Our Impact

US
Armenia

Armenian Grants

Through H. Hovnanian Family Foundation Armenian grant programs, we support initiatives enhancing quality of life and advancing Armenia's development. Since 2013, we’ve provided select grants, formalizing a quarterly review process in 2019. Our focus areas include arts and culture, education, community development, healthcare, economic growth, entrepreneurship, and social services.

101

Grantees
32%

Approval rate
$3M

Total amount invested
56%

Grants to regions

Our key impact achievements include supporting 15+ national cultural events like Golden Apricot, ReA and Tumanyan International Storytelling Festival, funding 10 major cultural preservation projects, and supporting renovating four cultural institutions. We’ve helped empower more than 1,000 youth through 25+ capacity-building programs such as Matenadaran, GOALS and NPATAK, as well as Our Lady of Armenia Summer Camps.

Our health grants improve services, research, and infrastructure, while eco-tourism and IT initiatives promote tech education and entrepreneurship through projects like Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory and AUA’s EPIC Program. In times of crisis, we also provide emergency response grants for rapid intervention, including the 2020 Artsakh war, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent force displacement of the Artsakh population. The numbers since 2019 are presented above.

Armenian Fellowships

The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation’s Armenian Fellowships program empowers talented Armenians on the global stage through international competitions, exhibitions, festivals, and conferences.

Since 2023, we’ve awarded Fellowships across diverse fields, with 50% in academia, 30% in arts, and 20% in sports, with most recipients heading to the USA, France and Italy. We receive one application per day, approving 34% through a selective process that ensures Armenia's best representation at prestigious global events. On average, we award eight Fellowships per month, fostering professional growth, networking, and international recognition. The numbers since 2023 are presented below:

155

Fellows
31

Countries visited
$1,600

Average amount per fellow
34%

Approval rate

Meet our Fellows

Zaruhi Karamijyan

With our Armenian Fellowship grant, pianist Zaruhi Karamijyan performed at Carnegie Hall, winning first prize and proudly showcasing Armenian music.
Zara Jian

With our Armenian Fellowship grant, Zara Jian showcased her documentary at the 81st Venice Film Festival, honoring Sergei Parajanov and highlighting Armenian culture.
Milena Arakelyan

With our Armenian Fellowship grant, Milena Arakelyan won a bronze medal at the World Sambo Championships in Cyprus.
Akneh Choir

With our support, Akneh Choir from Gyumri performed at Veszprem, Hungary during the European Capital of Culture 2023, raising their international profile.
Dr. Arnold Vardanyan

With our Armenian Fellowship grant, Dr. Arnold Vardanyan presented his research on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at Cambridge University, raising global awareness of the crisis.
OnOff Animation Studios

With our Armenian Fellowship grant, OnOff Animation Studios presented "The Man Who Played the Saxophone While Sleeping" at the Trieste Film Festival, gaining global recognition.

iGorts Fellowships

The Republic of Armenia's Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs launched the iGorts Fellowship in 2019, placing 50 Diasporan-Armenian professionals annually in government offices for a 12-month term. H. Hovnanian Family Foundation’s iGorts Fellowship program’s impact builds on the government’s goal of enhancing and developing programs and policies within state institutions through Diaspora professionals’ expertise, through providing willing exceptional candidates with an additional year to deepen their work on specific projects, leading to larger, higher-quality outcomes. Since 2021, the H. Hovnanian Public Service Fellowship has supported 24 iGorts fellows across 12 public institutions, extending their service for another year to ensure continuity on impactful projects where their expertise has proven essential.

24

Hovnanian iGorts Fellows
12

Public institutions
2

Fellows in regions
5-10

Selected Fellows per year

Meet our Current iGorts Fellows

Liana Shalunts

A scientist and engineer from Irkutsk, Russia, with expertise in environmental protection and psychology, joined Armenia’s Ministry of Environment through the "iGorts" program.
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Mikayel Shelemetev

A Yerevan-born entrepreneur and speleologist from Spain joined Armenia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs through the "iGorts" program.
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Natasha Roumian

A Madrid-born events and tourism specialist who studied in the UK joined Armenia’s Ministry of Economy through the "iGorts" program after volunteering with Birthright Armenia.
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Sona Baghdasaryan

A computational linguist and IT specialist from Syunik, with 10 years of experience in German e-health, joined Armenia’s Ministry of Health through the "iGorts" program.
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Anna Gevorgyan

A specialist in international relations from Georgia, with advanced studies in Armenia and Russia, joined Armenia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs through the "iGorts" program.
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Aram Voskanyan

A Yerevan-born political science and economics expert, formerly based in Moscow, joined the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs through the "iGorts" program.
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Hayk Gyuldjyan

A law graduate from Russia with expertise in state construction and digital transformation, Hayk Gyuldjyan joined Armenia’s Ministry of Finance through the "iGorts" program.
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Water in Tavush

Since 2020, through a subvention program partnership with the Government of Armenia, the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation has tackled critical water issues in Tavush's border villages, improving irrigation and drinking water access.

10

Projects
$1.2M

Total amount invested
3

Projects in process
4

Villages planned

Our projects have transformed 10 villages, boosting agricultural productivity and residents' quality of life. By modernizing water infrastructure and applying innovative solutions, we empower communities to reclaim their agricultural heritage and drive sustainable development.

We remain committed to long-term sustainability through continuous maintenance and monitoring, ensuring reliable water access for future generations.