What types of funding support does the Hoffberger Foundation provide?

Within our program priorities (see Grantmaking Guidelines), the Foundation provides funds for capacity building, endowments, operations, organizational development and strengthening, program planning, special projects, and limited support to capital projects, evaluation and technical assistance.

What are the Foundation’s funding limitations?

Funding from the Hoffberger Foundation is limited to the Baltimore metropolitan area.  Limited support to organizations in Israel is also made through established intermediaries such as The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and the New Israel Fund.

The Hoffberger Foundation does not make grants to individuals or to religious organizations of which a Hoffberger or relative is a member.  This is also true for educational institutions where a Hoffberger or relative is or has attended.  While the Hoffberger name may appear on a chapel, courtyard or wing of a few area synagogues and schools, these naming opportunities were based on personal gifts made by individual family members rather than the Hoffberger Foundation.

Is there an amount that is more suitable for a first-time grantee to request?

All requests should be relative to the budget and needs of the organization applying.  It would be unusual, however, for the Foundation to make a very large grant ($50,000 or more) to an unfamiliar organization or an organization with whom we have never worked.

It is also unlikely that first-time grant recipients would be awarded an amount that is equal to or exceeds the proposed project budget.

We have a project that appears to fit within your guidelines. With whom should we speak at the Foundation?

After reviewing our guidelines, initial contact should be made through a brief letter of inquiry (see Applying for a Grant).  Staff is available to answer any questions you may have related to the Foundation’s response to your letter of inquiry.

What should be included in the letter of inquiry?

See Applying for a Grant.

Are there deadlines for submitting letters of inquiry and full proposals?

The Foundation does not have deadlines governing the submission of grant requests.  Letters of inquiry and proposals are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed in the order they are received (see Applying for a Grant).

How much time does it take to review letters of inquiry and proposals?

Letters of inquiry are generally responded to within 30 days of receipt.  The Foundation makes every effort to conclude the review and consideration process within four months of receiving the completed full proposal.

Will the Foundation meet with grant seekers?

Generally speaking, a meeting or site visit will take place after the letter of inquiry has been reviewed and at the request of the Foundation staff.

Is it helpful to contact individual members of the Foundation for support?

Communicating with individual members of the Foundation about your organization or the status of letters of inquiry and proposals is discouraged and will not be helpful unless initiated by a member of the Foundation.  Please direct questions and any other communications to (Ms.) Heller H. Zaiman, the Foundation’s Executive Director, at (410) 369-9336 or info@hoffbergerfoundation.org.

Does the Foundation renew grants to organizations who have successfully achieved the goals stated in the initial grant request?

Organizations that have received prior support from the Hoffberger Foundation should not expect future funding.  Grant renewals are the exception rather than rule and are considered on a case-by-case basis.