Exclusive: How the Greg Hill Foundation topped $34M and changed local giving
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
A local radio charity has quietly morphed into a heavy-hitting nonprofit by leveraging a generous audience and filling in the gaps where traditional crowdfunding falls short.
Why it matters: The Greg Hill Foundation, which taps into the popular WEEI broadcaster's sports talk audience, provides beneficiaries with immediate, fee-free cash relief.
- Hill's group has become a case study in modern nonprofit management and community engagement built with a small, nimble staff.
What they're saying: "We want to be able to give that money to the beneficiary's family immediately," Hill told Axios.
- The fast action allows families to focus on grieving or supporting injured loved ones rather than worrying about a missing paycheck.
State of play: GHF's goal is rapid financial relief in the chaotic days following local tragedies.
- Hill has the unique ability to drum up support from his audience while tragedies are still in the news.
- Money can be disbursed in hours or days, not weeks and months.
- That's typically much faster than traditional philanthropy.
By the numbers: Over the last 16 years, the foundation has raised over $34 million for over 10,000 beneficiaries.
- Average donations hover around $20, driven heavily by Hill's loyal morning radio audience.
- 100% of public donations go directly to the victims and their families.
- Corporate partners and annual fundraising events cover the administrative fees so public donations go exclusively to recipients.
During the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, GHF wrote checks directly to survivors in hospitals within three to five days, Hill told Axios.
- This allowed families to keep their cell phones on and pay rent while recovering.
- Recently, the team mobilized to raise well over $100,000 for the family of a State Trooper who was killed in a head-on collision.
- They launched their fundraising page the moment Trooper Kevin Trainor's name was released to the public.
Between the lines: Hill sees the foundation's agility as its defining edge in a crowded charitable landscape.
- Before GoFundMe existed, Hill recognized his radio listeners wanted to help neighbors instantly, but local credit union funds often took weeks to establish.
The big picture: Ashley Hanson, who began working with GHF part-time in business development, has been appointed as the growing operation's new executive director.
- Hanson leads the foundation's streamlined vetting process.
- Her team reviews 10 to 15 submissions every week or two, comparing them against existing GoFundMe campaigns before presenting candidates to an uncompensated board of directors.
- "She's truly the perfect person for this role," Hill said, crediting her relationship-building skills with their corporate partners.
What's next: Hanson wants to expand business partnerships while maintaining the grassroots trust of Hill's listeners.
The bottom line: Hill's foundation shows that swift, localized giving can outperform traditional platforms.