What We Fund

Armenian Grants

What We Fund

General Information

The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation is dedicated to funding initiatives that benefit Armenians and the Republic of Armenia, ensuring the greatest possible impact on the country's progress and prosperity. For years, we have accepted grant applications year-round, reviewing them on a quarterly basis across our key focus areas: arts and cultural preservation, entrepreneurship and innovation, education, ecotourism and rural development, public health and emergency response, leadership, and youth and community development.

Starting the third quarter of 2024, we are refining our approach by dedicating each quarter to a specific focus area, guided by an overarching goal set by the Foundation. This targeted strategy will allow us to maximize our impact in each area. Please see detailed information on our quarterly areas of focus in the "Areas of Focus" section below.

We encourage you to review the Eligibility Criteria section below to determine whether your organization qualifies for a Hovnanian Foundation grant. You'll also find information on our non-required preferences that may guide your application. If you have any questions, our FAQ section provides additional clarifications.

The first step in the application process is to complete the Eligibility Quiz below. This will confirm your eligibility and guide you to the next step in the process.

For all IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations in the United States focused on Armenian or Armenia-related missions, please use the Armenian Grants section to submit your proposals.

Eligibility Quiz for Armenian Grants Application

START THE QUIZ

Current Quarter Open Call

Funding Opportunity Title: H. Hovnanian Family Foundation Grants for Building a Stronger Workforce in Armenia

Deadline for Applications: December 30, 2024 (funding decisions by late January)

Contact Person: Anahit Hakobyan, Programs Manager

Email: [email protected]

Funding Opportunity Description

The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation is pleased to announce a call for proposals aimed at strengthening workforce development in Armenia. We are offering grants to projects that align with our strategic goals, focusing on upskilling adults to be work-ready, enhancing the existing workforce's capabilities, improving vocational education and training (VET) systems, and reinforcing career services within educational institutions. Our wide-ranging objectives are designed to benefit the workforce development process at both institutional and individual levels, ensuring measurable outcomes and lasting impact.

The three goals we aim to achieve are outlined below. Proposals should address at least one or a combination of the following 9 objectives. The proposals covering a combination of a few objectives will be prioritized.

Funding Goals and Objectives

Group 1: Developing Ready-to-work Adults

1. Upskilling Professionals for High-demand Industries: Equip professionals (targeting 25+ y.o. men) with industry-specific skills or entrepreneurial capabilities through market-relevant capacity-building programs, prioritizing sectors such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality.

For the proposals in targeting this objective:

Other sectors will also be considered provided a research and data-based justification
The applicants need to emphasize measurable job placement or entrepreneurial outcomes
Preliminary agreements and partnerships with the private sector are highly encouraged.
The 25+ age group target refers to only this objective.

2. Reskilling for Continuous Workforce Adaptability: Provide continuous education and reskilling programs that enable professionals at all career stages to remain adaptable in a fast-evolving labor market, fostering a culture of lifelong learning.

3. Soft Skills Enhancement for Workforce Readiness: Integrate soft skills development into the first two objectives and ensure participants are equipped with essential competencies for the workplace.

Group 2: Strengthening the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector

1. Establishing Adult Education Programs: Introduce practical and industry-relevant adult education programs (targeting 25+ age group) within VET institutions to meet the demands of the labor market.

2. Developing Dual Education Systems: Foster robust internship and apprenticeship opportunities within VETs, colleges, and/or higher education institutions, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.

3. Building Capacity for VET and college Teachers and Curriculum Development: Enhance the skills and capabilities of VET and/or college instructors and align the curriculum with industry standards and innovations to ensure high-quality training.

Group 3: Enhancing Educational Institutions’ Career Centers

1. Fostering Private Sector Collaboration: Strengthen partnerships with the private sector to ensure students have access to relevant internships, job placement and career development opportunities.

2. Strengthening Alumni Networks for Career Development: Build robust alumni networks to provide ongoing mentorship, career guidance, and job opportunities for graduates, encouraging long-term engagement and support.

3. Enhancing Student Career Services: Improve career center offerings by providing students with up-to-date job market insights, resume support, career counseling, and job search strategies tailored to current labor market trends.

IV. Award Information

Funding Type: Grant contract

Total Amount Available: $250,000 USD

Expected Number of Awards: 6-8

Application Process

To apply for an H. Hovnanian Family Foundation Grant, begin by completing the Eligibility Quiz above. Since each quarter is focused on a specific area, please make sure to complete the Quiz within the designated dates for your focus area. If you complete the Eligibility Quiz before or after the designated quarter, your application will be deemed ineligible, as we are not accepting grant applications outside our focus area for the specific quarter.

Once you successfully complete the Eligibility Quiz, Foundation staff will contact you with the full application form and a list of required documents. Submit your complete application to [email protected] by the deadline specified for each quarter.

The review and decision process typically takes 2-3 weeks after the submission deadline, and all applicants will receive written notification of the decision regarding their proposal.

