The Hanover Foundation
Program focus
While there are many worthy causes in our communities, the Foundation primarily focuses its efforts on education and youth, which we believe are the foundation for the healthy future of a strong community.
Primary
- Education: Examples may include traditional and non-traditional opportunities focused on inspiring academic excellence, leadership and community service
- Youth: Examples may include teaching and modeling positive life skills
Secondary
- Community: Programs that build better communities in which to live and work
- Basic needs: Examples may include affordable housing, homelessness, hunger
- Health and Research: Examples may include disease research, prevention or education
- Arts: Examples may include visual or performing arts
- Other community support: Examples may include special events, such as community breakfasts or festivals
The Foundation does not support the following:
- National fundraising drives
- Capital requests
- Organizations that benefit one individual or family
- Private schools
- Amateur or professional sporting groups
- Religious, political, professional, fraternal or labor organizations
- Beauty or talent contestants
- The Foundation does not support any organization that has a written policy of discrimination against LGBTQ people
Jurisdiction of giving
Our primary focus of giving is in the communities in which our companies have a major presence, including:

The Greater Worcester County, Massachusetts area
The Greater Worcester County, Massachusetts area

The Howell and Livingston County, Michigan area
The Howell and Livingston County, Michigan area
If the agency providing the program for grant consideration is not located within either of these areas, but the program benefits residents who live in these communities, an application may be submitted for review. Under this circumstance, we recommend you provide information detailing the number of, and extent to which, residents in these areas are supported by the program.
Review process
All grant applications for foundation funding will be reviewed and a decision will be made within 45 days of receipt. Please visit our online portal for updates.
Application evaluation
All applications are evaluated based on the following:
- Extent to which the submitted program aligns with the focus areas of the Foundation
- Level of available funding from the Foundation
- Clear and measurable program objectives and outcomes
- Fiscal responsibility of the agency and program
- Amount and availability of support from other funding sources
- Fully completed grant application submission packet
Post-grant requirements
If your agency receives a grant, you may be asked to work with The Hanover’s corporate communications department to develop news releases to announce the grant award. You may also be asked to submit a follow-up report to The Hanover within one month after completion of a one-time event or at the end of the calendar year for ongoing programs. The report may include, but is not limited to:
- Final program budget
- Participation information
- Significant outcomes and measures of success
- Opportunities for improvement
- Sponsorship recognition
- Photos, if applicable
Please email foundation@hanover.com if you have any questions.
*Includes The Hanover Insurance Company, and Citizens Insurance Company of America, companies of The Hanover Insurance Group.