Hess Justice Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN DIEGO, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.4M. Net investment income was $336K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
-43.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+367.2% YoY
Grant Count
4
+300.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$350K
+16.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hess Justice Fund reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Hess Justice Fund
Based on IRS filings
Hess Justice Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN DIEGO, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.4M. Net investment income was $336K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,095,171 | $1,943,992 | $2,135,161 |
| Revenue | $550,146 | $122,421 | $13,736 |
| Expenses | $1,416,239 | $313,590 | $114,189 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,401,739 | $300,000 | $95,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $335,646 | $30,554 | $19,505 |
| Distributable Amount | $62,520 | $111,251 | $108,963 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
8 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Headcount ($450,000), Southern Vision Alliance ($450,000), Accelerate Change ($402,221).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WORKING AMERICA EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | PROVIDE INFO AND A VOICE FOR THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO THE WORKING CLASS | $99,518 |
| HEADCOUNT New York, NY | stages nonpartisan voter registration at live events | $450,000 |
| SOUTHERN VISION ALLIANCE Durham, NC | Supports work for social, racial, enviromental justice, gender equity, LGTBQ rights & education justice in the US South. | $450,000 |
| ACCELERATE CHANGE Boston, MA | Catalyze digital media networks to increase civic engagement with BIPOC & low-income communities | $402,221 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE HESS | President | 1 | — |
| SUZANNE HESS | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| ELLIOT HESS | Secretary | 1 | — |
| JOANNA HESS | Director | 1 | — |
| DONALD COHEN | Director | 1 | — |
| SANDY NEWMAN | Director | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hess Justice Fund?
Hess Justice Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAN DIEGO, CA. It holds $1.1M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Hess Justice Fund?
As of 2024, Hess Justice Fund holds $1.1M in total assets with $550K in annual revenue. It awarded 4 grants totaling $1.4M in 2024.
Where does Hess Justice Fund operate?
Hess Justice Fund has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York.
What size grants does Hess Justice Fund award?
In 2024, Hess Justice Fund awarded 4 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $350K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hess Justice Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hess Justice Fund reported a distributable amount of $63K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hess Justice Fund's EIN?
Hess Justice Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2994125. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hess Justice Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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