The Heffernan Family Foundation
The Heffernan Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Rye Brook, New York, established in 2016. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a commitment to philanthropic giving across education, human services, and community support initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.1M
-5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$703K
-48.5% YoY
Grant Count
56
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-48.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Heffernan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $287K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's core values center on four principles: helping those in need, generous giving, striving for positive change, and supporting communities.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation also administers named scholarship programs, including the Frank and Lenore Heffernan Scholarship and the Garee Lee Smith Scholarship.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- New York
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $4,318,582
- Total revenues: $2,496,493
- Total expenses: $1,419,855
- Total grants, contributions: $1,600,231
- Investment income and dividends: $458,645
2024 Data:
- Total assets: $4,100,197
- Total giving: $703,350
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,100,197 | $4,318,582 | $3,241,944 |
| Revenue | $1,475,408 | $2,496,493 | $154,414 |
| Expenses | $828,491 | $1,419,855 | $1,048,347 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $754,602 | $1,374,625 | $1,007,471 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,226,519 | $1,952,454 | $217,520 |
| Distributable Amount | $287,027 | $257,583 | $233,393 |
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
192 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boston College ($100,000), Special Operators Transition Foundation Inc ($30,000), Boston College ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW NAPLES, FL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BALD PEAK COMMUNITY FUND MELVIN VILLAGE, NH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $500 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE CHESTNUT HILL, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE CHESTNUT HILL, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE OF NY INC BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BUTTERFLIES FROM JODIE NEW ROCHELLE, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| CANTERBURY SCHOOL INC NEW MILFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CAPE COD HEALTHCARE INC & AFFLIATES HYANNIS, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CARITAS OF PORT CHESTER INC PORT CHESTER, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mike Heffernan serves as President and CEO of Heffernan Insurance Brokers and Board Chair of the Heffernan Foundation. John P. Heffernan is identified as a foundation supporter.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN P HEFFERNAN DECEASED 091725 | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT, TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JUNE D HEFFERNAN | DIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOHN P HEFFERNAN JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES W HEFFERNAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation celebrated 20 years of giving, marking significant milestone anniversaries in its philanthropic work. The organization announced 2025 scholarship recipients and continues to plan community events and fundraising activities for 2026.
Heffernan Foundation plans 2026 events | Insurance BusinessSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Heffernan Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's core values center on four principles: helping those in need, generous giving, striving for positive change, and supporting communities. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Heffernan Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $100,000–$300,000 • Recent annual giving: $703,350 (2024) • Grant volume: 66 grants made in 2023 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Thomas Aquinas College ($200,000 - General Operating Support) • San Miguel Academy of Newburgh ($36,000 - General Operating Support) • Catholic Academy of Bridgeport ($30,000 - General Operating Support) The foundation also administers named scholarship programs, including the Frank and Lenore Heffernan Scholarship and t…
Where does The Heffernan Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • New York • New Hampshire • Massachusetts
What size grants does The Heffernan Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Heffernan Family Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $703K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Heffernan Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Heffernan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $287K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Heffernan Family Foundation's EIN?
The Heffernan Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4243193. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Heffernan Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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