13 survey respondents
Location: 2121 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, 94025 CA
EIN: 94-1655673
69%
31%
15 hours
Median
63%
38%
59%
41%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Keep in mind that this funder is almost always in a state of strategic planning and will regularly shift the funding focus of smaller grants to suit that never-ending process. They have a portfolio of long-term grantees that they prioritize over proactive funding, so gauge the amount of time you might have to put into their application process if you are a new applicant or a small org. And if you're a BIPOC-let org, you might focus applying elsewhere.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Culturally incompetent, Bureaucratic, Risk averse
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Bad
This is a very opaque organization that does not make entry easy, nor do they make their grantees and communities served feel heard. They are good at pushing tools and reports out to the sector, but not so good being responsive to what's happening on the ground. It's one-directional. They lack cultural competency, so you have to be well-accustomed to code-switching and performing to white-centric priorities, communications, and evaluation to interact with them.
Bad
The foundation wants to better fund BIPOC-led organizations and invests a lot of time and energy into discussing and planning how to do so, but not into actually doing it. Contradictory to their goals, funding tends to go towards established, large institutions that, despite their public language or intentions, have a history of racism and sexism.
Stop the toxic intellectualizing, stop strategic planning, defund your PWIs, start funding organizations with a record of and *deep* experience with communities of color in shared leadership, and do not expect them to perform to your existing structures and metrics of success because those metrics do not serve, and are not relevant to, their communities.
Fund well-established, entrenched, predominantly white institutions
15
Grant Applicant - applied in 2020
This funder is a caricature of inefficient philanthropy, and tends to spends its time and resources theorizing instead of deploying resources to empower the field to get work done - program officers are out of touch, grants are absurdly time consuming for GOS awards, and their COVID19 response has been disappointing (please - stop sending me newsletters with helpful resources and just award the full amount of my multiyear grant...). Staff are kind and thoughtful people who are intelligent and have good intentions and promptly respond to emails and calls.
Friendly
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2020
Average
They are accessible.
Bad
If you truly want to strengthen the field - increase your awards and cut the nonsense with logic models.
Flip your grant applications and reports, elimiate the nonsense, and trust your grantees to do the work.
They are thoughtful, they care, and they hosted a grant grantee gathering in 2019!
30
Reviewer 1404 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
I have found the 3 program officers at Hewlett that I've worked with to be out of touch, arrogant, and ineffectual grantmakers.
The program officers have pet projects and theories of change that are immovable. The program officers rarely attend community events or educational events to learn what is going on in the real world.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Culturally incompetent
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Bad
Bad
If you want to just be another ivory tower institution, just give all your money to Stanford down the road.
0
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Agree with a previous poster that the program staff is condescending. This foundation is publicly self-congratulatory in ways that are entirely unjustified. The process was arduous in unnecessary ways, some of the staff (not all) unpleasant--diffident, smug--and general operating was certainly not part of the deal, though I see press releases claiming that providing it is a basic part of their philosophy.
Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Difficult to work with, Bureaucratic, Risk averse
District Of Columbia
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2018
Bad
Fairly slow response time, but it got done eventually
Be more aware of the power dynamic involved in these relationships.
No idea.
Act like they're thought leaders, act like they're being really introspective, doing lots of public patting themselves on the back for it.
25
Reviewer 4446 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Important to establish relationships with program officers who are highly skilled in each repertoire. Submit proposals for review and take notes seriously. Incredibly flexible and smart. Leaders in the field.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
Great at delving deeper into a field issue and pulling together optional convenings that are informative and helpful.
15
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Build relationships with Hewlett staff, especially program staff as their contracts with the foundation dictate that they must leave after 7-8 years. For that reason, get to know the administrative staff as well because they hold a lot of organizational memory.
Positive leader in the field, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
They will talk to you, but approach it as a partnership. Do not treat them as if they have all the power and you have none. Stand in your power as an organization and the work that you do. You have giving the foundation a chance to meet its goals because you are only 1 degree away from the communities that it wants to serve, and they are at least 7 degrees removed.
Average
The foundation has the same problem as most large foundations - they are risk adverse and more often than not support the status quo. Cultural shifts within are challenging and the staff can only do so much.
Give more to smaller organizations that already have certain expertise, instead of simply building the knowledge (but not expertise) of larger, more mainstream organizations.
They understand money and chronically underfunded nonprofits. Make sure that you can articulate your vision, strategy, and outcomes. That clarity will not only help you in your work, but it makes you an ideal partner for this foundation. They like SMART! Be SMART and STRATEGIC. Whatever you do, be completely HONEST with them, anything else, mealy mouthed excuses, will harm your organization.
They fund and seek out grantee feedback, and they actually do something about it, unlike most foundations that provide mealy mouthed replies. They also have not just technical assistance, but capacity building funding available.
40
Reviewer 718 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2014
They are a progressive funder and their Program Officers are thoughtful, helpful, and trusting.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2014
Good
Good
They support success while also allowing grantees to make and learn from mistakes - and in fact they (the funder) also takes the opportunity to learn from and grow with the grantee.
15
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
Get ready for a big dose of rude and condescending. You'll have to play this one right to get the grant. The team is beyond arrogant and immune to curiosity. I was a grant maker at a major national foundation doing more annually than Hewlett in total and tried very hard not to abuse my position. But the Hewlett team spoke constantly about being "laser focused," which it defined as being "we want results that confirm our own attitudes." The foundation's addiction to meandering thought and ridiculous maps of ecosystems and models of democratic renewal that were barely explainable, let alone accurate. No anticipation of what's been happening whatsoever. I'm actually disgusted to tell colleagues that I have funding from Hewlett.
Washington
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2016
Bad
Bad
What are its goals?
We'll see. We'll see.
Be as academic as possible. Scratch chin from time to time. Look at charts and say "that's interesting." Tell the grant officers that you admire their laser focus before they say it about themselves. You get it.
Preen about its work on impact investing with no evidence that it made a difference beyond self promotion.
100
Reviewer 985 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
There are very smart people working at this organization who are willing to help. Their channels of communication are open--don't be afraid to ask what you want to know, and be open about the challenges your organization faces.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
Very well--this is one of the most effective funders in the region.
Keep doing what you are doing!
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation not only supports organizations in fulfilling their missions; it also helps organizations to improve and become better organizations.
0
Reviewer 379 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
They are very thorough and expect you to be as well. Really take the time to thoughtfully craft your goals and anticipated outcomes and be realistic in stating them, because they are carefully compared from year to year (typically multi-year grants).
Positive leader in the field, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
They encourage communication, if you have questions call.
Good
They are very clear and consistent on their areas of funding.
Continue to update and improve the proposal format, particularly the worksheet grid.
Hewlett is the gold standard.
Communication with grantees from all levels of the Foundation, i.e. directors and program officers.
12
