Richard C Von Hess Foundation
The Richard C Von Hess Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbia, Pennsylvania. It reported 13 grants totaling $3,357,750 in 2025, with support for arts and cultural organizations, historical institutions, and conservation work among its listed grants.
Richard C Von Hess Foundation at a glance
In short: Richard C Von Hess Foundation gave $3.4M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $258K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,357,750
- +26.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -45.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $258,288
- +133.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $20,657,936
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Richard C Von Hess Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Tom Cook PO Box 68, Columbia, PA 17512
Phone: (215) 419-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Richard C Von Hess Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Louise Steinman Von Hess Foundation ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 37 grants of 90 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Columbia, Pennsylvania. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; the remaining shares went to Massachusetts (7%), Delaware (2%), Washington, DC (1%), and Maryland (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Richard C Von Hess Foundation gives
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 277% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 304% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $890K (2022) to $3.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Louise Steinman Von Hess Foundation Columbia, PA | Support transformation of the adjacent railroad building into a visitor's center, museum and library annex | $2,000,000 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA | Support the richard c. Von hess foundation scholarship and travel awards, the reconfigured memorial travel award in conjunction with pafa certificate programs, the hvac replacement project for pafa's historic landmark building, and the a nation of artists exhibition | $314,600 |
| Woodmere Art Museum Philadelphia, PA | Support the establishment and to secure naming rights for frances m. Maguire hall | $250,000 |
| Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Pittsburgh, PA | Support the preservation of the unesco world heritage site fallingwater | $200,000 |
| Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Boston, MA | Support the book of esther in the age of rembrandt exhibition | $150,000 |
| Historical Society of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Support Renovations of HSP'S Conservation Services Laboratory | $125,000 |
| Peabody Essex Museum Salem, MA | Support the saints, sinners, lovers and fools: 300 years of flemish masterworks exhibition | $100,000 |
| Delaware Art Museum Wilmington, DE | Renovation of Galleries 15 & 16 | $60,000 |
| Demuth Foundation Lancaster, PA | Support Three Year Strategic Plan | $52,150 |
| Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens Washington, DC | Support the setting sail: the story of sea cloud exhibition | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,657,936 | $3,877,153 | $3,752,480 | $3,357,750 | 13 | $3,571,120 | $3,735,733 | $1,175,994 |
| 2024 | $20,182,770 | $2,240,196 | $3,064,521 | $2,659,630 | 24 | $2,921,592 | $2,061,413 | $1,215,904 |
| 2023 | $21,117,297 | $1,614,007 | $2,297,360 | $1,897,327 | 24 | $2,155,855 | $1,384,068 | $1,190,289 |
| 2022 | $22,247,625 | $2,066,929 | $1,196,562 | $890,325 | 14 | $1,069,577 | $1,939,944 | $1,124,259 |
| 2021 | $21,118,680 | $2,596,749 | $1,511,861 | $1,165,988 | 15 | $1,364,593 | $2,456,881 | $1,347,591 |
| 2020 | $20,079,284 | $1,261,364 | $1,384,011 | $1,115,571 | 1 | — | $1,139,427 | $1,178,282 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard C Von Hess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for projects including museum and library facilities, art exhibitions and awards, historic preservation, conservation, and archival work.
Several grantees describe missions related to arts and culture. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, which received $314,600, says it operates a post-secondary fine arts program and a gallery collection of American art, and sponsors classes and free arts programs. Woodmere Art Museum, which received $250,000, says it aims to inspire creativity, learning, and self-expression through art and artists of Philadelphia and the region. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which received $125,000, says it seeks to inspire individuals and organizations to create a better future through historical understanding.
Other 2025 grantees describe conservation and public-engagement work. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which received $200,000, says it protects and restores natural places and preserves Fallingwater. Peabody Essex Museum, which received $100,000, says it offers experiences in the arts, humanities, and sciences and stewards and makes collections accessible.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $3,357,750. The grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,000,000, with a median of $100,000. Notable awards included $2,000,000 to the Louise Steinman Von Hess Foundation for transforming an adjacent railroad building into a visitor’s center, museum, and library annex; $314,600 to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for scholarships, travel awards, a building project, and an exhibition; and $250,000 to Woodmere Art Museum to support the establishment of Frances M. Maguire Hall and secure naming rights.
Other listed grants included $200,000 to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for preservation of Fallingwater, $125,000 to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for renovations to its conservation services laboratory, and $60,000 to Delaware Art Museum for gallery renovations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas Hills Cook as managing trustee and Warren A Reintzel Esquire as trustee.
Richard C Von Hess Foundation is led by Thomas Hills Cook, Managing Trustee on every filing since 2020; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas Hills Cook
Managing Trustee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$88K (2020) → $104K (2025)
Warren A. Reintzel Esquire
Trustee
On filings since 2020
14 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $8K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anne Genter (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $104K, to Thomas Hills Cook (Managing Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Richard C Von Hess Foundation
How much does Richard C Von Hess Foundation give each year?
Richard C Von Hess Foundation gave $3.4M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 24 grants.
What is Richard C Von Hess Foundation's typical grant size?
Richard C Von Hess Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $258,288, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Richard C Von Hess Foundation give grants?
Richard C Von Hess Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (3 grants) and Lancaster, PA (2 grants).
Does Richard C Von Hess Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Richard C Von Hess Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Richard C Von Hess Foundation's largest grantees?
Richard C Von Hess Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Louise Steinman Von Hess Foundation ($2,000,000), Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($314,600) and Woodmere Art Museum ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Richard C Von Hess Foundation?
Richard C Von Hess Foundation reported $20.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Richard C Von Hess Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for projects including museum and library facilities, art exhibitions and awards, historic preservation, conservation, and archival work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard C Von Hess Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Richard C Von Hess Foundation's EIN?
Richard C Von Hess Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6962077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Richard C Von Hess 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Richard C Von Hess Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/richard-c-von-hess-foundation-morg_c12f3202c31e45e8b7e2ba31b726c3ef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236962077_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Richard C Von Hess Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/richard-c-von-hess-foundation-morg_c12f3202c31e45e8b7e2ba31b726c3ef},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Richard C Von Hess 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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