Reporting Requirements:

All grant recipients will be required to submit interim and final narrative and financial reports in a timely manner and as agreed upon in the grant agreement letter.
All Financial reports must include documentation of financial expenditure made during the reporting period.
All Narrative reports should include pictures and videos as well as an explanation of what has been accomplished during the reporting period as well as what is to be accomplished during the next reporting period, with a frank assessment of challenges, successes and impact.

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

H. Hovnanian Family Foundation makes grants only to:

Registered organizations that are charitable in nature, i.e. either designated IRS 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. or state-registered organization including non-profit organizations and foundations, and other charities in Armenia.
Organizations that have established at least three years of program outcomes.
Collaborative projects between private and public sectors are encouraged, as well as any collaborative projects between two or more organizations.

Project activities that fall under one of Hovnanian Foundation’s primary areas of focus.
Calendar year, as well as multi-year grant requests, are eligible for consideration.
Prior grant recipients of Foundation funding are eligible to reapply only after adhering to a 12-month waiting period following grant approval prior to submission of any new request.
If all of the above criteria are met, grant budgets with no more than 20% of project costs are allocated for indirect costs such as travel.

H. Hovnanian Family Foundation does not make grants to/for:

Operational overhead expenses
Non-registered entities/organizations
Political action groups
Proposals submitted without a sustainability plan
Grant requests used to produce something for commercial sale

Areas of Focus

July 1 - September 30, 2024 — The Foundation is accepting proposals for projects aimed at strengthening the primary healthcare (PHC) system in Armenia, with a focus on rural areas. This initiative aligns with the state's strategy to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by developing the system's foundational layer. The funding goals include increasing healthcare provider capacity by addressing the shortage of providers in rural areas, attracting more talent to family medicine and nursing, and enhancing continuous medical education. Additionally, the initiative targets effective prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) at the PHC level, improving both professional knowledge and preventive measures. Proposals that also aim to enhance PHC management, such as improving information systems, resource availability, and infrastructure, will be considered.
October 1 - December 31, 2024 — The Foundation will be accepting proposals for projects focused on strengthening the workforce in Armenia. The funding goals will include supporting initiatives aimed at reskilling and upskilling, including technical and vocational training, as well as soft skills development, all designed to help the beneficiaries secure jobs and adapt to changing market demands, with a focus on high-demand industries. Additionally, the Foundation will encourage projects that support underprivileged groups, including the displaced population from Artsakh.
January 1 - March 31, 2025 — The Foundation will be accepting proposals for projects focused on improving the quality of the public education system, with a particular emphasis on the regions. This may include teachers’ and education managers’ capacity building and professional development to ensure educators are equipped with the latest teaching methodologies and skills, improving access to educational resources and technology in underprivileged schools, and developing curriculums and programs that support student engagement. By strengthening the public education system in the regions, the Foundation aims to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education.
April 1 - June 30, 2025 — The Foundation will be accepting proposals for projects focused on promoting and preserving culture and arts in Armenia, with an emphasis on fostering artistic creation and driving systemic and institutional changes in the cultural field. Funding goals will include supporting the development of innovative works across various artistic disciplines, enhancing the capacity and sustainability of cultural institutions, and implementing initiatives that promote long-term, structural improvements in the cultural sector. This also involves creating and curating original content within institutions, establishing new frameworks for arts education, and developing platforms for emerging artists.

Armenian Grants FAQ

Our priorities for funding are where our charitable mission and Armenian current imperatives intersect to ensure our investments are making the most impact possible in the country, for its people, progress, and prosperity. Arts and cultural preservation, entrepreneurship/innovation, education, public health and emergency response, leadership, youth and community development are our areas of focus in Armenia.
Eligible are those registered organizations that are charitable in nature in the United States i.e., designated Armenian organizations, schools and churches that are designated IRS 501(c)(3) status organizations, as well as state-registered entities in the Republic of Armenia such as nonprofit organizations, foundations, government agencies and other charities.
The Foundation will not fund operational overhead such as salaries, whereas it will fund up to a maximum of 20% indirect project costs such as meals, hotels, and travel.
The first step is to take the eligibility quiz above. If successfully passed, you will be given instructions on the next steps of the application process.
There are no grant deadlines per se, as grant proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis at the end of each quarter (end of March, end of June, end of September, end of December). These dates should be heeded if submitting a time sensitive proposal.
Yes, the Foundation does consider multi-year funding requests.
Yes, we allow the flexibility of emergency grant submissions only if the proposal is addressing a priority, time-sensitive need that requires a quick decision rather than having to wait for quarterly submission.
Application forms are accepted via email but this step only becomes available once you have successfully passed the eligibility quiz.
Yes, you may, but we provide feedback on rejections which we hope will be heavily considered prior to future application submission.
The Board makes funding decisions within two weeks of each quarter’s closing.
Yes, a registered entity may submit more than one grant proposal per quarterly cycle. But only one of the proposals may be approved upon meeting grant conditions.