The Heckscher Foundation for Children
The Heckscher Foundation for Children is a private foundation based in New York City. Founded in 1921, it uses a venture philanthropy approach to identify and fund opportunities to improve outcomes for underserved youth, including in education, workforce development, college access, literacy, and the arts.
The Heckscher Foundation for Children at a glance
In short: The Heckscher Foundation for Children gave $14.7M across 122 grants in 2025 (avg $121K), mostly in New York. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,743,356
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 122
- +17.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $120,847
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $81,000
- Total assets
- $397,207,996
- +10.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (34 of 105, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Heckscher Foundation for Children
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Grant inquiries and applications are by invitation only, and the foundation says it is unable to respond to unsolicited requests. Invited applications are submitted through its online application system on a year-round, rolling basis. Applicants must submit a logic model describing program activities and expected outcomes; the foundation emphasizes measurable quantitative outcomes and evaluation. Current grantees must report on each award based on the original logic model.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Mailing address: 123 East 70Th Street, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 744-0190
Website: https://heckscherfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Heckscher Foundation for Children funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Merit America ($1.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $5.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($11,752), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
531 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 227 grants of 531 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 14% to Florida, 4% to Washington, DC, 2% to Massachusetts, and 1% to Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 122 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Heckscher Foundation for Children open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 34 of 105 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $108K; repeat grants $156K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 $8.5M (2020) to $15.0M (2023). In 2025 it made 122 grants totaling $14.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Merit America Washington, DC | Workforce Development | $1,465,000 |
| Success Academy Charter Schools Inc New York, NY | Education and Academic Support | $1,000,000 |
| SUNY Impact Foundation Inc New York, NY | Capacity Building & Technical Assistance | $502,200 |
| Array Education Inc New York, NY | Education and Academic Support | $500,000 |
| The Posse Foundation Inc New York, NY | Capacity Building & Technical Assistance | $500,000 |
| The Inspired Community Project Inc Bronx, NY | Education and Academic Support | $350,000 |
| New Visions for Public Schools Inc New York, NY | Education and Academic Support | $301,286 |
| NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York, NY | Education and Academic Support | $300,000 |
| YMCA of Greater New York New York, NY | Social Services, Health and Recreation | $279,300 |
| Children's Museum of Manhattan New York, NY | Arts Education | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Heckscher Foundation for Children?
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 | $397,207,996 | $20,719,339 | $20,519,907 | $14,743,356 | 122 | $18,400,980 | $18,415,098 | $18,171,061 |
| 2024 | $360,930,796 | $8,720,325 | $18,708,970 | $13,014,034 | 104 | $16,598,678 | $6,633,589 | $16,746,498 |
| 2023 | $341,543,020 | $13,079,325 | $20,843,955 | $15,014,453 | 104 | $18,927,789 | $11,583,912 | $15,735,023 |
| 2022 | $330,768,424 | $9,664,353 | $17,923,295 | $12,191,316 | 107 | $17,113,474 | $8,586,985 | $16,534,782 |
| 2021 | $255,338,804 | $36,205,183 | $17,578,935 | $12,247,953 | 94 | $15,909,556 | $34,188,582 | $17,385,280 |
| 2020 | $236,760,119 | $11,760,357 | $13,232,503 | $8,533,692 | 102 | — | $10,018,825 | $14,717,935 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Heckscher Foundation for Children reported a distributable amount of $18.2M 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 foundation’s stated purpose is to identify and fund “inflection points” in the lives of underserved youth through catalytic giving, strategic partnerships, targeted problem solving, and support for proven models. Its stated areas include education, workforce development, college access, literacy, and the arts. Its grant guidelines emphasize education, workforce training and jobs access, and capacity-building and technical assistance.
The foundation describes Heckscher Scholars as providing individualized academic guidance, college and financial-aid counseling, and other support to students from disadvantaged communities.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it has supported. ARRAY Education describes itself as an innovation studio supporting teaching and learning projects from early literacy through young people’s career launch. Expanded Schools says it works to ensure New York City young people can access enriching programs that affirm their identities and build skills. uAspire describes its mission as improving the economic mobility of underrepresented students through financial solutions for postsecondary pathways.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 104 grants totaling $13,014,034. Grants ranged from $500 to $750,000, with a median of $100,000. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 122 grants totaling $14.7 million.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $750,000 to Central Park Conservancy for social services, health, and recreation; $700,000 to The Brooklyn College Foundation for education and academic support; $500,000 to ARRAY Education for education and academic support; and $300,000 each to Miami Dade College Foundation and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York for education and academic support. Other grants included $250,000 to Florida Atlantic University Foundation for arts education and $200,000 to America Needs You for workforce development.
