In addition to the Foundation’s program areas, as a family foundation, The Prospect Hill Foundation has a long history of support for causes and institutions that are personally important to the Foundations’ directors and their families. Grantmaking initiated by directors, referred to as “Sponsored grants”, continues to be directed towards a variety of areas including arts and culture, environmental conservation, social change, and education. Sponsored grants reflect the Foundation’s values and philanthropic goals and can be made to organizations that may fall outside of the Foundation’s program area grantmaking. The Foundation’s Sponsored grants primarily support activities in the United States, with particular local and regional focus on New York City, the Adirondacks, Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires.

The Prospect Hill Foundation seeks to further nuclear arms control; reduce the threat of nuclear weapons use; and ultimately abolish nuclear weapons through support for policy analysis, public education, and advocacy. The program supports greater awareness about the humanitarian and environmental consequences of a nuclear explosion; the societal costs of developing and maintaining a nuclear arsenal; and the need to reduce the number of nuclear weapons. In addition, the Foundation will advance nuclear nonproliferation by funding work that encourages and strengthens existing multilateral, regional and bilateral agreements

PHF’s new program area will build upon the justice work the Foundation historically has supported and will focus on youth. The Foundation’s intent is to create a holistic and intersectional funding program that supports community-led, grassroots activities that challenge systemic racism and gender-based oppression, including poverty and discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status.