The HAND Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2003 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. It operates as an advisory, advocacy, and grant-making organization dedicated to building better communities by enabling the growth and advancement of individuals across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.7M
-4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$655K
+144.1% YoY
Grant Count
27
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+117.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, HAND Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance the philanthropic sector, prevent child sexual abuse, build a global middle class, and prepare and engage the Next Generation.
The foundation focuses its work across seven primary areas:
Advancement of Philanthropy & Volunteerism — Strengthening diaspora communities and helping young people cultivate lifelong giving habits. The foundation recognizes philanthropy as an accessible way for diaspora communities to engage in their adopted countries and focuses on increasing and improving diaspora philanthropy.
Education — Investing in forward-thinking programs that celebrate individual learning and leadership opportunities. The foundation also sponsors individuals of Persian heritage pursuing higher learning in economic policy.
Entrepreneurship — Supporting organizations that cultivate entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, and opportunity globally.
Debate & Advocacy — Enabling exploration and development of social policy focused on creating better outcomes by investing in organizations that fuel conversation, policy-making, and social action.
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse — Supporting organizations focused on preventing abuse through institutional programs and media that provide tools for identifying potential threats and acting accordingly.
Advancement of Women & Girls — Supporting organizations that provide mentorship and create opportunities for girls and women who need encouragement or support to change course.
Crisis Management & Rebuilding — Supporting organizations focused on the health and healing of communities in transition.
Grantmaking
The foundation also supports program areas including the Norooz outreach project, which educates the public about and shares the Persian New Year in the United States to advance diversity and inclusion in society.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, the District of Columbia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024
- Total assets: $9,710,897
- Total revenues: $252,831
- Total expenses: $718,905
- Total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,710,897 | $10,176,971 | $10,328,351 |
| Revenue | $252,831 | $179,064 | $98,734 |
| Expenses | $718,905 | $330,444 | $924,680 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $713,805 | $328,944 | $887,880 |
| Net Investment Income | $341,147 | $179,064 | $98,734 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,054,964 | $878,599 | $1,031,177 |
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
172 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Code Org ($100,000), Moms Against Poverty ($70,000), California Polytechnic State University Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR DECISION EDUCATION INC BALA CYNWYD, PA | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | Ruth Bader Ginsburg Liberty Center | $10,000 |
| BILL WILSON CENTER SANTA CLARA, CA | "I AM" work and for foster kids programs | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | the Cleared for Success program | $50,000 |
| CAREMESSAGE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CIA OFFICERS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION HERNDON, VA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| CICERO RESEARCH AUSTIN, TX | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CODE ORG SEATTLE, WA | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| COMMITTEE FOR A RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL BUDGET WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Noosheen Hashemi — President
The HAND Foundation was established by former Oracle Corporation executive Noosheen Hashemi and former Yahoo! chief technology officer Farzad Nazem.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasrin Hashemi | Dir, Treas | 1 | — |
| Noosheen Hashemi | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
| Farzad Nazem | Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HAND Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to advance the philanthropic sector, prevent child sexual abuse, build a global middle class, and prepare and engage the Next Generation. The foundation focuses its work across seven primary areas: • **Advancement of Philanthropy & Volunteerism** — Strengthening diaspora communities and helping young people cultivate lifelong giving habits. The foundation recognizes philanthropy as an accessible way for diaspora communities to engage in their adopted countries and fo…
How do I apply for a grant from HAND Foundation?
**Grant Activity (Fiscal Year 2024)** • Total giving: $655,386 • Number of grants: 44 • Typical award range: $500–$250,000 **Recent Grants (2024)** • Code.org: $100,000 (General & Unrestricted) • Moms Against Poverty: $70,000 (Hospital Equipment Fund and General Support) • Dignitas Ukraine: $50,000 (1,000 Drones for Ukraine Initiative) The foundation also supports program areas including the Norooz outreach project, which educates the public about and shares the Persian New Year in the United S…
Where does HAND Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on California, the District of Columbia, and New York.
What size grants does HAND Foundation award?
In 2024, HAND Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $655K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is HAND Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, HAND Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is HAND Foundation's EIN?
HAND Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2403164. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in HAND Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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