The Brooklyn College Foundation describes its mission as promoting Brooklyn College’s educational purposes and the educational welfare of its students. Miami Dade College Foundation describes itself as a direct-support organization for Miami Dade College.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these trustees: Hilary Azrael, Mark E Beck, Brian Feinstein, Leigh Kline, Daniel Laub, Kathryn Meyers, Matt Perelman, Bari Rausnitz, Louis Smadbeck Jr, and Alexander Sloane.
The Heckscher Foundation for Children is led by Howard Grant Sloane, Chairman, CEO & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 3 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Howard Grant Sloane
Chairman, CEO & Trustee
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$462K (2020) → $499K (2025)
Nessia Kushner - Vice Chair
Trustee & Director of Strategy
New on the 2025 filing
30 hrs/week
$155K (2025)
Alexander Sloane
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Taubman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Smadbeck
Vice Chair, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Feinstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Laub
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Tillson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gail Meyers
Vice Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Azrael
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake Sloane
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Smadbeck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Meyers
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leigh Kline
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louis Smadbeck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louis Smadbeck Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark E. Beck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Smadbeck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Perelman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Smadbeck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philippe Laub
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bari Rausnitz
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Zhang
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ourania Vokolos-Zias
Asst.treasurer & COO
Asst.treasurer → Asst.treasurer & COO, 2022
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$303K (2020) → $339K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nessia Sloane Kushner (2020–2024) — Trustee & Director of Strategy
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 $499K, to Howard Grant Sloane (Chairman & CEO/Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Heckscher Foundation for Children
How much does The Heckscher Foundation for Children give each year?
The Heckscher Foundation for Children gave $14.7M across 122 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13.0M across 104 grants.
What is The Heckscher Foundation for Children's typical grant size?
The Heckscher Foundation for Children's median grant in 2025 was $81,000, and its average grant was $120,847, across 122 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Heckscher Foundation for Children that year got $108K on average.
Where does The Heckscher Foundation for Children give grants?
The Heckscher Foundation for Children gives mostly in New York: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (11%) and Florida (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (56 grants), Brooklyn, NY (14 grants), Bronx, NY (7 grants) and Miami, FL (6 grants).
Does The Heckscher Foundation for Children give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of The Heckscher Foundation for Children's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 122) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education and Academic Support" (50 grants), "Workforce Development" (24 grants) and "Social Services, Health and Recreation" (9 grants).
Who are The Heckscher Foundation for Children's largest grantees?
The Heckscher Foundation for Children's largest 2025 grantees include Merit America ($1,481,350 across 2 grants), Success Academy Charter Schools Inc ($1,000,000) and SUNY Impact Foundation Inc ($502,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($11,752), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Heckscher Foundation for Children?
The Heckscher Foundation for Children reported $397.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Heckscher Foundation for Children fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to identify and fund “inflection points” in the lives of underserved youth through catalytic giving, strategic partnerships, targeted problem solving, and support for proven models. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Heckscher Foundation for Children?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Heckscher Foundation for Children's EIN?
The Heckscher Foundation for Children's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1820170. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Heckscher Foundation for Children accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Heckscher Foundation for Children funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Innovation Award (Student Competition) $10,000 total scholarship pool ($5,000 first place, $2,500 second place, $1,500 third place, plus $1,000 Realtors' Choice Award) · Due November 10, 2026
- Expand Energy STEM Education Fund Grant Up to US $1,000 · Due November 10, 2026
- Scholarship Drawing Due November 10, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Heckscher Foundation for Children's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Heckscher Foundation for Children funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-heckscher-foundation-for-children-morg_55502c3d8af4487b9b2ba2cf9af448c7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131820170_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Heckscher Foundation for Children funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-heckscher-foundation-for-children-morg_55502c3d8af4487b9b2ba2cf9af448c7},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-08. 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 The Heckscher Foundation for Children'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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