Funding Priorities in Social Service - Hearst Foundations
The Hearst Foundations support national nonprofits with scalable programs addressing chronic poverty and social challenges, focusing on economic independence and family strengthening.
Funder: Hearst Foundations
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2026 (annual application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Minimum grant size $100,000; program, capital, and general support available; typical awards to large national organizations.
Summary: Supports direct-service organizations addressing chronic poverty and social challenges, prioritizing scalable programs that promote economic independence and family strengthening.
Key Information: About 80% of awarded funds go to prior grantees; national headquarters favored over local chapters.
Description
The Hearst Foundations support direct-service nonprofit organizations working to address the root causes of chronic poverty and complex social and economic problems. Funding is focused on programs that foster economic independence, strengthen families, and demonstrate a scalable impact. Priority is given to initiatives in areas such as affordable housing, support for domestic violence victims, environmentally sustainable economic development, food security, job creation and training, legal services for underserved populations, prison education and reentry, and youth development. National headquarters leading broad initiatives are favored over local chapters. Both programmatic, capital, and general operating support are available.
