Hill-Snowdon Foundation
The Hill-Snowdon Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Founded by Arthur B. Hill in 1959, it supports community organizing and social justice efforts aimed at improving conditions for low-income families and communities and strengthening their power and participation in public life.
Hill-Snowdon Foundation at a glance
In short: Hill-Snowdon Foundation gave $3.2M across 174 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), top state District of Columbia. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,182,265
- +1.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 174
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,289
- +1.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $38,682,016
- -1.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (34 of 116, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hill-Snowdon Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website says it does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry, but makes time to engage with new organizations whose work aligns with its priorities. It encourages interested organizations to review its grantmaking criteria and share information about their work; referrals from grassroots or funder partners are strongly preferred. The website describes a rolling, monthly grant approval process and says current grassroots partners and some alumni may be eligible for small supplemental grants.
- Contact
Mailing address: 700 12Th Street Nw 700, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 833-8600
Website: https://www.hillsnowdon.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hill-Snowdon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Festival Center Inc ($134K across 7 grants). Together the top 10 received $794K.
Grant Size Distribution
904 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 853 grants of 904 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it has a particular focus on community organizing in the US South, where it directs the majority of its grant funds. It also has an ongoing interest in supporting organizing in Native American communities. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to DC (24%), California (21%), New York (10%), Georgia (10%), and North Carolina (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 174 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Hill-Snowdon Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 116 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 238% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2021) to $3.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 174 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Roots Inc Atlanta, GA | Project Support | $75,000 |
| Common Counsel Foundation Oakland, CA | Project Support | $75,000 |
| New Venture Fund Washington, DC | Project Support | $50,000 |
| The Embodiment Institute Incorporated Durham, NC | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| African Communities Together New York, NY | Project Support | $45,000 |
| Black Organizing Project Oakland, CA | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
| Bread for the City Washington, DC | Project Support | $45,000 |
| DC Jobs with Justice Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
| Education Justice Alliance Raleigh, NC | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
| Empower DC Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,682,016 | $10,402,941 | $4,619,117 | $3,182,265 | 174 | $4,331,383 | $8,855,230 | $1,822,545 |
| 2023 | $39,351,265 | $3,261,765 | $5,796,649 | $3,134,096 | 173 | $4,143,598 | $1,400,111 | $1,880,212 |
| 2022 | $38,584,284 | $2,773,689 | $4,626,463 | $3,546,731 | 188 | $4,505,503 | $839,646 | $2,004,197 |
| 2021 | $48,225,200 | $4,625,560 | $4,396,571 | $2,768,352 | 174 | $3,627,545 | $2,812,528 | $2,553,981 |
| 2020 | $44,801,302 | $5,782,784 | $4,909,265 | $3,817,614 | 195 | — | $4,189,509 | $1,996,529 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hill-Snowdon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — 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 says it is committed to working with low-income families and communities to create a fair and just society. It identifies community organizing as its core strategy and supports organizations for which organizing is a major part of their work.
Its grantmaking programs and initiatives include Youth Organizing, Economic Justice Organizing, Fund for DC, Protect, Block & Build Initiative, Solidarity is Our Strength Fund, Making Black Lives Matter Initiative, Black Movement Infrastructure for Racial Justice Strategy, Defending the Dream Fund, Democracy’s Promise Initiative, and Opportunity and Capacity-Building Fund.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Alternate Roots describes its work as meeting the distinct needs of artists working for social justice and creating work within communities. Education Justice Alliance says it seeks to reduce unfair school suspensions, expulsions, arrests, and court referrals and improve approaches to student discipline. Common Counsel Foundation describes its work as advancing equity and environmental health through grantmaking and philanthropic advising.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 174 grants totaling $3,182,265. Grants ranged from $80 to $75,000, with a median of $7,500. The foundation says its typical general operating grants are $40,000 to $50,000 per year; most grants are general operating support, and it has increasingly made two- or three-year awards within an eight-year funding limit.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $75,000 each to Alternate Roots and Common Counsel Foundation, $50,000 to New Venture Fund, and $50,000 to The Embodiment Institute Incorporated. Other grants of $45,000 included awards to African Communities Together, Black Organizing Project, Bread for the City, DC Jobs with Justice, Education Justice Alliance, Empower DC, Festival Center, and Hawaii Workers Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Bonner as president, Ashley Blanchard as vice president, Andrew Snowdon as treasurer, and Ariana Snowdon as secretary. Listed trustees are Maria Brenes, Judith Browne Dianis, William Cordery, Marguerite Snowdon, and Edward W. Snowdon Jr. Richard Snowdon is listed as emeritus trustee.
Hill-Snowdon Foundation is led by Nathaniel Williams, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nathaniel Williams
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$200K (2020) → $233K (2024)
Elizabeth Bonner
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward W. Snowdon Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marguerite Snowdon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith Browne Dianis
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Brenes
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Cordery
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Snowdon
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ariana Snowdon
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Blanchard
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Snowdon
Emeritus Trustee
Secretary & Treasurer → Emeritus Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $233K, to Nathaniel Williams (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Hill-Snowdon Foundation
How much does Hill-Snowdon Foundation give each year?
Hill-Snowdon Foundation gave $3.2M across 174 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 173 grants.
What is Hill-Snowdon Foundation's typical grant size?
Hill-Snowdon Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $18,289, across 174 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hill-Snowdon Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does Hill-Snowdon Foundation give grants?
Hill-Snowdon Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (21%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (33 grants), New York, NY (20 grants), Los Angeles, CA (10 grants) and Oakland, CA (9 grants).
Does Hill-Snowdon Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of Hill-Snowdon Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (69 of 174) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (105 grants).
Who are Hill-Snowdon Foundation's largest grantees?
Hill-Snowdon Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Festival Center Inc ($134,167 across 7 grants), Highlander Research and Education Center ($97,500 across 5 grants) and Neo Philanthropy Inc ($81,350 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Hill-Snowdon Foundation?
Hill-Snowdon Foundation reported $38.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hill-Snowdon Foundation fund?
The foundation says it is committed to working with low-income families and communities to create a fair and just society. It identifies community organizing as its core strategy and supports organizations for which organizing is a major part of their work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hill-Snowdon Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hill-Snowdon Foundation's EIN?
Hill-Snowdon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6081122. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Hill-Snowdon Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hill-Snowdon Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hill-snowdon-foundation-morg_6f8ed47463254f40872607bc8e03bf10
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226081122_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hill-Snowdon Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hill-snowdon-foundation-morg_6f8ed47463254f40872607bc8e03bf10},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Hill-Snowdon 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.
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