The Hearst Foundation
The Hearst Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in New York, NY, established in 1946 by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. The foundation operates jointly with The William Randolph Hearst Foundation (founded 1949). Together, the Hearst Foundations represent major national philanthropic resources with combined assets of $1.3 billion. Since inception, they have awarded over $1.5 billion across more than 22,730 grants to 6,400 organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$430.3M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.0M
-3.3% YoY
Grant Count
111
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$153K
+5.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hearst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits working to ensure people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives.
Primary funding areas include:
- Culture
- Education
- Health
- Social Services
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundations made 283 grants totaling $68.075 million.
Grant Range
** $100,000 - $10,000,000+
How to Apply
** Rolling applications
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Hearst Foundations focus on funding throughout the United States (national scope), with particular activity noted in New York, California, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $394 million
- Total Revenue: $36.04 million
- Total Expenses: $21.2 million
- Total Liabilities: $4.39 million
- Annual Giving: $68.075 million (283 grants)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $430,327,798 | $394,053,165 | $343,830,760 |
| Revenue | $31,733,344 | $36,040,396 | $-10,343,194 |
| Expenses | $21,946,437 | $21,244,744 | $23,014,690 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,864,502 | $19,206,029 | $20,532,220 |
| Net Investment Income | $37,008,717 | $19,934,346 | $10,786,869 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,797,161 | $17,217,317 | $18,647,288 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Museum of Manhattan ($500,000), Save the Children Federation ($500,000), New Museum ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Composers Orchestra New York, NY | To support EarShot professional development programs for early career composers | $125,000 |
| Arts Midwest Minneapolis, MN | To support training, education programming and free online resources for artists art leaders | $150,000 |
| Autry Museum of the American West Los Angeles, CA | To support expansion of the Autry After Hours program | $150,000 |
| Black Ensemble Theater Corporation Chicago, IL | To support Educational Outreach programs | $100,000 |
| Children's Museum of Manhattan New York, NY | To support the restoration renovation of a landmark bldg to become the museums new home | $500,000 |
| Cincinnati Ballet Cincinnati, OH | To support dance education programs | $100,000 |
| Community Music Center of Boston Boston, MA | To support the acquisition and renovation of a permanent home | $100,000 |
| Ford's Theatre Society Washington, DC | To support the expansion of history and education programs | $125,000 |
| Girls Write Now Inc New York, NY | To support the Girls Write Now Collaboratory | $100,000 |
| Harlem Stage Inc New York, NY | To support the WaterWorks program for the development and presentation of artists | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia H Randt | President Director | — | — |
| William R Hearst III | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Frank J Bennack Jr | Vice President Director | — | — |
| John G Conomikes | Vice President Director | — | — |
| David J Barrett | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Anissa B Balson | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Mark F Miller | Vice President Director | — | — |
| James M Asher | VP, Secretary Director | — | — |
| Catherine A Bostron | Assistant Secretary | — | — |
| Eve B Burton | Assistant Secretary | — | — |
| Carlton J Charles | Assistant Treasurer | — | — |
| Lisa H Hagerman | Vice President Director | — | — |
| George R Hearst III | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Steven R Swartz | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Mitchell I Scherzer | Vice President Assist. Treas. | — | — |
| Gilbert C MaurerDeceased 2025 | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Roger P Paschke | Assistant Treasurer CIO | — | — |
| Karen Alsup | Deputy Inv. Officer | — | — |
| Donna Kalajian Lagani | VP Eastern Director | 13 | $146,189 |
| Mary Fisher | Treasurer Controller | 13 | $64,672 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Hearst Foundations have announced grant awards on a seasonal basis, with spring and fall grant announcements. Recent activity includes relief aid awards to Los Angeles-based organizations.
Hearst Foundations Award $3 Million in Relief Aid to Nine Los ...Contact Information
Website: https://www.hearstfdn.org
Address: 300 W 57th Street, Floor 26, New York, NY 10019
Regional Contacts:
- West of the Mississippi River: support.sf@hearstfdn.org
- East of the Mississippi River: support.ny@hearstfdn.org
Phone: (212) 649-3748
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Hearst Foundation fund?
The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits working to ensure people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives. Primary funding areas include: • Culture • Education • Health • Social Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Hearst Foundation?
• **Grant Range:** $100,000 - $10,000,000+ • **Typical Awards:** $50,000 - $500,000 • **Application Process:** Rolling applications • **Decision Timeline:** Approximately 6 months • **Success Rate:** 30% overall (5% for new applicants) In 2023, the foundations made 283 grants totaling $68.075 million. **United States Senate Youth Program:** An educational experience for outstanding high school students to spend a week in Washington experiencing their national government in action. **Hearst Jour…
Where does The Hearst Foundation make grants?
The Hearst Foundations focus on funding throughout the United States (national scope), with particular activity noted in New York, California, and Massachusetts.
What size grants does The Hearst Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hearst Foundation awarded 111 grants totaling $17.0M — an average of about $153K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hearst Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hearst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hearst Foundation's EIN?
The Hearst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6161746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hearst 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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