What Hagerty Drivers Foundation does

Hagerty Drivers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2021 and headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, that operates as a subsidiary of Hagerty (the collector-vehicle insurance and media company). The foundation was reorganized from the Historic Vehicle Association, which in 2013 initiated a collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Interior to establish the National Historic Vehicle Register—the only federally recognized program documenting America's most significant automobiles, with permanent archival at the Library of Congress under the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). As of 2026, 38 vehicles have been documented on the Register, including iconic entries such as the 1965 World's Fair Mustang, the Back to the Future DeLorean, and the 1921 Duesenberg Straight Eight.

The foundation's product portfolio centers on five interconnected programs: the National Historic Vehicle Register (the flagship documentation initiative); Cars at the Capital (annual National Mall exhibition); License to the Future (grants of up to $500 per student for ages 14–18 to complete driver's education, with applications accepted quarterly from all 50 U.S. states and Canada); Scholarships and Grants (funding for accredited educational institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofits delivering automotive restoration training); and Documentary Films (award-winning short-form content about Register vehicles, with two Best in Show wins at the Grand Motoring Film Festival). Strategic partnerships span federal agencies (U.S. Department of the Interior), international federations (FIVA), educational institutions (McPherson College, RPM Foundation), museums (Petersen, Auburn Cord Duesenberg, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture), corporate sponsors (Ford), and military-family nonprofits (Folds of Honor).

The foundation is funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, and parent-company (Hagerty) support, with no disclosed external funding rounds. Since 2000, Hagerty has cumulatively funded more than $3 million in scholarships and grants across these programs; 2024 alone saw $150,000 distributed through License to the Future. The organization operates with a lean core team (Historian Casey Maxon and Heritage Specialist Preston Rose, supported by a Board of Directors led by President McKeel Hagerty) whose members donate part or all of their time as Hagerty employees, keeping operating overhead minimal relative to grant outflows.

Name

Hagerty Drivers Foundation

Legal name

Hagerty Drivers Foundation

Website

https://driversfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves American automotive heritage through the federally recognized National Historic Vehicle Register and funds driver's education, restoration training scholarships, and heritage exhibitions, serving students, educational institutions, collectors, and enthusiasts across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Traverse City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the foundation relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund its programs including scholarships, grants, and the National Historic Vehicle Register.
2. Hagerty Drivers Club Funding: Horsepower for Heroes rally and other events raise additional funds for grants, with the 2025 rally raising $24,240 for Folds of Honor scholarships.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Ford has underwritten documentation for vehicles on the National Historic Vehicle Register, such as the 1965 World Fair Mustang for America's 250th birthday.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves America's automotive heritage through the National Historic Vehicle Register (the only federally recognized program documenting significant American automobiles, with permanent archival at the Library of Congress) and administers grant and scholarship programs for driver education and automotive restoration training. It complements preservation work with public exhibitions on the National Mall, award-winning documentary films, and preservation awards administered in partnership with FIVA.

Product overview

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization launched in 2021 by Hagerty, focused on shaping the future of car culture while celebrating automotive heritage. The Foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: the National Historic Vehicle Register serves as the core product—a federally recognized program that documents America's most significant automobiles and preserves their history at the Library of Congress; Cars at the Capital provides public exhibition of Register vehicles; the Scholarships and Grants program funds educational institutions and nonprofits for automotive restoration training; License to the Future supports driver's education for young drivers; and Documentary Films create content about historic vehicles. These programs work together to preserve, celebrate, and educate about automotive heritage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Historic Vehicle Register The only federally recognized program that records the history of America's most significant automobiles, preserving documentation in perpetuity at the Library of Congress in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Historic American Engineering Record. As of 2026, 38 historically significant American vehicles have been documented on the Register.
• Cars at the Capital Annual exhibition on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. where vehicles added to the National Historic Vehicle Register are displayed in a glass enclosure for public viewing, celebrating America's automotive heritage. In 2026, the program partnered with Ford for the 'Driving America Forward' exhibit at Union Station.
• License to the Future Grant program providing up to $500 to young drivers aged 14-18 who plan to complete their Driver's Education within 90 days of application. Applications are accepted quarterly (in 24-hour windows) from all 50 U.S. states and Canada. The program provided $150,000 in grants in 2024.
• Scholarships and Grants Funding program providing scholarships and grants to accredited educational institutions and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for training and career development in automotive restoration and preservation, with preference for underrepresented demographics. Applications are reviewed quarterly by the Board of Directors. Since 2000, Hagerty has funded more than $3 million in scholarships and grants supporting automotive education.
• Documentary Films Short documentary films produced about vehicles on the National Historic Vehicle Register, telling the stories of historically significant automobiles and their impact on automotive culture. Films have won multiple awards including Best in Show at the Grand Motoring Film Festival in 2025 for 'Porsche in America: The Type 540 Roadster.'

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3 million in scholarships and grants funded since 2000 for automotive education
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for 'Driving America Forward' exhibit at Union Station in Washington D.C. to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Ford's exhibit features vehicles that made their mark on American culture and history, including the 1965 World Fair Mustang. Ford underwrote documentation for the Mustang on the National Historic Vehicle Register.
• U.S. Department of the Interior - Historic American Engineering RecordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Collaboration initiated in 2013 to include automobiles in the Historic American Engineering Record through a National Historic Vehicle Register program. Documentation is permanently archived at the Library of Congress following the model of preservation work that has existed for significant buildings, bridges, and airplanes.
• FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership to administer the HDF & FIVA Preservation Award in Honor of Dr. Frederick Simeone. FIVA is the International Federation of Historic Vehicles. The award celebrates preservation of automotive treasures at major national and international events.
• Folds of HonorcoreOthers$50,000 grant awarded in November 2025 to support 10 scholarships for students training in the automotive space. Additional $24,240 raised through Horsepower for Heroes rally in October 2025 by Hagerty Drivers Club members.
• McPherson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly accredited four-year degree program in automotive restoration in the world. Foundation supports the institution as part of its mission to build the next generation of automotive enthusiasts and craftsmen.
• RPM FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that also presents the Restorer's Award at automotive events. Foundation provides funding to support restoration training programs.
• Greenwich Concours d'EleganceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual automotive event where foundation presents the HDF & FIVA Preservation Award and National Automotive Heritage Award to significant vehicles.
• Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious automotive event where foundation presents awards including the HDF & FIVA Preservation Award and National Automotive Heritage Award.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HagertyDriversFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HagertyDriversFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/hagertydriversfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hagerty Drivers Foundation