The Hermine and David Heller Foundation
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable and educational organizations, including arts and cultural institutions, schools, a public broadcaster, and organizations working on public policy and community services.
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hermine and David Heller Foundation gave $2.3M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $113K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,265,000
- -17.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $113,250
- -13.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $26,261,541
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Hermine and David Heller Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 73 Bowling Green Station, New York, NY 10274-0073
Phone: (518) 640-5000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hermine and David Heller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New Museum of Contemporary Art ($785K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 63 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 11% each to recipients in Washington, DC, and Massachusetts, and 4% to recipients in Connecticut. The filing also reports a 0% share for Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Hermine and David Heller Foundation gives
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2021) to $3.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Museum of Contemporary Art New York, NY | General Operating Support | $735,000 |
| Friends of the High Line Inc New York, NY | High Line Annual Events and General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Harvard College Cambridge, MA | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Third Way Institute Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Morrys Camp Inc Port Chester, NY | 2023 Benefit and General Operating Support | $205,000 |
| Connecticut Public Broadcasting Inc Hartford, CT | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Poly Prep Country Day School Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| East Hampton Village East Hampton, NY | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Paul Taylor Dance Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $65,000 |
| East End Temple New York, NY | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,261,541 | $2,376,251 | $2,728,380 | $2,265,000 | 20 | $2,426,925 | $2,295,176 | $1,615,730 |
| 2023 | $26,774,241 | $3,477,695 | $3,189,460 | $2,732,500 | 21 | $2,860,750 | $3,133,696 | $1,596,622 |
| 2022 | $25,463,353 | $11,231,463 | $3,937,114 | $3,676,000 | 20 | $3,752,750 | $4,469,382 | $1,359,495 |
| 2021 | $23,034,473 | $18,262,295 | $2,547,249 | $2,045,164 | 1 | — | $9,286,631 | $854,146 |
| 2020 | $14,773,278 | $5,784,634 | $3,159,896 | $2,763,518 | 1 | — | $2,121,470 | $772,928 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hermine and David Heller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general operating support and support for events and a gala. Grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Third Way Institute says it advances centrist solutions to economic, national security, energy, and social policy issues; Friends of the High Line says it builds and maintains a public space on the High Line; and Morry’s Camp says it provides camp and year-round services for children of all means, needs, and backgrounds. Other grantees describe work in public broadcasting, education, and dance.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $2,265,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $735,000, with a median of $50,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $735,000 to New Museum of Contemporary Art for general operating support; $250,000 each to Friends of the High Line for High Line annual events and general operating support, Harvard College for general operating support, and Third Way Institute for general operating support; and $205,000 to Morry’s Camp for a 2023 benefit and general operating support. Other reported grants included $100,000 each to Connecticut Public Broadcasting and Poly Prep Country Day School, and $65,000 to Paul Taylor Dance Foundation for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David B. Heller, Robert M. Heller, and Hermine Riegerl Heller as trustees.
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David B. Heller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hermine Riegerl Heller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert M. Heller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Hermine and David Heller Foundation
How much does The Hermine and David Heller Foundation give each year?
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation gave $2.3M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.7M across 21 grants.
What is The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $113,250, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Hermine and David Heller Foundation give grants?
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation gives mostly in New York: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (11%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (9 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does The Hermine and David Heller Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 95% of The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include New Museum of Contemporary Art ($785,000 across 2 grants), Friends of the High Line Inc ($250,000) and Harvard College ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Hermine and David Heller Foundation?
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation reported $26.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Hermine and David Heller Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general operating support and support for events and a gala. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hermine and David Heller Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's EIN?
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3936476. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Hermine and David Heller 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Hermine and David Heller Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hermine and David Heller Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hermine-and-david-heller-foundation-morg_4e5e74c2d4cb43e1b136449f759348c1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133936476_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hermine and David Heller Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hermine-and-david-heller-foundation-morg_4e5e74c2d4cb43e1b136449f759348c1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Hermine and David Heller 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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