What is the Edward W. Hazen Foundation?

The Edward W. Hazen Foundation is a private, independent foundation. In 1925, Mr. Edward W. Hazen established the Foundation to "promote the public welfare either by supporting existing agencies or through independent activities to be exclusively religious, scientific, literary, or educational in character." For over 80 years, and despite enormous changes in the social, political, and economic landscape, Mr. Hazen's legacy lives on through the Foundation's long-standing support for education and developing young people's leadership.

Who was Edward Warriner Hazen?

Edward Warriner Hazen was born in Middletown, Connecticut, on February 13, 1860. Mr. Hazen spent his early years as a student in secondary schools, as a rural schoolteacher, as a farmer, and as a laborer and foreman in a brass mill. Later, Mr. Hazen was an executive with the Curtis Publishing Company, and then a State Senator of Connecticut. On September 25, 1925, Mr. Hazen incorporated the Foundation in the State of Connecticut. Mr. Hazen died on January 9, 1929, in Haddam, Connecticut.

Throughout his life, Mr. Hazen chose to act in a manner that would elicit the least personal acclaim. Only where his name would clearly strengthen the influence of his acts did he allow its use in connection with his beneficence.

What is the mission of the Foundation?

The Edward W. Hazen Foundation seeks to assist young people, particularly young people of color and those disadvantaged by poverty, to achieve their full potential as individuals and as active participants in a democratic society.

What are the goals of the Foundation?

• To foster effective schools for all children, and full participation for parents and communities in school reform efforts.
• To contribute to the development of a new generation of grassroots leaders committed to improving the quality of life in their communities.

Where does the Foundation get its money?

The Foundation gets its funds from an endowment currently valued at approximately $30 million. The endowment provides a perpetual source of support for the Foundation's programs and administration.

What is the Foundation's annual giving budget?

The annual giving budget, or the payout, is set by the Board of Trustees based upon the year-end value of its assets. The board will continue to give at a rate at or above the Internal Revenue Code requirement of five percent of the market value of its investment assets. In 2004, the Foundation awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants.

Who runs the Foundation?

The Foundation is governed by a seven-member national board of trustees and is managed by the President. The trustees determine board policies, set program and management budgets, approve grants and appropriations, and review program and grant objectives and accomplishments.

The President has the general and active supervision and management of the business of the Foundation, and sees that all orders and resolutions of the board are carried out. The President and the staff evaluate proposals, seek out institutions able to carry out activities in the Foundation's areas of interests, and recommend grants for funding.

Who comprises the staff of the Foundation?

Lori Bezahler, President

PhiIIip Edward GiIes, Program Associate

Claire Davis, Administrator / Financial Manager

Does the Foundation publish any materials?

Yes. The Foundation publishes the following materials:

• Guidelines for Grantseekers
• Annual Report

How can I obtain any of the Foundation's materials?

You can obtain them in this website, or contact the Foundation to receive a copy through the mail.

What are the Foundation's current program interests?

The Foundation's current grantmaking is focused on public education and youth development.

· Public Education - We are primarily interested in parent and community organizing initiatives that foster educational equity and student achievement.

· Youth Development - We favor initiatives that focus on training young people to become community organizers around concrete social issues.

What types of organizations does the Foundation fund?

In the area of Public Education, the Foundation favors requests from community-based and grassroots organizations in four (4) geographic sites: Los Angeles, Miami/Dade County, the Delta of Mississippi and New York City.

In the area of Youth Development, the Foundation will consider requests from community-based and grassroots organizations throughout the United States.

What types of grants does the foundation award?

The Foundation awards trustee grants, discretionary grants, and annual grants.

· Trustee grants are approved by the Board of Trustees, and are greater than $5,000.

· Discretionary grants are approved by the Executive Director, and are no more than $5,000.

· Annual grants are general support awards and membership fees to institutions to which the Foundation is a member, and are no more than $5,000.

What is the average size of the Foundation's trustee grants?

The average trustee grant is $20,000-$30,000.

Does the Foundation fund internationally?

No. The Foundation only supports community-based and grassroots organizations in the United States. In addition, the Foundation does not support organizations in US territories.

What organizations are not eligible for Foundation funding?

The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, schools or school districts, or government agencies. Grants are awarded only to federally tax-exempt [501(C)(3)] organizations.

Are there funding areas that the Foundation does not support?

Yes. The Foundation does not fund scholarships or fellowships; nor provides funds toward ongoing operational expenses, deficit funding, building construction or maintenance. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, schools or school districts.

What is the Foundation's grant application procedure?

At this time we are not accepting any new letters of inquiry. The Foundation has recently adopted a new grantmaking strategy for the period 2005-2009. The Foundation will issue Requests for Proposals twice a year to organizations that we've determined to fit within our guidelines. To be considered for the RFP mailing list please contact the Foundation and leave your organization contact information.

 

Please visit the guidelines and programs pages to learn more about Hazen's grantmaking strategy for the 2005-2009 period.

What are the Foundation's funding cycles and deadlines?

The Foundation has two grant cycles: Spring and Fall.

If the Foundation requests a grant application, Foundation staff will indicate the application due date.

To whom do I address my request for support?

Proposals for support should only be submitted at the request of the Foundation.

Can I submit a grant application as my initial request?

No. The Foundation does accept unsolicited proposals. However, letters of introduction can be sent to the attention of the President.

Can I fax or e-mail my initial request or proposal?

No. The Foundation does not accept requests by fax or email.

What is the response timeline for an initial funding request?

At this time we are not accepting any new letters of inquiry. The Foundation has recently adopted a new grantmaking strategy for the period 2005-2009 and is currently developing new guidelines for grantseekers. Full proposals will be reviewed immediately and applicants should expect to hear a response within two to three weeks.

Please visit the guidelines and programs pages to learn more about Hazen's grantmaking strategy for the 2005-2009 period.

 

Can I contact the foundation to learn why my request was declined?

Due to the large number of requests the foundation receives, it is impossible for staff to engage in correspondence or telephone conversations with applicants regarding the reasons for declination. Any follow-up letters the Foundation receives from applicants will be read, however a response can not be guaranteed.

For how much funding can I apply?

While there are no specific limits concerning the amount of funding which you can request from the Foundation, please be advised that the average range of trustee grants are from $20,000-$35,000 for one year.

Are there any restrictions on how many times we can apply to the Foundation?

No. However, the Foundation will request proposals for renewed support from eligible organizations.

Can I apply for more funding if I have a currently active grant?

No. In general, organizations are awarded one trustee's grant per grant period.

Can a staff member come and visit our organization or may we come visit you to conduct a presentation about our program?

In general, the staff is not able to meet with organizations interested in sharing information about their programs or learning more about the Foundation. However, prospective applicants are welcome to submit background information to the foundation.

Edward Hazen Foundation © 2013

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