Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc
The Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation is a private foundation based in Peapack, New Jersey. It supports capital projects benefiting underprivileged, handicapped, and special-needs children, primarily through building improvements, specialized equipment, transportation vehicles, and other physical-property needs.
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $142K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,136,857
- +30.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $142,107
- +14.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $31,430,115
- +10.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be submitted in letter form and include the requested amount and a copy of the organization’s IRS tax-exempt determination letter showing 501(c)(3) status. Awards are limited to capital grants for children and the disadvantaged.
- Review Cycle
- Rolling.
- Deadline
- Rolling.
- Contact
Application contact: Harriet L Donnelly Administrator
Mailing address: PO Box 471, Peapack, NJ 07977
Phone: (908) 921-9280
Email: hdonnelly@e5marketing.com
Website: https://dorothybhershfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Overlook Hospital Foundation ($400K across 2 grants). Together the top 7 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 15 grants of 36 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says applicant organizations generally must be located in New Jersey. On rare occasions, it will consider requests from organizations in New York or Pennsylvania whose programs benefit children in New Jersey. All reported grant dollars in 2025 went to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $323K (2023) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Morristown Medical Health Found Morristown, NJ | Fetal Diagnostic & Treatment Ctr | $250,000 |
| Common Ground Inc Manasquan, NJ | Assist in Purchase of Adjacent Bldg | $200,000 |
| Overlook Hospital Foundation Summit, NJ | Construction of Children's Center | $200,000 |
| Overlook Hospital Foundation Summit, NJ | Construction of Children's Center | $200,000 |
| Saint Peter's Foundation New Brunswick, NJ | Renovation/Expansion of Picu | $200,000 |
| Reed Foundation for Autism Inc Oakland, NJ | Specialized Outdoor Playground | $70,000 |
| Cornerstone Family Programs Morristown, NJ | Security Equip., Lights, Cement Barr | $10,000 |
| Oasis - a Heaven for Women and Chil Paterson, NJ | Replace Carpet - Nurturing CNTR | $6,857 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,430,115 | $1,482,419 | $1,298,186 | $1,136,857 | 8 | $1,227,746 | $1,158,438 | $1,270,612 |
| 2024 | $28,475,323 | $1,312,818 | $1,451,364 | $871,700 | 7 | $970,868 | $1,048,756 | $1,167,868 |
| 2023 | $24,665,304 | $2,483,297 | $926,358 | $323,320 | 4 | $417,497 | $2,256,511 | $981,529 |
| 2022 | $18,976,302 | $513,408 | $711,965 | $1,106,900 | 8 | $1,245,191 | $283,408 | $1,033,445 |
| 2021 | $23,190,384 | $944,800 | $656,231 | $841,039 | 9 | $994,842 | $734,491 | $1,127,985 |
| 2020 | $20,910,375 | $931,615 | $351,277 | $405,573 | 9 | — | $851,398 | $595,196 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M 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
The foundation’s stated aim is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of underprivileged, handicapped, and special-needs children. It funds capital expenditures, including building improvements, specialized transportation vehicles, specialized equipment, and other “brick and mortar” projects.
Its 2025 grants included projects for children’s health facilities, a specialized outdoor playground, and improvements to a nurturing center. Among its grantees, the Reed Foundation for Autism says it works to improve education, employment, housing, and community opportunities for people on the autism spectrum. Cornerstone Family Programs describes its mission as strengthening communities by helping people build better lives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 8 grants totaling $1,136,857. Grant amounts ranged from $6,857 to $250,000, with a median of $200,000. Notable grants included $250,000 to Morristown Medical Health Foundation for a fetal diagnostic and treatment center; two $200,000 grants to Overlook Hospital Foundation for construction of a children’s center; $200,000 to Saint Peter’s Foundation for renovation and expansion of a pediatric intensive care unit; and $70,000 to the Reed Foundation for Autism for a specialized outdoor playground.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Donnelly Jr. as president and director, and Diana Kelly and Christopher Reed as directors.
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc is led by Robert Donnelly Jr., President & Director on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Donnelly Jr.
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $19K (2025)
Christopher Reed
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $19K (2025)
Diana Kelly
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $19K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Paul Schack (2020–2021) — Director
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 $19K, to Mr Robert Donnelly Jr (Pres/DIR). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc
How much does Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc give each year?
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $872K across 7 grants.
What is Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $200,000, and its average grant was $142,107, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc give grants?
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Summit, NJ (2 grants) and Morristown, NJ (2 grants).
Does Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Overlook Hospital Foundation ($400,000 across 2 grants), Morristown Medical Health Found ($250,000) and Common Ground Inc ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc?
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc reported $31.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of underprivileged, handicapped, and special-needs children. It funds capital expenditures, including building improvements, specialized transportation vehicles, specialized equipment, and other “brick and mortar” projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc?
The 2025 filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's EIN?
Dorothy B Hersh Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2280011. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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