The Hess Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Wheeling, West Virginia. Established in 1996, it operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation dedicated to supporting charitable causes primarily within West Virginia.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.4M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$413K
-3.0% YoY
Grant Count
23
-11.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+9.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hess Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $446K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on the following areas:
- Education: Elementary, secondary, and higher education initiatives
- Religion: Christian and Catholic causes
- Human Services: Youth development and youth services programs
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism: Support for charitable and grantmaking activities
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics:
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $1,750 to $50,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects and organizations located in West Virginia, with particular focus on communities including:
- Wheeling
- Beech Bottom
- Bethany
- Fairmont
- Morgantown
- Moundsville
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $4.39 million
- Annual Revenue: $605,743
- Annual Expenses: $453,253
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: $152,490
The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with no outstanding liabilities and consistent annual giving capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,393,420 | $4,240,930 | $4,273,948 |
| Revenue | $605,743 | $419,508 | $403,422 |
| Expenses | $453,253 | $452,526 | $369,964 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $427,458 | $438,688 | $353,366 |
| Net Investment Income | $591,577 | $406,914 | $391,371 |
| Distributable Amount | $446,496 | $390,945 | $398,228 |
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
113 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include House of Hagar - Share Inc ($48,000), Ywca Wheeling ($45,400), The Oglebay Foundation ($44,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WHEELING UNIVERSITY WHEELING, WV | HESS MENTORING PROGRAM | $10,038 |
| DANIEL M BURKE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WHEELING, WV | SCHOLARSHIPS | $4,000 |
| GROW OHIO VALLEY WHEELNG, WV | AUDIT AND FARM SCHOOL | $30,000 |
| FAMILY SERVICES UPPER OHIO VALLEY WHEELING, WV | WINTER BOX DELIVERY AND | $10,000 |
| WHEELING OHIO COUNTY HEALTH DEPT WHEELING, WV | PROJECT HOPE | $9,000 |
| WHEELING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA WHEELING, WV | MARSH WHEELING STOGIE SIGN | $10,000 |
| WHEELING PARKS AND RECREATION WHEELING, WV | NELSON JORDAN CENTER | $5,000 |
| ST ALPHONSUS CATHOLIC CHURCH WHEELING, WV | HESS WINDOW | $20,000 |
| WHEELING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA WHEELING, WV | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| THE OGLEBAY FOUNDATION WHEELING, WV | CADDIE CAMP AND WHG | $44,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of trustees:
- Christina H. Hess - Trustee
- Andrew P. Hogan - Trustee
- William N. Hogan - Trustee
- Jessica B. Hogan - Trustee
- WesBanco Bank - Trustee
Each trustee receives annual compensation of $2,000 for their service, with the exception of WesBanco Bank, which receives $17,000 annually.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINA H HESS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| ANDREW P HOGAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| WILLIAM N HOGAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| JESSICA B HOGAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In February 2024, the Hess Family Foundation provided $15,000 in funding to Wheeling University to support the continuation of the H.E.S.S. Mentoring Program. This 10-week initiative brings middle school students to the university campus where education majors serve as mentors, guiding them through educational activities focused on STEAM subjects. The program strengthens learning outcomes for middle school participants while providing practical, service-oriented experience for future educators.
HESS Family Foundation Provides Funding for Wheeling University MentorshipSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hess Family Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on the following areas: • **Education**: Elementary, secondary, and higher education initiatives • **Religion**: Christian and Catholic causes • **Human Services**: Youth development and youth services programs • **Philanthropy and Voluntarism**: Support for charitable and grantmaking activities
How do I apply for a grant from Hess Family Foundation?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics: • **Grant Range**: Typical awards range from $1,750 to $50,000 • **Median Grant Size**: Approximately $14,000 • **Annual Giving**: Total distributions of approximately $412,000 to $439,000 annually • **Recent Grant Example**: The foundation awarded $15,000 to Wheeling University to support the Help Enrich Someone Special (H.E.S.S.) Mentoring Program, a 10-week initiative pairing university education major…
Where does Hess Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects and organizations located in West Virginia, with particular focus on communities including: • Wheeling • Beech Bottom • Bethany • Fairmont • Morgantown • Moundsville
What size grants does Hess Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Hess Family Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $413K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hess Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hess Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $446K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hess Family Foundation's EIN?
Hess Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0751425. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hess Family 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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