantsmanagement.com

Trustees

Mossik Hacobian
J. Elizabeth Harris
Michael B. Keating
Jeanne Pinado

© 2006 Grants Management Associates