Goldhirsh Foundation
The Goldhirsh Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, that supports emerging innovations intended to advance human life and well-being and catalyze human potential. It describes its approach as connecting promising ideas and organizations with financial, social, and human capital.
Goldhirsh Foundation at a glance
In short: Goldhirsh Foundation gave $4.7M across 74 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in New York. 67% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,682,400
- +78.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 74
- +80.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $63,276
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $45,575,008
- -11.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 67% first-time grantees (49 of 73, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (50% 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 Goldhirsh Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. For the LA2050 Grants Challenge, the 2026 process included organization screening followed by a funding proposal for selected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- June 5, 2026, for the 2026 LA2050 Grants Challenge funding proposal period; this deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- June 5, 2026, for the 2026 LA2050 Grants Challenge funding proposal period; this deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Liberty Sq 13Fl, Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (323) 556-5879
Website: https://goldhirshfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Goldhirsh Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mighty ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
309 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 175 grants of 309 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (50%) and California (42%); smaller shares went to Maryland (2%) and Massachusetts (2%). The foundation’s LA2050 initiative and Grants Challenge address Los Angeles-area issues.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 74 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Goldhirsh Foundation open to new grantees?
67%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 49 of 73 grantees (67%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $74K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 23% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 110% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 226% 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 $2.2M (2021) to $4.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 74 grants totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty Brooklyn, NY | PRI Related Investment in My Lemonade Stand | $1,977,000 |
| The Packer Collegiate Institute Los Angeles, CA | 3RD Payment of 4 Over 4 Years | $250,000 |
| Columbia Graduate School of Journalism New York, NY | 2ND Payment of 5 | $200,000 |
| Nosara Civic Assocation | 1ST of 3 Payments Toward Pledge | $150,000 |
| Impact Assets Bethesda, MD | Unrestricted | $105,400 |
| Serpentine Americas Foundation Boston, MA | Support for Programming in London and LA | $85,000 |
| Birthworkers of Color Collective Long Beach, CA | La 2050 Challenge Grant | $75,000 |
| CA Conference for Equality and Justice Long Beach, CA | La 2050 Challenge Grant | $75,000 |
| Destination Crenshaw Los Angeles, CA | La 2050 Challenge Grant | $75,000 |
| GRID110 Inc Los Angeles, CA | LA2050 Grants Challenge | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Goldhirsh Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $45,575,008 | $980,195 | $6,844,766 | $4,682,400 | 74 | $6,310,070 | $667,787 | $2,791,402 |
| 2023 | $51,439,579 | $2,291,381 | $4,808,357 | $2,625,000 | 41 | $6,095,283 | $979,443 | $2,861,451 |
| 2022 | $53,896,132 | $-3,489,023 | $5,259,243 | $3,047,092 | 73 | $4,521,106 | $523,772 | $3,411,921 |
| 2021 | $61,972,575 | $12,984,138 | $3,746,281 | $2,233,500 | 61 | $3,000,466 | $12,459,067 | $3,227,416 |
| 2020 | $52,294,718 | $2,654,010 | $3,468,541 | $2,288,500 | 60 | — | $2,105,013 | $2,796,147 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Goldhirsh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to advance human life and well-being and catalyze human potential. Its website describes initiatives in educational and economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, community and civic activation, and intrepid innovation. It also describes LA2050 as an initiative that brings people together to address social challenges in Los Angeles.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of activities. LA-MAS describes its work as community-building, popular education, capacity-building, and cooperative development. Destination Crenshaw says it builds cultural and economic platforms intended to help Black artists and businesses thrive. Birthworkers of Color Collective describes providing accessible, inclusive doula services and support through pregnancy outcomes. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 74 grants totaling $4,682,400. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $1,977,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest award was a $1,977,000 PRI-related investment to MIGHTY for My Lemonade Stand. Other large grants included $250,000 to The Packer Collegiate Institute, $200,000 to Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, and $150,000 to Nosara Civic Association. Six Los Angeles-area organizations—Birthworkers of Color Collective, CA Conference for Equality and Justice, Destination Crenshaw, Grid110, LA-MAS, and Little Tokyo Service Center FBO ACT-LA—each received $75,000 for an LA2050 Grants Challenge.
