William H. Hannon Foundation
/OVERVIEW: Although the William H. Hannon Foundation prioritizes Catholic causes in the Los Angeles area, this funder also makes grants to education, health, and social service nonprofits throughout the region.
IP TAKE: The Hannon Foundation staff accepts unsolicited grant proposals. Grant seekers should browse through the foundation’s News and Releases page to get a sense of what types of organizations typically receive grants.
PROFILE: Established in 1983 and based in Santa Monica, California, the William H. Hannon Foundation was founded by William H. Hannon, a Southern California real estate developer who was known for his generosity toward the Catholic community during his lifetime. It seeks to “enhance the welfare and education of students in both public and private elementary schools, high schools and universities primarily within the greater Los Angeles area; to aid in the advancement of health care and human services, especially for those least able to afford quality care; to address the needs of the disadvantaged, aged, sick and the homeless; to support and promote the values of […] the Roman Catholic Church.” After returning home from service in World War II, Hannon developed residential communities and commercial shopping centers throughout the region. Over the past three decades, the Hannon Foundation has supported many Catholic schools, missions, hospitals, and other public and private nonprofit organizations in Southern California.
Grants for Community Development
Hannon Foundation grantmaking prioritizes the greater Los Angeles areas where Hannon lived and worked. It makes grants to organizations that played an important role in Mr. Hannon's life, and the foundation staff makes a point to keep his mission in mind when awarding grants. Prominent grantmaking areas include Catholic agencies and churches, elementary and secondary education, health care, and higher education. In the past, Hannon has awarded grants for capital campaigns, general operating support, building renovations, program development, and scholarship funds.
One really interesting foundation program here is Hannon’s Hawaii Fundraising Program. Hannon teamed up with Ed Hogan, Founder of Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, to launch its “Hawaii Fundraising Trips” program. Through this program, the foundation donates unrestricted funds to organizations to help them buy Hawaii trip packages at reduced costs to give away at their own fundraisers.
Past Hannon grants have been made to distribute free eye glasses to students at Dolores Mission Elementary School in Boyle Heights, and the Catholic Textbook Project, which is producing a 12-volume series of studies textbooks and supporting materials specifically for Catholic school students.
Important Grant Details
In a recent year, the Hannon Foundation reported over $24 million in assets and more than $3 million in total giving. Approximately 812 grants were awarded in a prior year and those ranged in size between $35 and $625,000. The Hannon Foundation only accepts grant requests and general communications via mail. Therefore, grant seekers cannot make a phone call or send an email to get in touch with the staff. However, this foundation does accept unsolicited grant applications.
According to the foundation website, it considers grant proposals at each quarterly Board of Directors meeting. Request letters should be received by August 1 for the September meeting; November 1 for the December meeting; February 1 for the March meeting; or May 1 for the June meeting. These letters must be accompanied by documentation listed in the Grant Application Procedures section. Applicants are notified of Hannon’s decision in writing within 30 days of the quarterly Board Meeting.
To get in touch with the Hannon Foundation, send a letter to 729 Montana Avenue, Suite 5, Santa Monica, CA 90403.
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