David W Hearst Jr Foundation
The David W Hearst Jr Foundation is a private foundation based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including a biomedical research institute, an animal shelter, a children’s hospital, and organizations serving military families and communities.
David W Hearst Jr Foundation at a glance
In short: David W Hearst Jr Foundation gave $1.3M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in California. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,250,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,667
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $40,796
- +51.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (9 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David W Hearst Jr Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 16950 Via De Santa Fe E105-627, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Phone: (858) 720-9831
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David W Hearst Jr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Scripps Research Institute ($200K). Together the top 10 received $760K.
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 143 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, California recipients received 66% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Virginia (13%), Tennessee (8%), New York (5%), and Arizona (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is David W Hearst Jr Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 30 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $34K repeat.
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $532K (2020) to $1.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Scripps Research Institute La Jolla, CA | Salary support for a research coordinator/scientist in dr. Robert russo's cdac & magnasafe clinical studies | $200,000 |
| Companion Animal Center Eureka, CA | Animal Shelter | $100,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc Memphis, TN | Patient Care Services | $100,000 |
| Remarkable Men's Practice Santa Monica, CA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Navy Seal Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | Warrior Fitness Program - Restricted to San Diego | $50,000 |
| Our Military Kids Oakton, VA | Extracurricular activity grants - restricted to grants in California | $50,000 |
| San Diego Regional Fire and Emergency Services San Diego, CA | Paramedic Scholarships and Firefighter Safety Equipment | $50,000 |
| Semper Fi & America's Fund Oceanside, CA | Service Member & Family Support Program | $50,000 |
| Turning Point USA Inc Phoenix, AZ | K-12 Turning Point Education | $50,000 |
| Honorary Deputy Sheriffs' Association San Diego, CA | Trunarc Devices | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,796 | $1,475,000 | $1,451,216 | $1,250,000 | 30 | $1,451,216 | $2,520 |
| 2024 | $27,000 | $1,375,000 | $1,450,641 | $1,250,000 | 30 | $1,450,641 | $4,572 |
| 2023 | $92,653 | $1,550,000 | $1,480,431 | $1,300,000 | 33 | $1,480,431 | $5,177 |
| 2022 | $26,842 | $1,355,000 | $1,402,311 | $1,250,000 | 27 | $1,402,311 | $2,728 |
| 2021 | $88,600 | $1,541,619 | $1,525,700 | $1,350,000 | 23 | $1,525,550 | $7,257 |
| 2020 | $83,326 | $501,000 | $697,524 | $532,000 | 15 | — | $21,388 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David W Hearst Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as biomedical research, patient care, animal shelter services, military and veteran support, children’s well-being, education, and emergency services.
Among its grantees, The Scripps Research Institute describes its work as high-impact basic biomedical research and graduate scientific education. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says its mission is to advance cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Semper Fi & America’s Fund describes providing case management and ongoing support to service members, veterans, and military families; Foundation for Women Warriors says it serves women veterans and their children.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $1,250,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $200,000, with a median of $30,000.
The largest reported grant was $200,000 to The Scripps Research Institute for salary support for a research coordinator/scientist in Dr. Robert Russo’s CDAC and MAGNASAFE clinical studies. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Companion Animal Center for an animal shelter and $100,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for patient care services. The foundation also gave $50,000 to Navy SEAL Foundation for its Warrior Fitness Program, restricted to San Diego; $50,000 to Our Military Kids for extracurricular activity grants, restricted to grants in California; and $50,000 to San Diego Regional Fire and Emergency Services for paramedic scholarships and firefighter safety equipment.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David W Hearst Jr as President, Director, and CEO; Anthony Rowe as Secretary and Director; Michael LaFever as Treasurer, Director, and CFO; and Luz Rowe as VP Philanthropy.
David W Hearst Jr Foundation is led by David W. Hearst Jr., President, Director & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David W. Hearst Jr.
President, Director & CEO
Chairman → President, Director & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Rowe
Secretary & Director
CEO → Secretary & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Lafever
Treasurer, Director & CFO
CFO → Treasurer, Director & CFO, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luz Rowe
Vice President Philanthropy
Vice President → Vice President Philanthropy, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $144K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $144K, to Luz Rowe (VP Philanthropy).
Frequently asked questions about David W Hearst Jr Foundation
How much does David W Hearst Jr Foundation give each year?
David W Hearst Jr Foundation gave $1.3M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 30 grants.
What is David W Hearst Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
David W Hearst Jr Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $41,667, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David W Hearst Jr Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does David W Hearst Jr Foundation give grants?
David W Hearst Jr Foundation gives mostly in California: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (13%) and Tennessee (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (9 grants) and Coeur d'Alene, ID (2 grants).
Does David W Hearst Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of David W Hearst Jr Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are David W Hearst Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
David W Hearst Jr Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Scripps Research Institute ($200,000), Companion Animal Center ($100,000) and St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is David W Hearst Jr Foundation?
David W Hearst Jr Foundation reported $41K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does David W Hearst Jr Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as biomedical research, patient care, animal shelter services, military and veteran support, children’s well-being, education, and emergency services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David W Hearst Jr Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David W Hearst Jr Foundation's EIN?
David W Hearst Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3104245. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does David W Hearst Jr Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). David W Hearst Jr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-w-hearst-jr-foundation-morg_fe4222269db84bceb7dd51f8c44976ad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843104245_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{David W Hearst Jr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-w-hearst-jr-foundation-morg_fe4222269db84bceb7dd51f8c44976ad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 David W Hearst Jr 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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