George P. Hanley Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Hanley Foundation makes grants for the environment, education and economic empowerment. Its U.S. grantmaking prioritizes the state of Illinois, where it is based.
IP TAKE: The Hanley Foundation’s environmental grantmaking is its largest focus area. It appears to conduct its education and social empowerment programs through a green lens emphasizing clean energy and sustainability. In the U.S., more than half of all grants remain in Illinois. Global grantmaking stems from Hanley’s environmental and social empowerment initiatives and prioritizes rural areas of developing countries. This funder supports a broad range of organizations, including many grassroots environmental outfits.
The Hanley Foundation is not an accessible foundation at this time, but prospective grantees may reach out via email with general questions.
PROFILE: The George P. Hanley Foundation, formerly the George and Amanda Hanley Foundation, was founded in 1997 by veteran securities trader George Hanley. Based in Chicago, the foundation seeks to “make his vision for a better future a reality." The foundation does not detail its funding priorities beyond stating that it “collaborates with universities to create academic centers and institutes to fulfill its mission.” However, according to tax records and past grantmaking, Hanley also invests in the environment and social empowerment, with a strong emphasis on the state of Illinois.
Grants for Climate Change
While the Hanley Foundation does not list climate change or the environment as a funding priority, it has conducted grantmaking in this area in the past. Recent grantmaking has emphasized projects that involve environmental education and social and economic empowerment. Grants have also gone to organizations involved in clean energy policy development, corporate accountability and sustainable investing. Past grantees include the Clean Energy Trust, the Chicago Clean Energy Coalition and the Acumen Fund, which works in part to establish clean energy supply systems in developing countries.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
The Hanley Foundation’s education giving primarily operates in the Chicago area and the Midwest region. According to the foundation’s website, it has “given over $20 million to expanding scholarship and experiential learning for future generations.” In addition to City Year and several charter schools in the Chicago area, the foundation has supported organizations like Big Green, which brings “learning gardens” to schools nationwide; Farm on Ogden, a collaboration between Chicago Botanic Garden and Lawndale Christian Health Center to provide nutrition and environmental education to urban youth; and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which offers training and education programs to increase economic opportunity for urban youth.
Grants for Global Development, Work and Economic Opportunity, and Sustainable Agriculture
The Hanley Foundation’s grantmaking in this area centers around the Chicago area and Midwest region, where it has supported groups like Farm on Ogden, a collaboration between Chicago Botanic Garden and Lawndale Christian Health Center to provide nutrition and environmental education to urban youth; Indigenous Environmental Network, which works to promote indigenous peoples’ approaches to nature in order to prevent exploitation and pollution; and Windy City Harvest, which offers job training opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals and others who may have “barriers to employment.”
The Hanley Foundation also conducts global development work. Past grantees include Acumen Fund, Earth Rights International, Global Fund for Women, Puerto Rico Solar Disaster Relief and SHINE.
Important Grant Details:
This funder has made about $1 million in grants each year, with grants generally ranging from $1,000 to $30,000. The foundation’s domestic grantmaking primarily centers around Chicago and the Midwest, but it may make grants in other states. Its international grantmaking does not have specific geographic restrictions but tends to target rural areas and developing countries.
The Hanley Foundation does not accept or respond to unsolicited proposals. Direct general inquiries to the foundation’s staff via email at admin@hanleyfdn.org.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
