The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $204K. Net investment income was $26K.
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation at a glance
In short: The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation gave $204K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $204,103
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,017
- +2.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,011
- Total assets
- $1,742,218
- +2.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mount Holyoke College ($125K). Together the top 6 received $204K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 21 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation gives
- Giving fell 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $204K (2025) to $1.8M (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $204K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA | General Charitable Purposes | $124,663 |
| Friends of the Lobkowicz Collections Dover, MA | General Charitable Purposes | $25,213 |
| The New York Philharmonic New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $25,213 |
| St Paul's School Concord, NH | General Charitable Purposes | $16,808 |
| The Buckley School New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $11,206 |
| St Thomas Church New York, NY | General Charitable Purposes | $1,000 |
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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 | $1,742,218 | $42,687 | $228,081 | $204,103 | 6 | $211,313 | $25,919 | $160,646 |
| 2024 | $1,695,183 | $200,003 | $266,519 | $233,368 | 7 | $235,324 | $167,102 | $171,500 |
| 2023 | $1,642,006 | $70,028 | $250,489 | $220,000 | 5 | $228,546 | $45,085 | $152,649 |
| 2022 | $1,822,466 | $67,782 | $316,278 | $269,000 | 1 | $275,670 | $36,674 | $165,502 |
| 2021 | $2,070,962 | $501,993 | $1,858,448 | $1,805,000 | 2 | $1,809,938 | $456,483 | $257,749 |
| 2020 | $2,889,466 | $226,601 | $311,693 | $258,000 | 1 | — | $182,510 | $216,037 |
| 2019 | $2,974,558 | $509,002 | $250,901 | $205,000 | 1 | — | $467,654 | $211,445 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation reported a distributable amount of $161K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J Truman Bidwell Jr.
Trustee - As Needed
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ludmila S Bidwell
Trustee - As Needed
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation
How much does The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation give each year?
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation gave $204K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $233K across 7 grants.
What is The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's typical grant size?
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $21,011, and its average grant was $34,017, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation give grants?
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (18%) and New Hampshire (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's largest grantees?
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mount Holyoke College ($124,663), Friends of the Lobkowicz Collections ($25,213) and The New York Philharmonic ($25,213), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation?
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $211K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $161K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's EIN?
The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6651912. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Carl B and Ludmila S Hess Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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