Hearst Foundation: Social Service Grant

The Hearst Foundation's Social Service Grant focuses on tackling chronic poverty by funding direct-service organizations that implement effective solutions for economic independence and family strengthening. With a mission to support diverse nonprofits in the U.S., the Foundation allocates approximately 15% of its total funding to social services, prioritizing scalable programs that serve significant populations. The minimum grant size is $100,000, and special consideration is given to organizations addressing affordable housing, domestic violence, and youth development.

NOTE: Here are the other priority pages for this funder: Education page, Health page, and Culture page.
Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations.
Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.
The Hearst Foundations fund direct-service organizations that tackle the roots of chronic poverty by applying effective solutions to the most challenging social and economic problems. The Foundations prioritize supporting programs that have proven successful in facilitating economic independence and in strengthening families. Preference is also given to programs with the potential to scale productive practices in order to reach more people in need.
Funding Priorities in Social Service
In the recent past, 15% of total funding has been allocated to Social Service. Organizations with budgets over $5 million have received 75% of funding in Social Service.
The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted for new grantees.
Funding
Minimum grant size is $100,000.

Eligibility

The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and satisfying lives.If a grant request is unsuccessful, an organization must wait a minimum of one year from the date of declination before reapplying.
Grantees must wait a minimum of three years from their grant award date before the Foundations will consider another request.

Ineligibility

In Limited Cases, the Foundations Fund:Endowment grants, provided the organization has an existing endowment with the Hearst Foundations and a track record of strong performance and consistent stewardship
Faith-based organizations, provided that the services they offer are inclusive and fit within the Foundations' guidelines
Organizations lacking regional and national supportThe Hearst Foundations do not fund organizations that are:based outside of the United States
operating with audited expenses less than $2 million
undergoing leadership transitions or with new leadership in place for less than one year
not registered as 501(c)(3) organizations. An IRS determination letter is required to receive funding.The Hearst Foundations do not fund proposals seeking funding for:festivals, tours, conferences, workshops or seminars
advocacy or public policy research
special events, tickets, tables or advertising for fundraising events
seed money or pilot programs
established programs lacking demonstrable long-term impact on populations served
program-related investments (PRI)
local chapters of national organizations (the Foundations typically fund initiatives at the national/headquarters level)
scholarship or fellowship recipients studying or residing outside of the United States