David W Hearst Jr Foundation
The David W Hearst Jr Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Established in 2019, it operates as a non-operating foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors including education, human services, and health-related initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27K
-70.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
30
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
+5.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David W Hearst Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Health and medical research
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributed approximately $1.3 million to $1.5 million annually in recent years. In 2024, the foundation made 30 grants. Historical giving shows:
Grant Range
$500 to $200,000
Average Grant
amount: $45,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with additional grantmaking in the District of Columbia and Tennessee. Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with concentration in California, Ohio, and New York accounting for the majority of grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $27,000–$93,000
- Total Revenue: $1.38 million
- Total Expenses: $1.45 million
- Total Liabilities: $9,990
Historical Assets: Assets have fluctuated significantly, declining from $251,000 in 2019 to $27,000–$93,000 in recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,000 | $92,653 | $26,842 |
| Revenue | $1,375,000 | $1,550,000 | $1,355,000 |
| Expenses | $1,450,641 | $1,480,431 | $1,402,311 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,450,641 | $1,480,431 | $1,402,311 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $4,572 | $5,177 | $2,728 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Scripps Research Institute ($200,000), Kootenai County Regional Air Support ($100,000), San Diego Nice Guys Inc ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEW YORK YANKEES FOUNDATION BRONX, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AIDSLIFECYCLE SAN DIEGO, CA | 2024 DONATION - RIDER MARGARET CASEY | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | SERVICES TO THE ARMED FORCES | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | HURRICANE HELENE | $25,000 |
| SUPPORT THE ENLISTED PROJECT INC SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT - RESTRICTED TO SAN DIEGO | $50,000 |
| PRAGER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION SHERMAN OAKS, CA | PRAGER U KIDS | $50,000 |
| FISHER HOUSE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC LONG BEACH, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA | HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| ANGELS FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY SAN DIEGO, CA | EXPANDING CARING FAMILIES PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| ANY BODY CAN YOUTH RESORTS FOUNDATION SAN DIEGO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David W Hearst Jr – President/Director/CEO (0.5 hours/week, unpaid)
- Anthony Rowe – Secretary/Director (0.5 hours/week, unpaid)
- Michael Lafever – Treasurer/Director/CFO (0.5 hours/week, unpaid)
- Luz Rowe – Vice President Philanthropy (40 hours/week, $142,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID W HEARST JR | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR/CEO | 0.5 | — |
| ANTHONY ROWE | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL LAFEVER | TREASURER/DIRECTOR/CFO | 0.5 | — |
| LUZ ROWE | VP PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $142,013 |
Contact Information
Address: 16950 Via De Santa Fe, Suite 5060-153 Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Phone: (858) 720-9831
EIN: 84-3104245
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does David W Hearst Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Health and medical research The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for a grant from David W Hearst Jr Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $500 to $200,000 • Median grant amount: $30,000–$35,000 • Average grant amount: $45,000 **Recent Activity:** The foundation distributed approximately $1.3 million to $1.5 million annually in recent years. In 2024, the foundation made 30 grants. Historical giving shows: • 2024: $1.3 million across 33 grants • 2023: $1.3 million across 27 grants • 2022: $1.4 million across 23 grants • 2021: $532,000 across 15 grants **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • T…
Where does David W Hearst Jr Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with additional grantmaking in the District of Columbia and Tennessee. Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with concentration in California, Ohio, and New York accounting for the majority of grants.
What size grants does David W Hearst Jr Foundation award?
In 2024, David W Hearst Jr Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is David W Hearst Jr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, David W Hearst Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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