The Hearthland Foundation
The Hearthland Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Los Angeles, California. Founded to harness creativity and nurture moral imagination in service of the country, the Foundation makes grants and co-creates projects alongside partners to help build a more just, equitable, and connected America.
Key facts about The Hearthland Foundation
- EIN
- 95-4016320
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,709,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 91
- Average grant
- $293,505
- Median grant
- $225,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 51% first-time grantees (40 of 79, 2024)
- Total assets
- $512,764,929
- Primary geography
- California (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Hearthland Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Hearthland Foundation's 91 itemized 2024 grants were California (22%), New York (21%) and Massachusetts (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (13 grants), Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and San Francisco, CA (6 grants). None of its 91 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic Engagement" (20 grants), "Arts, Culture & Media" (17 grants) and "Youth" (12 grants).
Is The Hearthland Foundation open to new grantees?
51%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 40 of 79 grantees (51%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $329K; repeat grants $347K. How we count
Medians: $225K first-time, $250K repeat.
- 35% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 147% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Hearthland Foundation
- How to evaluate The Hearthland Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Hearthland Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$512.8M
+14.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.7M
+135.4% YoY
Grant Count
91
+139.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$294K
-1.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hearthland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission centers on three primary areas of focus:
- Building a shared democracy — Supporting initiatives that foster democratic participation and bridge divides across communities
- Telling an honest and generative narrative about this country — Funding storytelling, arts, and media projects that present fuller and more inclusive American narratives
- Fostering a culture of accompaniment — Supporting organizations that provide sustained, relational support to vulnerable and marginalized communities
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $1,000 to $3,380,000
Ready to take the next step with The Hearthland Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation supports work nationally, with particular emphasis on home communities in New York, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 91 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $449,478,631
Total Annual Giving: $13,839,030
Total Revenue: $84,925,047
Total Expenses: $16,828,890
Most Recent Filing: 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $512,764,929 | $449,478,631 | $381,382,649 |
| Revenue | $96,796,367 | $84,925,047 | $82,533,550 |
| Expenses | $32,894,921 | $16,828,890 | $14,852,040 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $29,317,293 | $13,839,030 | $12,443,067 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,024,901 | $2,930,296 | $1,786,366 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,048,816 | $21,212,877 | $17,363,820 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
357 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include American Exchange Project Inc ($2,000,000 across 2 grants), Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles ($2,000,000), The Studio Museum in Harlem ($1,675,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA | HEALTH | $2,000,000 |
| THE STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM New York, NY | ARTS, CULTURE & MEDIA | $1,675,000 |
| AMERICAN EXCHANGE PROJECT INC Sudbury, MA | BRIDGING DIVIDES | $1,250,000 |
| ETERNAL SEEDS INC New Orleans, LA | ARTS, CULTURE & MEDIA | $1,000,000 |
| REWILD Austin, TX | ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE | $1,000,000 |
| THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION Chicago, IL | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | $1,000,000 |
| AMERICAN EXCHANGE PROJECT INC Sudbury, MA | BRIDGING DIVIDES | $750,000 |
| GROUNDTRUTH PROJECT INC Beaverton, OR | JOURNALISM | $750,000 |
| FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES Boston, MA | EDUCATION | $500,000 |
| FIRELIGHT MEDIA INC New York, NY | ARTS, CULTURE & MEDIA | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board:
- Kate Capshaw — Co-founder and Board Member
- Steven Spielberg — Co-founder and Board Member
Advisory Team:
- Rachel Levin — President of Philanthropy
- Shayna Triebwasser — Senior Program Officer
- Gabe Rose — Senior Program Officer
- Gayle Karen Young — Senior Adviser
- Laura Maria Vignale — Design
- Andrea Sorin — Director of Grants Management and Operations
- Stephanie Flax — Office & Events Manager
- Carrie Davis — Communications
- Danielle Lara — Grants Manager
- Jessica Depies — Program Officer
- Grace Osborne — Program Associate
- Kate Fowle — Director, Arts Program
- Belen Soto — Operations Associate
- Kalia Brooks — Program Officer
- William Hernández Luege — Program Associate
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kate Capshaw Spielberg | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Steven Spielberg | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Kristie Macosko Krieger | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Gerald Breslauer | President, Director (Thru 12/31) | 0.5 | — |
| Michael Rutman | CFO (Thru 12/31), Director | 0.5 | — |
| Tammy Anderson | Secretary (Thru 12/31), Director | 0.5 | — |
| Meghan Christiansen | Secretary (As of 12/31) | 0.5 | — |
| Michael Rutman | President (As of 12/31), Director | 0.5 | — |
| Tammy Anderson | CFO (As of 12/31), Director | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Hearthland Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission centers on three primary areas of focus: • **Building a shared democracy** — Supporting initiatives that foster democratic participation and bridge divides across communities • **Telling an honest and generative narrative about this country** — Funding storytelling, arts, and media projects that present fuller and more inclusive American narratives • **Fostering a culture of accompaniment** — Supporting organizations that provide sustained, relational support to vulnera…
How do I apply for a grant from The Hearthland Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $1,000 to $3,380,000 **Median Grant Amount:** $129,458 **Total Grants Awarded:** 217 grants **Giving Rate:** 3.3% of assets **Grant Categories:** • Arts, Culture & Media: Average $154,397 (47 recipients, last awarded 2023) • Civic Engagement & Get Out The Vote: Average $281,200 (22 recipients, last awarded 2021) • Education: Average $91,741 (19 recipients, last awarded 2023) • Youth Services: Average $46,300 (18 recipients, last awarded 2023) • Human Rights & Civil Rights: Aver…
Where does The Hearthland Foundation make grants?
The Foundation supports work nationally, with particular emphasis on home communities in New York, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.
What size grants does The Hearthland Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hearthland Foundation awarded 91 grants totaling $26.7M — an average of about $294K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hearthland Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hearthland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hearthland Foundation's EIN?
The Hearthland Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4016320. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hearthland Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
Chamberlin Education Foundation
Richmond, CA
Assets
$80.6M
Grants
1,302
Total Given
$3.0M
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,158
Total Given
$94.3M
The California Endowment
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
More Funders in California
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.