HDR Foundation – Community Impact Grants (2026)

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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.