Heffernan Group Foundation
The Heffernan Group Foundation is a private family foundation based in Walnut Creek, California. Established in 2007, it serves as the charitable arm of the Heffernan Group and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is committed to helping those in need, supporting generous giving, striving for positive change, and strengthening communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.0M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-8.5% YoY
Grant Count
246
+15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-20.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Heffernan Group Foundation reported a distributable amount of $490K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Changing futures through access to education, reducing homelessness and food deficiency through relevant nonprofit collaboration; promoting community and employee engagement.
Core Values: The foundation believes in helping those who need it most, generous giving, striving for positive change, and supporting communities.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education and scholarships
- Human services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Homelessness reduction
- Food security
- Community engagement
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Heffernan Group Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $8,990,446
- Total revenues: $1,718,526
- Total expenses: $1,607,824
- Total grants and contributions: $1,158,814
- Investment income and dividends: $291,981
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $267,731
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $8,880,000
- Total revenues: $3,140,000
- Total expenses: $2,450,000
Staffing: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,990,446 | $8,881,384 | $8,186,839 |
| Revenue | $1,718,526 | $3,144,653 | $6,335,918 |
| Expenses | $1,607,824 | $2,447,763 | $1,188,612 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,371,255 | $1,502,671 | $1,009,355 |
| Net Investment Income | $291,981 | $220,797 | $134,794 |
| Distributable Amount | $489,625 | $463,313 | $231,205 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Community Services ($25,000), 10000 Degrees ($20,000), Bellarmine College Preparatory ($17,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 DEGREES SAN RAFAEL, CA | 2024 GRANT | $20,000 |
| 18 REASONS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | 2024 GRANT | $5,000 |
| 826 VALENCIA INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | DONATION | $500 |
| ABILITY FIRST PASADENA, CA | DONATION | $1,000 |
| ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOODBANK OAKLAND, CA | DONATION | $1,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | MATCHING DONATION | $320 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY PHOENIX, AZ | MATCHING DONATION | $51 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - CCF KENNESAW, GA | DONATION | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION OAKLAND, CA | MATCHING DONATION | $75 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | MATCHING DONATION | $40 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mike Heffernan – President and CEO of Heffernan Insurance Brokers; Board Chair of Heffernan Foundation
- Michelle Lonaker-Lavine – Executive Director of Heffernan Foundation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE HEFFERNAN | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE LONAKER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $145,000 |
| PHILIP MORTIMER | CFO/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| LOUISA TALLARIDA | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KURT SCHEIDT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HIEU WILLIAMS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JEFF HAMLIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RICK ALLEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation celebrated 20 years of giving in 2025 and announced scholarship recipients for that year. In 2026, the foundation announced an expanded calendar of community events designed to engage the public and support meaningful causes, reflecting its ongoing commitment to community engagement and philanthropic impact.
Heffernan Foundation - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublicaSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Heffernan Group Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** Changing futures through access to education, reducing homelessness and food deficiency through relevant nonprofit collaboration; promoting community and employee engagement. **Core Values:** The foundation believes in helping those who need it most, generous giving, striving for positive change, and supporting communities. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education and scholarships • Human services • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Homelessness reduction • Food security • Commu…
How do I apply for a grant from Heffernan Group Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $1,371,255 • Typical award range: $15–$510,000 • Recent grants include donations to Little Miracles ($66,000), Cristo Rey San Jose Work Study Corporation ($42,000), and Swords to Plowshares ($25,000) • The foundation made 155+ grants in 2024 **Scholarship Programs:** • **Garee Lee Smith Scholarship Program:** Awards ten $10,000 scholarships annually to Heffernan Group employees or their children. Employees must be in good standing and employed full-tim…
What size grants does Heffernan Group Foundation award?
In 2024, Heffernan Group Foundation awarded 246 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Heffernan Group Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Heffernan Group Foundation reported a distributable amount of $490K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Heffernan Group Foundation's EIN?
Heffernan Group Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-1010693. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Heffernan Group Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Heffernan Group Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Heffernan Group Foundation to a real strategy.