The foundation’s website describes the LA2050 Grants Challenge as a public-participation process in which Angelenos select eligible issue areas. For the 2026 cycle, the website said organizations selected through an initial screening could proceed to a funding proposal; that proposal period closed June 5, 2026. The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Benjamin A. Goldhirsh as president, Claire Denise Hoffman as director, and Tara Roth as treasurer. The foundation’s website identifies Tara Roth as its president and Ben Goldhirsh as chairman and co-founder; it also identifies Claire Hoffman as a director. The website says the foundation named an all-female investment committee in 2024.
Goldhirsh Foundation is led by Benjamin A. Goldhirsh, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Benjamin A. Goldhirsh
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$40K (2023) → $40K (2024)
Claire Denise Hoffman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$25K (2023) → $25K (2024)
Tara Roth
Treasurer
Secretary & Executive Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$280K (2020) → $409K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kathleen C. Wallace (2020) — Treasurer
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 $409K, to Tara Roth (Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Goldhirsh Foundation
How much does Goldhirsh Foundation give each year?
Goldhirsh Foundation gave $4.7M across 74 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 41 grants.
What is Goldhirsh Foundation's typical grant size?
Goldhirsh Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $63,276, across 74 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Goldhirsh Foundation that year got $74K on average.
Where does Goldhirsh Foundation give grants?
Goldhirsh Foundation gives mostly in New York: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (42%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (33 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Pasadena, CA (5 grants) and Long Beach, CA (4 grants).
Does Goldhirsh Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of Goldhirsh Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 74) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "LA2050 Grants Challenge" (21 grants), "La 2050 Challenge Grant" (20 grants) and "LA2050 Grants Challenge (Voter Education Support)" (8 grants).
Who are Goldhirsh Foundation's largest grantees?
Goldhirsh Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mighty ($1,977,000), The Packer Collegiate Institute ($250,000) and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Goldhirsh Foundation?
Goldhirsh Foundation reported $45.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Goldhirsh Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to advance human life and well-being and catalyze human potential. Its website describes initiatives in educational and economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, community and civic activation, and intrepid innovation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Goldhirsh Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Goldhirsh Foundation's EIN?
Goldhirsh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2824140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Goldhirsh 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Goldhirsh Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The Annenberg Foundation
Conshohocken, PA
The Annenberg Foundation funds arts and culture, education, and environmental work, along with varied community initiatives, with grants across multiple states; in 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to California. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards ranged widely, and it does not accept unsolicited requests, giving only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
543
Total Given
$53.3M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Liberty Hill Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Liberty Hill Foundation funds grassroots community organizing and social justice work, including racial, youth, LGBTQ and gender, environmental, economic and housing justice, primarily in Los Angeles County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $10,000, though awards ranged from $250 to $568,080; the Fund for Change uses an alignment survey and invites organizations it selects to apply, and unsolicited-request policies are not stated.
Assets
$39.6M
Grants
750
Total Given
$21.4M
The Ralph M Parsons Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation funds direct-service work in civic and cultural life, education, health, and human services, including general operating support, programs, and capital needs, for organizations serving Los Angeles County. In 2024, its grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $30,000. It accepts unsolicited requests year-round through an online Letter of Inquiry.
Assets
$452.4M
Grants
403
Total Given
$18.2M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Goldhirsh Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/goldhirsh-foundation-morg_7de47e2084604f5aab410c35022da8aa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_272824140_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Goldhirsh Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/goldhirsh-foundation-morg_7de47e2084604f5aab410c35022da8aa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Goldhirsh 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.
Goldhirsh Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?