Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation is a private philanthropic grantmaking foundation based in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1961, it supports work on the environment, public health, reproductive rights, and the relationship between people and nature, with a primary focus on Houston, Austin, and Texas-wide issues.
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation at a glance
In short: Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation gave $6.8M across 174 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in Texas. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,844,100
- +7.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 174
- +6.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $39,334
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $106,953,604
- -0.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (41 of 145, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (66% 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 Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a two-stage process. Applicants first submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the online portal. If the Board determines that a full proposal is warranted, the organization is invited to submit a grant application. Awards are evaluated case by case by the Board. For the Latitude Fund, eligible groups are asked to complete a short application.
- Review Cycle
- LOIs may be submitted at any time. The Foundation’s website states that LOIs received by July 24, 2026, will be considered in the Fall 2026 cycle; later submissions will be considered in the Spring 2027 cycle.
- Deadline
- LOIs may be submitted at any time.
- Contact
Application contact: Jacob And Terese Hershey Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 66009, Houston, TX 77266
Phone: (713) 529-7612
Email: support@jthershey.org
Website: https://jthershey.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
Who Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Vanguard Charitable ($455K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
730 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 430 grants of 730 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s primary geographic focus is Texas, particularly greater Houston and central Texas, as well as work of statewide significance. Its application guidance says work outside Texas is accepted by invitation only. For community parks, environmental education, and animal welfare, it focuses on greater Houston and central Texas and accepts LOIs from outside those areas by invitation only. A grant-program description also identifies southwestern Colorado among the regions of interest.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 174 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 41 of 145 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $56K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $36K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 132% 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 $4.0M (2020) to $6.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 174 grants totaling $6.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Charitable Warwick, RI | Contribution to Donor Advised Fund | $455,000 |
| Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas Inc Dallas, TX | Toward developing Palo Pinto Mountains State Park | $250,000 |
| Rockefeller Family Fund Inc New York, NY | Toward efforts to stop the buildout of oil export terminals along the Texas coast | $250,000 |
| Public Citizen Foundation Inc Austin, TX | Toward accountability for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | $175,000 |
| Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NY | Toward operating support for the organization's work in Texas | $150,000 |
| Air Alliance Houston Houston, TX | Toward general operations | $120,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Toward the purposes of Organizing Resilience | $100,000 |
| Healthy Gulf Houston, TX | Toward the purposes of CEER | $100,000 |
| Nuclear Information & Resource Service Takoma Park, MD | Toward resisting new nuclear energy facilities and waste storage sites in Texas | $90,000 |
| Bayou City Waterkeeper Houston, TX | Toward general operations | $80,000 |
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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 | $106,953,604 | $8,623,508 | $8,983,545 | $6,844,100 | 174 | $8,065,845 | $7,560,707 | $6,109,498 |
| 2023 | $107,316,267 | $3,489,389 | $8,306,121 | $6,398,614 | 164 | $7,546,275 | $2,901,015 | $6,091,718 |
| 2022 | $112,115,764 | $10,048,476 | $7,747,218 | $6,092,345 | 162 | $7,318,467 | $7,608,184 | $5,849,090 |
| 2021 | $109,901,495 | $34,494,721 | $6,084,069 | $4,880,219 | 122 | $5,609,707 | $8,641,793 | $5,582,230 |
| 2020 | $87,121,016 | $7,675,553 | $4,937,042 | $3,960,313 | 108 | — | $5,784,562 | $4,493,561 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s grantmaking focuses on environment and conservation, reproductive rights, parks and open space, environmental education, and animal welfare. Its website also describes support for civic engagement and work related to reproductive health in Texas. It says its investments should benefit people and nature, with particular attention to people disproportionately burdened by environmental and health challenges.
Grantees include organizations working on environmental protection, public health, conservation, and civic participation. For example, Air Alliance Houston describes its mission as reducing air pollution in the Houston region and protecting public health and environmental integrity through research, education, and advocacy. Bayou City Waterkeeper says it protects Houston-area waters and people through legal action, community science, and grassroots policy. LINK Houston describes its work as advocating for an equitable transportation network, while Commission Shift says it works to build public support for accountability in oil and gas oversight.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 174 grants totaling $6,844,100. Grants ranged from $500 to $455,000, with a median grant of $30,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $250,000 to the Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas toward developing Palo Pinto Mountains State Park; $250,000 to the Rockefeller Family Fund toward efforts to stop oil export terminal development along the Texas coast; $175,000 to Public Citizen Foundation toward accountability for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and $150,000 to the Center for Reproductive Rights for operating support for its work in Texas. Other grants included $120,000 to Air Alliance Houston for general operations and $80,000 to Bayou City Waterkeeper for general operations.
The Foundation also offers Latitude Fund grants of $2,500 to $7,500 for time-sensitive internal capacity needs of eligible Texas grassroots groups working in its focus areas. Eligible groups generally have budgets of approximately $500,000 or less and must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or fiscally sponsored by one. Examples of eligible needs include leadership training, specialized consultants, and self-care or healing practices; ongoing payroll or rent and core programming are listed as ineligible uses.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jeffrey Hershey as President and Director; Andrew H Sansom as Treasurer and Director; Amie Rodnick as Secretary and Director; Kim Baker, Olive Hershey, Bakeyah Nelson, and Angelica Razo as Directors; and Elizabeth GLove as CEO.
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation is led by Elizabeth GLove, CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth GLove
CEO
CEO From Dec → CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $285K (2024)
Jeffrey Hershey
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amie Rodnick
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew H Sansom
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Olive Hershey
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Baker
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angelica Razo
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bakeyah Nelson
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Earthea Nance (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Judith Boyce (2020) — Executive Director to Aug
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 $285K, to Elizabeth GLove (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
How much does Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation give each year?
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation gave $6.8M across 174 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.4M across 164 grants.
What is Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's typical grant size?
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $39,334, across 174 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation give grants?
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (11%) and Rhode Island (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (55 grants), Houston, TX (41 grants), Washington, DC (10 grants) and New York, NY (9 grants).
Does Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (77 of 174) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Toward inclusive environmental education for all abilities" (3 grants) and "Toward reporting on the environment and reproductive rights" (3 grants).
Who are Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's largest grantees?
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Vanguard Charitable ($455,000), Public Citizen Foundation Inc ($380,000 across 5 grants) and Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas Inc ($267,425 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation?
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation reported $107.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s grantmaking focuses on environment and conservation, reproductive rights, parks and open space, environmental education, and animal welfare. Its website also describes support for civic engagement and work related to reproductive health in Texas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a two-stage process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's EIN?
Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6039126. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 September 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). Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jacob-and-terese-hershey-foundation-morg_30a4c8b053dd47b3b05b2e0e862c30f4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746039126_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jacob-and-terese-hershey-foundation-morg_30a4c8b053dd47b3b05b2e0e862c30f4},
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 Jacob and Terese Hershey 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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