Hees Family Foundation
The Hees Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Established with the estate of Gary G. Hees, an educator, engineer, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, it has supported educational scholarships and nonprofit organizations since 1997.
Hees Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Hees Family Foundation gave $111K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Michigan. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $111,000
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,440
- +6.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,512,760
- -2.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (11 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (58% 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 Hees Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit materials in letter form.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists a deadline before the close of the fiscal year on August 31. The August 31, 2026 date has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists a deadline before the close of the fiscal year on August 31.
- Contact
Application contact: Ron Hees
Mailing address: 8200 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37924
Phone: (616) 534-9691
Website: https://www.heesfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hees Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Otsego County Community Foundation ($25K). Together the top 10 received $82K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($14,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 78 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 29% to recipients in Tennessee. The remaining grant dollars went to California (8%), Illinois (3%), and North Carolina (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Hees Family Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 22 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 208% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $36K (2021) to $111K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $111K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Otsego County Community Foundation Gaylord, MI | General Fund/Community Support and Disaster Relief | $24,500 |
| Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary Lake Odessa, MI | General Fund/Animal Rescue | $15,000 |
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $14,500 |
| Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI | Tuition Support | $11,000 |
| Next Step for Life Inc Cookeville, TN | General Fund/Community Support | $8,000 |
| Electric Lodge Venice, CA | General Fund/Community Support | $7,000 |
| 413 Strong Nashville, TN | General Fund/Community Support | $5,000 |
| Lazarus House St Charles, IL | General Fund/Community Supportgeneral Fund/Community Support | $3,500 |
| Tennessee State Parks Conservancy Nashville, TN | General Fund/Community Support | $3,000 |
| Isaiah 117 House Elizabethton, TN | Youth Foster Care Support | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Hees Family Foundation?
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 | $1,512,760 | $82,255 | $115,525 | $111,000 | 25 | $111,000 | $81,249 | $104,199 |
| 2024 | $1,546,030 | $45,581 | $98,222 | $95,500 | 23 | $95,500 | $46,773 | $97,022 |
| 2023 | $1,598,671 | $1,033,489 | $41,807 | $36,000 | 11 | $36,000 | $17,827 | $47,701 |
| 2022 | $606,989 | $271,746 | $38,251 | $36,000 | 8 | $36,000 | $251,195 | $33,178 |
| 2021 | $373,494 | $59,235 | $38,002 | $36,000 | 11 | — | $28,853 | $30,488 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hees Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $104K for 2025 — 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 website describes a shift from a primary focus on scholarships and larger nonprofits toward supporting a wider range of smaller organizations, while continuing scholarship contributions.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate that range. For example, Next Step for Life says its mission is to provide transitional housing and life-skills training to young people; Isaiah 117 House says it provides support for children awaiting foster-care placement; and the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy says it supports education, health, and access programs related to Tennessee’s natural areas and parks. Cornerstone University describes its mission as providing a student-focused learning community centered on Jesus Christ.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $111,000. Grants ranged from $250 to $24,500, with a median of $2,000. Notable grants included $24,500 to Otsego County Community Foundation for general fund, community support, and disaster relief; $15,000 to Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary for animal rescue; $12,500 to an individual recipient for tuition support; and $11,000 to Cornerstone University for tuition support. Other grants included $8,000 to Next Step for Life and $7,000 to Electric Lodge, both for general fund and community support.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing says applications are to be submitted in letter form and that an organization must be recognized as charitable under the Internal Revenue Code.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jason Hees as president; Andrew Hees as vice president; Ronald A. Hees as secretary/treasurer; and Jonathon Hees, David Hees, Daniel Hees, Michael Hees, Whittney Ratz, Kameron Weddle, and Cole Weddle as directors.
Hees Family Foundation is led by Jason Hees, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jason Hees
President
Board Member → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Hees
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Hees
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathon Hees
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Hees
Director
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cole Weddle
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Hees II
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kameron Weddle
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Whittney Ratz
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Hees
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald A. Hees
Secretary & Treasurer
Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Erin Heaney (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Whittney Hees (2021–2023) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Hees Family Foundation
How much does Hees Family Foundation give each year?
Hees Family Foundation gave $111K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $96K across 23 grants.
What is Hees Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Hees Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,440, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hees Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Hees Family Foundation give grants?
Hees Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (29%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Knoxville, TN (4 grants), Cookeville, TN (3 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants).
Does Hees Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of Hees Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Tuition Support" (8 grants).
Who are Hees Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Hees Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Otsego County Community Foundation ($24,500), Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary ($15,000) and Cornerstone University ($11,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($14,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hees Family Foundation?
Hees Family Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $111K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $104K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hees Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes a shift from a primary focus on scholarships and larger nonprofits toward supporting a wider range of smaller organizations, while continuing scholarship contributions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hees Family Foundation?
Submit materials in letter form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hees Family Foundation's EIN?
Hees Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3368989. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 31, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hees Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hees Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hees-family-foundation-morg_df3de956ce144e08b0bdfed0500595ef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383368989_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hees Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hees-family-foundation-morg_df3de956ce144e08b0bdfed0500595ef},
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 Hees Family 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.
Hees Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?