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HDR Foundation

We believe giving back is not only a civic duty, but a privilege.

At HDR, we believe that giving back is both a civic duty and a privilege. Our company founder, H.H. Henningson, noted over a century ago, “There is always time enough for kindness.” Founded in 2012 by HDR Chairman Eric Keen, the HDR Foundation is an extension of that mission, aiming to benefit the communities in which we live and work.

The HDR Foundation provides grants to qualified organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship. As an employee-funded and employee-driven foundation, preference is given to organizations located in communities where HDR employees live and work, and those with strong employee involvement. Since its inception, the HDR Foundation has provided more than US$9 million in grants to over 350 organizations.

Establishment of Global Philanthropic Funds 

In 2020, our employees in Canada welcomed the establishment of the HDR Canada Fund, opening up philanthropic support to charities across Canada. Our Australian employees followed suit in 2021 with the establishment of the HDR Australia Fund. Similar to the process of the U.S.-based HDR Foundation, employees in Canadian and Australia can now participate in fundraising, grant sponsorship and community grant-making decisions.

Learn more about what we support and how your request aligns with our funding goals.

Making an Impact

Our Areas of Focus

The foundation's areas of focus mirror HDR's breadth of knowledge and expertise. We provide grants for projects that demonstrate direct impact as well as projects that can be replicated or scaled. Our areas of focus include:

Education

Our company, clients and communities benefit from a well-educated, skilled and informed population. We believe education is perhaps the most powerful tool for reducing poverty, improving health and advancing prosperity. We fund educational grants addressing education from pre-K through college.

 

Healthy Communities

With a globally recognized healthcare design practice, we value the importance of healthcare and healthy communities. Promoting healthy living at the community level brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of people. We fund grants that address active lifestyles, wellness education and preventative healthcare.

Environmental Stewardship

We promote the value of environmentally responsible practices to our clients, employee-owners and communities. We are all responsible for the use, stewardship and protection of our natural environment. We support grants that address restoration, renewal, conservation and sustainable best practices of our global resources.

The HDR Foundation is a separate legal entity from the corporation HDR, Inc. The HDR Canada Fund is a separate fund established in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation, a registered Canadian charity. On behalf of HDR employees in Canada, the Vancouver Foundation accepts donations, conservatively invests funds, and awards grants to qualified organizations as defined by the Canadian Revenue Agency.