Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you very much for your interest in The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. We ask that all organizations interested in applying for a grant carefully read the information available on the website about the Foundation's programs and priority areas. Please refer to the Foundation's General Program overview or proceed directly to guidelines for a particular program.
We have the following limitations:
- The Foundation makes grants to nonprofit charitable organizations classified as 501(c)(3) public charities by the Internal Revenue Service.
- The Foundation normally does not make grants intended to support basic research, capital construction funds, endowment, general fundraising drives, or fundraising events. It does not make grants intended to support candidates for political office, to influence legislation, or to support sectarian or religious purposes.
The following programs and initiatives are currently accepting unsolicited letters of inquiry for new grants. Click on a link to read program-specific guidelines and to submit a letter of inquiry for a new grant.
The following programs and initiatives currently are not accepting letters of inquiry:
- Global Development
- Philanthropy
- Population
If, after review of our priorities, you believe your objectives fit within the guidelines of a particular program, we suggest that you read Update on the Hewlett Foundation’s Approach to Philanthropy: The Importance of Strategy to get a sense of the Foundation’s general philosophy.
Then, please complete the Letter of Inquiry form for initial review. A link to that form can be found by clicking on the appropriate program link above.
After your letter of inquiry is received and reviewed, you may be invited to submit an application. Please do not submit a full proposal until you are invited to do so.
After careful consideration of your letter, our program staff will contact you to let you know whether to submit a full proposal. Please note that a request to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding, but rather is a second step in the review process. If invited, you will be asked to complete a full proposal.
If a significant aspect of your proposal involves holding one or more meetings, you may find it helpful to consider Meetings as a Strategy for Change.
Grants are awarded on the basis of merit, educational importance, relevance to program goals, and cost-effectiveness.