The Herbold Foundation is a private foundation based in Phoenix, Arizona, established in 2003. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since April 2003. The foundation focuses on providing fellowships to graduate students and supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofits across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.0M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$599K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
25
+13.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-12.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herbold Foundation reported a distributable amount of $804K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus is to provide fellowships to exceptionally talented graduate students majoring in engineering, computer science, and data science. Approximately 50% of annual disbursements fund fellowships at hand-selected universities, with each school receiving support for 7 to 12 Masters or PhD students. The remaining 50% of annual disbursements support 501(c)(3) nonprofits in a variety of areas.
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Universities and nonprofits are selected by the Foundation's Board.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not entertain proposals. Universities and nonprofits are selected directly by the Foundation's Board.
Grant Range
$1,000–$75,000
Average Grant
amount varies by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations and universities across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- Arizona
- California
- District of Columbia
- Ohio
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Minnesota
- Kentucky
- New York
- Washington
Specific cities supported include Alexandria, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Seattle.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $9,016,328
- Total revenues: $1,115,765
- Total expenses: $685,706
- Total giving: $599,000
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $8,589,375
- Total revenues: $482,746
- Total expenses: $683,778
Investment Income:
- 2024: $203,439
- 2023: $194,724
The foundation has one employee on staff and maintains an expense ratio of 141.6% of total revenue.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,016,328 | $8,589,375 | $8,790,584 |
| Revenue | $1,115,765 | $482,746 | $696,897 |
| Expenses | $685,706 | $683,778 | $754,053 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $681,841 | $679,335 | $739,621 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,113,149 | $280,569 | $494,825 |
| Distributable Amount | $804,042 | $680,243 | $678,127 |
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
124 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Case Western Reserve ($75,000), Arizona State University ($70,000), Purdue University ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY TEMPE, AZ | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS | $70,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CHASE LAW SCHOOL HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $34,000 |
| CLARE BOOTHE LUCE POLICY INSTITUTE HERNDON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| GARY SINISE FOUNDATION STUDIO CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HEART OF THE NATION MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE HILLSDALE, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| HOOVER INSTITUTE STANFORD, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Donna M. Herbold – Executive Director (20 hours/week, $64,000 annual compensation)
- Robert J. Herbold – President/Treasurer (10 hours/week, no compensation)
- Patricia L. Herbold – Vice President & Secretary (10 hours/week, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONNA M HERBOLD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $64,250 |
| ROBERT J HERBOLD | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 10 | — |
| PATRICIA L HERBOLD | VP & SECRETARY | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Fred Hutch received a $2 million gift to endow the Bob and Pat Herbold Computational Biology Chair for the Herbold Computational Biology Program (2024)
Fred Hutch receives $2M gift to endow the Bob and Pat Herbold ComputationalCase Western Reserve University received a $1.5 million commitment from alumnus Bob Herbold for graduate student scholarships as part of a new engineering institute initiative
Alumnus, former Microsoft COO Bob Herbold commits $1.5 million to graduateThe University of Arizona features Herbold Fellowships supporting graduate students applying data science to diverse areas
Alumnus, former Microsoft COO Bob Herbold commits $1.5 million to graduateSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herbold Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary focus is to provide fellowships to exceptionally talented graduate students majoring in engineering, computer science, and data science. Approximately 50% of annual disbursements fund fellowships at hand-selected universities, with each school receiving support for 7 to 12 Masters or PhD students. The remaining 50% of annual disbursements support 501(c)(3) nonprofits in a variety of areas. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Universities and nonprofits…
How do I apply for a grant from Herbold Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 28 grants in 2024 • Typical grant range: $1,000–$75,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Recent Grants (2024):** • Purdue University: $70,000 (Scholarships for Students) • Young Americas Foundation: $50,000 (General Support) • St Jude Children's Research Hospital: $25,000 (General Support) **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not entertain proposals. Universities and nonprofits are se…
Where does Herbold Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations and universities across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • Arizona • California • District of Columbia • Ohio • Virginia • Tennessee • Minnesota • Kentucky • New York • Washington Specific cities supported include Alexandria, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Seattle.
What size grants does Herbold Foundation award?
In 2024, Herbold Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $599K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Herbold Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Herbold Foundation reported a distributable amount of $804K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Herbold Foundation's EIN?
Herbold Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0046141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Herbold 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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