HDR Foundation – Community Impact Grants (2026)
Employee-Sponsored Grants for Education, Healthy Communities, and Environmental Stewardship
The HDR Foundation provides grants to support impactful, project-based initiatives that align with its core focus areas: education, healthy communities, and environmental stewardship. As an employee-driven foundation, all applications must be sponsored by an HDR employee, making relationship-building a critical component of success.
Organization: HDR Foundation
Support Type: Project-based grants
Geographic Focus: United States
About the Funder
The HDR Foundation is the philanthropic arm of HDR, a global architecture, engineering, and consulting firm. Funded and led by employees, the foundation prioritizes meaningful, community-driven projects that deliver measurable outcomes and long-term benefits. Employee engagement is central to the program, ensuring grants reflect both community need and employee passion.
What This Program Supports
HDR Foundation funding is restricted to discrete, stand-alone projects with clear outcomes and measurable impact. Projects must align with one or more of the following focus areas:
Education
Programs that enhance learning opportunities, access to education, and workforce readiness.
Healthy Communities
Initiatives that improve physical, mental, or social well-being within communities.
Environmental Stewardship
Projects that protect natural resources, promote sustainability, and support environmental resilience.
Projects must:
- Have a defined start and end date (typically within 12 months)
- Demonstrate quantifiable outcomes and measurable impact
- Be sustainable beyond the grant period
- Include a clear scope of work and detailed budget
Eligible Support Types
- Project-based funding for defined initiatives
- Programs with measurable outcomes and long-term community benefit
Eligibility & Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, federally recognized tribal governments, educational institutions, or public entities (e.g., school districts, libraries)
- Must have an HDR employee sponsor engaged with the organization for at least one year
- Must submit a complete application including financial documentation, project budget, and sponsor letter
⚠️ Critical Requirement: Applications will not be considered without an HDR employee sponsor
Ineligible Requests
The HDR Foundation does not fund:
- General operating support (including salaries or consultant fees)
- Capital campaigns
- Event sponsorships or conferences
- Travel expenses
- Advocacy efforts
- Grants to individuals or scholarships
- Faith-based organizations with religious missions or materials
- Animal welfare organizations focused on domesticated animals
- Pass-through organizations (e.g., community foundations, endowments)
Funding Amounts
💰 Grants start at $5,000+
Award sizes vary based on project scope, impact, and alignment with funding priorities
Timeline & Review
Second Grant Cycle (2026):
📅 Letters of Interest Open: August 31 – September 11, 2026
📅 Application Window: September 16 – September 30, 2026 (for approved LOIs only)
📅 Awards Announced: November 2026
Application / Request Process
The application process includes two steps:
- Letter of Interest (LOI)
- Submitted during the LOI window
- Must include HDR employee sponsorship
- Full Application (by invitation only)
- Includes detailed project plan, budget, and supporting documentation
Applicants should:
- Secure an HDR employee sponsor early
- Clearly define project scope and measurable outcomes
- Demonstrate long-term sustainability and community impact
Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.hdrinc.com/hdr-foundation/hdr-foundation-grant-application-process
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:
- Have an existing relationship with an HDR employee
- Can design discrete, outcomes-driven projects (not general operating requests)
- Align with education, health, or environmental priorities
- Can demonstrate measurable impact within a 12-month timeframe
Because of the employee sponsorship requirement, this grant is best suited for organizations with corporate relationships already in place or the ability to build them quickly.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Structured, two փուլ process (LOI → invited application)
Typical Lead Time: Begin outreach to potential HDR employee sponsors well in advance of LOI window
Best Suited For: Organizations with strong corporate connections and clearly defined, project-based initiatives
New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.
