Global Health
HFF is committed to advancing the right of all people to access dignified healthcare. Individuals should be able to access quality treatment when they are sick, without unnecessary barriers and regardless of where they live. Furthermore, we believe that careful research is needed to determine the best approaches to health interventions.
This vision has led to deep, ongoing support of global health interventions that maximize impact through partnership and research, with the most notable example being Pivot in Madagascar. More recently, HFF has announced the Impact Award for Global Health Science for innovative researchers working hand in hand with communities and implementers to create lasting change.
Conservation
HFF supports work in the conservation of fragile ecosystems in both the United States and internationally. We are drawn to efforts that recognize conservation as deeply connected to the people and communities who reside within these landscapes, and that balance environmental stewardship with local livelihoods. Ultimately, the work we support reflects our belief that lasting conservation is built through collaboration, patience, and care for place.
A major initiative has focused on the fragile ecosystem in Madagascar, where 85% of the species are found nowhere else on Earth. HFF support has included establishing the Future of Centre ValBio Endowment as well as the Herrnstein Chair in Conservation Biology, both associated with Stony Brook University.
Education
HFF supports a number of educational opportunities, with a particular emphasis on science education for students from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds. Our grants range from doctoral-level fellowships to support for small, local organizations working directly with students, often through hands-on learning and mentorship. Across these efforts, we aim to foster curiosity, confidence, and long-term engagement with science and math.
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​One of HFF’s focuses has been the Autism Nature Trail, located in Letchworth State Park in western New York. Designed with neurodivergent guests in mind, the trail consists of multiple sensory-friendly stations located along a 1-mile trail. The trail welcomes everyone, and looks to promote inclusivity, combat social isolation, encourage skill-building, and provide a meaningful connection to the natural world.
