The Hickory Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997, based in Lambertville, New Jersey. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with significant assets and a national grantmaking scope across multiple U.S. states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.9M
+1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-10.6% YoY
Grant Count
53
-7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-3.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hickory Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Education
- Federated giving programs
- Public affairs
- Philanthropy
- Social sciences
- Information and communications
- Communication media
- International human rights
- Human services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$227 (based on available data)
Average Grant
$227 (based on available data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. It supports work in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $42.9 million
- Total Revenue: $3.7 million
- Total Expenses: $2.9 million
- Investment Income and Dividends: $872,143
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $2.8 million
- Number of Employees: 0
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $42.1 million
- Total Revenue: $2.4 million
- Total Expenses: $3.2 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,883,556 | $42,083,535 | $42,856,432 |
| Revenue | $3,707,250 | $2,374,612 | $1,460,673 |
| Expenses | $2,906,719 | $3,170,379 | $2,481,759 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,666,770 | $2,983,687 | $2,202,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,479,301 | $2,187,920 | $1,249,988 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,591,674 | $2,267,952 | $2,325,040 |
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
249 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Foundation for Government Accountability ($350,000), The Witherspoon Institute ($250,000), The Federalist Society ($225,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTION INSTITUTE GRAND RAPIDS, MI | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN PRINCIPLES PROJECT FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, VA | CHARITABLE | $200,000 |
| BALLOTPEDIA MIDDLETON, WI | CHARITABLE | $35,000 |
| BRIGHTER CHOICE FOUNDATION GLENMONT, NY | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| BROOKLIN BOTANIC GARDEN BROOKSVILLE, ME | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| BROOKLIN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY BROOKLIN, ME | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| CURE CHILDHOOD CANCER ASSOCIATION ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $35,000 |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT INC BALA CYNWYD, PA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Virginia James — President of the foundation, contributing 5 hours per week without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRGINIA JAMES | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 281 Lambertville, NJ 08530-0281
Telephone: 212-840-3456
EIN: 22-3472805
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hickory Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • Education • Federated giving programs • Public affairs • Philanthropy • Social sciences • Information and communications • Communication media • International human rights • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Hickory Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 53 grants in 2024 • Total grants awarded in 2024: approximately $2.6 million • Average grant size: $227 (based on available data) • Open to new applicants: Yes • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% **Recent Grants (2024):** • Foundation for Government Accountability: $350,000 • Witherspoon Institute: $250,000 • Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies: $225,000 **Historical Grants (2015):** • Institute of World Politics: $200,000 • Media Research Center…
Where does Hickory Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. It supports work in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
What size grants does Hickory Foundation award?
In 2024, Hickory Foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hickory Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hickory Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hickory Foundation's EIN?
Hickory Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3472805. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hickory 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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