The Eric D & Steven D Hovde Foundation
The Hovde Foundation (The Eric D & Steven D Hovde Foundation) is a Madison, WI–based private foundation supporting vulnerable children internationally and domestically through grants and Hovde Homes. The site provides program focus, impact metrics, contact details, and guidance on domestic grants (applications are accepted by invitation only).
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A nonprofit that serves vulnerable children and youth (domestically or internationally), or an organization partnering with those serving children and families, with a programmatic fit to the foundation's stated priorities and the capacity to manage mid-size to large grants.
Good Fit
- • Direct work with vulnerable children, youth development, or family-centered care
- • Programs in countries or communities the foundation has funded (e.g., Malawi, Rwanda) or credible international partnerships
- • Established local programs in Wisconsin or organizations connected to the foundation’s existing grantees
- • Track record of measurable impact and capacity to steward multi-year commitments
- • Introductions or referrals from current grantees or foundation contacts
Geography
Grants in the latest year reached organizations across six states and included international partners, though one New York-based grantee received roughly three quarters of dollars.
Recipient Variety
In the latest year the foundation funded 14 distinct recipients and about half of those were new to the portfolio, indicating a fairly broad set of grantees despite heavy dollar concentration in one large partner.
New Applicants
The foundation publicly states domestic grants are by invitation only, which limits open applications, but the presence of seven new recipients in the most recent year and a visible contact email/phone suggest new entrants can be added through introductions; the observation window is only two years, so long-term patterns are limited.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
