Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation
The Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 1982, it supports programs in environment and health, education, and music.
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation gave $2.6M across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in California. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,626,900
- -12.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $62,545
- +31.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $71,750,249
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (10 of 42, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The 2024 filing says it accepts unsolicited requests through an online LOI application. The LOI should briefly describe the organization, the project’s purpose and scope, and a projected project budget. The filing states that organizations may submit at any time and that California organizations receive priority; the website’s later update described a temporary LOI pause and an anticipated invitation-only 2025 round.
- Contact
Application contact: Clarence E Heller Charitable Fdn
Mailing address: PO Box 190758, San Francisco, CA 94119
Phone: (415) 989-9839
Website: https://www.cehcf.org/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was San Francisco Foundation ($800K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
281 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 172 grants of 281 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it gives priority to proposals from California organizations. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to California recipients, 2% to New York, 2% to Colorado, and less than 1% to Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 42 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $68K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2021) to $3.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $2.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | For the clarence e. Heller charitable foundation donor advised fund | $800,000 |
| Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc and Californians for Pesticide Ref Calabasas, CA | To protect public health from highly toxic chemicals in California agriculture | $100,000 |
| As You Sow El Cerrito, CA | Food Should Be Safe Project | $75,000 |
| Carbon Cycle Institute Petaluma, CA | For General Support | $75,000 |
| Friends of the Earth Berkeley, CA | To improve the climate footprint of school food in California | $75,000 |
| Kitchen Table Advisors Berkeley, CA | For General Support | $75,000 |
| Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability Fresno, CA | For General Support | $75,000 |
| Mandela Partners Oakland, CA | For General Support | $75,000 |
| Movement Strategy Center Oakland, CA | Fundraising task force pilot program to bolster fiscally sponsored projects focused on environmental and climate justice | $75,000 |
| The University Foundation California State University Chico Chico, CA | To support the center for regenerative agriculture and resilient systems | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $71,750,249 | $1,478 | $5,389,238 | $2,626,900 | 42 | $3,901,345 | $5,230,167 | $3,508,523 |
| 2023 | $69,930,688 | $41,067 | $4,131,035 | $2,993,925 | 63 | $3,825,088 | $1,592,955 | $3,303,132 |
| 2022 | $66,936,613 | $21,009 | $4,204,786 | $2,946,480 | 66 | $3,718,032 | $2,571,486 | $3,570,632 |
| 2021 | $82,247,748 | $9,747 | $3,826,241 | $2,568,300 | 54 | $3,483,620 | $8,758,745 | $3,839,591 |
| 2020 | $74,948,767 | $76,285 | $3,749,002 | $2,619,200 | 56 | — | $3,489,577 | $3,262,298 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to protect and improve quality of life through support for programs in the environment, human health, education, and the arts. Its giving priorities include preventing harm to human health from toxic substances and environmental hazards; regional planning that integrates economic and social goals with environmental policy; and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
In music, the foundation supports symphonic and chamber music access and enjoyment, including scholarships and programs at selected community music centers, schools, and institutes, and artistic initiatives and organizational capacity for community-based ensembles. Its education priorities include environmental and arts education for children and youth.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate work in these areas. Mandela Partners says it works with residents, family farmers, and community-based businesses on local food enterprises in limited-resource communities. The Carbon Cycle Institute describes its work as advancing natural, science-based solutions to global warming. As You Sow says it promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility, including on climate change, environmental health, and toxic ingredients. InterMusic SF describes its work as supporting Bay Area music creators and audiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $2,626,900. Grant amounts ranged from $1,400 to $800,000, with a median of $40,000.
Among the largest grants were $800,000 to the San Francisco Foundation for the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation Donor Advised Fund; $100,000 to Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs and Californians for Pesticide Reform to protect public health from highly toxic chemicals in California agriculture; and $75,000 each to As You Sow for its Food Should Be Safe Project, Carbon Cycle Institute for general support, and Friends of the Earth to improve the climate footprint of school food in California. Other $75,000 grants included support for general operations at Kitchen Table Advisors, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, and Mandela Partners, as well as a pilot fundraising task force at Movement Strategy Center focused on environmental and climate justice.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes an online letter-of-inquiry process and says organizations may submit an LOI at any time. It also states a priority for proposals from California organizations. However, the foundation’s website later described a pause in LOI submissions during a management transition and anticipated a very limited, invitation-only round in 2025. The current application process is not stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Janet H. Harckham as chair and Anne Heller Anderson as secretary-treasurer. Emilie Lygren was vice-chair. Directors listed were Rolf Lygren, Katherine Heller, Haley Tone, Nathan Tone, and Mark Salkind. Bruce A. Hirsch was listed as executive director, with his service ending December 31, 2024. Kendall Anderson was listed as a director, with service ending May 14, 2024.
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation is led by Bruce A. Hirsch, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bruce A. Hirsch
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
38 hrs/week
$267K (2020) → $363K (2024)
Janet H. Harckham
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Haley Tone
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Heller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Salkind
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Tone
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rolf Lygren
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kendall Anderson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Heller Anderson
Secretary-Treasurer
Director → Secretary-Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emilie Lygren
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Janet H. Harckman (2021–2023) — Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $363K, to Bruce a Hirsch (Executive Director (End 12/31/24)).
Frequently asked questions about Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation
How much does Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation give each year?
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation gave $2.6M across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.0M across 63 grants.
What is Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $62,545, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation that year got $45K on average.
Where does Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation give grants?
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (10 grants), Oakland, CA (6 grants), Berkeley, CA (4 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (3 grants).
Does Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 62% of Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include San Francisco Foundation ($800,000), Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc and Californians for Pesticide Ref ($100,000) and As You Sow ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation?
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation reported $71.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to protect and improve quality of life through support for programs in the environment, human health, education, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation?
The 2024 filing says it accepts unsolicited requests through an online LOI application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2814266. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/clarence-e-heller-charitable-foundation-morg_923bee93d2db422eabae51825116c2d9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942814266_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/clarence-e-heller-charitable-foundation-morg_923bee93d2db422eabae51825116c2d9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Clarence E Heller Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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