The FB Heron Foundation
The FB Heron Foundation is a private foundation based in New Haven, Connecticut. It works with local organizations and communities, mainly in rural places facing persistent poverty, systemic challenges, historic disinvestment, and disenfranchisement.
The FB Heron Foundation at a glance
In short: The FB Heron Foundation gave $14.8M across 77 grants in 2024 (avg $192K), mostly in Kentucky. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,786,601
- -24.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 77
- -41.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $192,034
- +29.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $349,260,826
- +6.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (23 of 60, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The FB Heron Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It directs applicants to its website for forms and materials and states that award restrictions are per guidelines. The foundation lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: The Fb Heron Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 9438, New Haven, CT 06776
Phone: (475) 250-1020
Website: https://heron.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The FB Heron Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc ($10.4M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $14.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
728 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 551 grants of 728 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Heron says it works mainly in rural communities and describes its strategy as operating nationally. In 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky and 27% to recipients in Arkansas; smaller shares went to recipients in Massachusetts and New York. The filing also lists grants to recipients in other states, including Virginia and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 77 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The FB Heron Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 60 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $396K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 45% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.8M (2020) to $30.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 77 grants totaling $14.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc Berea, KY | Project-Based | $10,000,000 |
| Communities Unlimited Inc Fayetteville, AR | Project-Based | $3,750,000 |
| Communities Unlimited Inc Fayetteville, AR | General Support | $200,000 |
| Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc Berea, KY | Pass-Through | $200,000 |
| Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc Berea, KY | General Support | $200,000 |
| The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Cambridge, MA | Project-Based | $75,000 |
| Mission Investors Exchange New York, NY | Mem/Sub/Spon | $60,000 |
| The Nonprofit Information Networking Association dba The Nonprofit Quarterl Boston, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Appalachian African-American Cultural Center Pennington Gap, VA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Appalachian African-American Cultural Center Pennington Gap, VA | General Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The FB Heron Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $349,260,826 | $15,317,344 | $19,822,923 | $14,786,601 | 77 | $20,648,448 | $13,560,994 | $23,840,795 |
| 2023 | $326,924,230 | $8,390,805 | $24,916,796 | $19,480,286 | 131 | $26,877,689 | $8,429,454 | $19,061,732 |
| 2022 | $311,913,606 | $33,774,082 | $36,349,061 | $29,986,986 | 165 | $38,286,599 | $31,695,635 | $19,605,642 |
| 2021 | $412,823,233 | $28,288,660 | $15,613,585 | $10,179,700 | 170 | $16,140,053 | $26,354,937 | $20,807,775 |
| 2020 | $360,659,886 | $46,751,872 | $17,018,329 | $6,776,947 | 185 | — | $45,072,731 | $14,794,349 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The FB Heron Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Heron says it champions people working toward shared community goals and invests in local organizations’ knowledge, skills, and determination. Its FAQs state that it has no prescriptive list of projects it is willing to fund and is not confined to a particular program area or legal form of organization.
The 2024 grants illustrate support for varied organizations. Communities Unlimited, which received grants of $3.75 million and $200,000, says it connects rural Americans with solutions for healthy businesses, communities, and lives through work including community sustainability, entrepreneurship, charitable lending, and food and water initiatives. Mission Investors Exchange, which received $60,000, says it provides education and support to encourage foundations’ effective use of mission investing. Other 2024 recipients included organizations whose stated missions include public education about an economy that supports people and the planet, refugee and immigrant support, and post-secondary education.
Heron’s published investment policy describes assessing both financial and social performance and applying its investment approach across enterprises regardless of tax status.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Heron reported 77 grants totaling $14,786,601. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $10 million, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards included $10 million to the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises for a project-based purpose and $3.75 million to Communities Unlimited for a project-based purpose. Communities Unlimited also received $200,000 for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Buzz Schmidt as chairman; John C. Weiler as treasurer; Kelly Donnelly as secretary; and Paul Costello, Jim King, Felecia Lucky, Dan McKay, and Greg Watson as directors. Enrique Virgil is listed as former treasurer.
The FB Heron Foundation is led by Buzz Schmidt, Chairman on every filing since 2020; 3 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Buzz Schmidt
Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Felecia Lucky
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Watson
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim King
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Costello
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
DAN McKAY
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Enrique Virgil
Former Treasuer
Treasuer → Former Treasuer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$177K (2023) → $18K (2024)
Kelly Donnelly
Secretary
Managing Director - Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$196K (2023) → $219K (2024)
John C. Weiler
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$157K (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Nhadine Leung (2020–2023) — Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Dan Mc Kay (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Mary Jo Mullan (2023) — President
- Former: Dana K. Bezerra (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Anne Wade (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John Otterlei (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: William Mc Calpin (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Clara G. Miller (2020) — President Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $219K, to Kelly Donnelly (Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The FB Heron Foundation
How much does The FB Heron Foundation give each year?
The FB Heron Foundation gave $14.8M across 77 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $19.5M across 131 grants.
What is The FB Heron Foundation's typical grant size?
The FB Heron Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $192,034, across 77 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The FB Heron Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The FB Heron Foundation give grants?
The FB Heron Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arkansas (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (11 grants), Berea, KY (4 grants), Northeast Harbor, ME (4 grants) and Ponte Vedra, FL (3 grants).
Does The FB Heron Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of The FB Heron Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (72 of 77) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project-Based" (3 grants).
Who are The FB Heron Foundation's largest grantees?
The FB Heron Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises Inc ($10,401,292 across 4 grants), Communities Unlimited Inc ($3,950,000 across 2 grants) and The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The FB Heron Foundation?
The FB Heron Foundation reported $349.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The FB Heron Foundation fund?
Heron says it champions people working toward shared community goals and invests in local organizations’ knowledge, skills, and determination. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The FB Heron Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The FB Heron Foundation's EIN?
The FB Heron Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3647019. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The FB Heron Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fb-heron-foundation-morg_f54fe4f048a0453ba45d537d36f20b37
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133647019_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The FB Heron Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fb-heron-foundation-morg_f54fe4f048a0453ba45d537d36f20b37},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The FB Heron Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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