The Foley Hoag Foundation, established by the law firm Foley Hoag in 1981, aims to support programs in Greater Boston, New York City, and metropolitan Washington, D.C., that address inequality in various forms including racial, ethnic, gender, and wealth disparities. It focuses on innovative projects where a small grant can make a meaningful difference, striving to create equitable communities where everyone can achieve their full potential and encouraging community-based philanthropy.
The grant program supports a wide range of initiatives across multiple fields such as arts, education, training and research, cultural activities, and social services. It emphasizes collaborative efforts that bring together people from different backgrounds to foster equal opportunities. The types of programs funded include innovative approaches to addressing issues of inequality in any discipline (including but not limited to community organizing, advocacy, health, education, employment, recreation, and the arts), civic engagement and/or community empowerment, programs that intersect community engagement with civil rights and the law, collaborations between organizations serving different constituencies, and research and advocacy on equity-related issues.
Grantmaking Focus Adjustments: In efforts to enhance and amplify the effectiveness of its contributions towards addressing the multifaceted challenges of inequality, the Trustees have refined the Foundation’s granting approach. A marked preference is given to smaller entities with yearly operational budgets under $750,000, where modest grants can significantly propel their impact. Additionally, the Foundation favors organizations that either already have diverse leadership teams and staff—mirroring the communities they serve—or are actively implementing strategies to achieve such diversity. The Foundation is also inclined towards initiatives that encourage additional support, through either conditional or matching grants. While the focus is primarily on funding specific projects, requests for general operational support will also be entertained.