The Hersh Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and located in North Texas. The foundation is committed to enriching and improving the quality of life for all people by supporting organizations with demonstrable results in efforts aligned with its mission and focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.5M
-3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$961K
+44.8% YoY
Grant Count
102
+59.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hersh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Hersh Foundation's mission is to support healthy communities in the United States, with a focus on North Texas.
The foundation believes that a healthy community requires:
- Quality cultural institutions accessible to all
- Quality support organizations assisting those in need
- Leaders and organizations who understand and cultivate democracy, valuing all people and points of view
- Accessible healthcare with an intentional focus on research and treatments for mental health
- Quality education beginning at birth and continuing throughout life
Primary Focus Areas:
Mental Health Research and Mental Illness Prevention Programs — Support for world-class institutions conducting research on mental health, mental illness, and well-being, as well as programs taking a proactive approach to mental health and wellness
Education and Leadership Programs — Programs working with students of all ages to become productive citizens and leaders
North Texas Cultural Organizations — Arts programs that foster creativity, conversation, collaboration, and inclusion
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public application process, operating instead through direct invitation and relationship-based grantmaking.
Grant Range
$50,000 to $5,000,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on Dallas and surrounding North Texas communities, with a primary emphasis on those in and around Dallas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $13.5 million (2024)
- Annual Giving: $1.25 million (2024)
- Cumulative Giving: Ken and Julie Hersh have given away more than $30 million to North Texas mental health initiatives, leadership development, education, and cultural institutions
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,524,701 | $13,952,196 | $7,886,913 |
| Revenue | $1,637,116 | $12,305,364 | $413,859 |
| Expenses | $1,650,490 | $1,156,818 | $17,771,812 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,253,082 | $714,659 | $2,021,216 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,631,168 | $6,477,792 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,087,530 | $676,925 | $967,790 |
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 Horatio Alger Association ($275,000), American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research ($50,000), Caf Momentumstand Together ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH WASHINGTON, DC | ANNUAL FUND SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE DALLAS, TX | ONGOING SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | ONGOING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ASSET FUNDERS NETWORK CHICAGO, IL | HBC HOME OWNERSHIP STUDY | $5,000 |
| AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER DALLAS, TX | BRAVO SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AUSTIN STREET CENTER DALLAS, TX | HUMBLE BEGINNINGS SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BACHMAN LAKE TOGETHER DALLAS, TX | ANNUAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BAYLOR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOUNDATION DALLAS, TX | ONGOING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BONTON FARM DALLAS, TX | ANNUAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CAF MOMENTUMSTAND TOGETHER DALLAS, TX | STAND TOGETHER/MOMENTUM ADVISORY COLLECTIVE | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kenneth A. Hersh — Founder & Chairman
Kenneth A. Hersh is chairman of his family investment office, HFI Capital Management, which invests across the economy with emphasis on industrial, energy, financial, real estate, and technology sectors. From 2016 to 2025, he served as President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a Dallas-based non-partisan institution. In 2024, Kenneth A. Hersh received the Horatio Alger Award for his lifetime achievements and philanthropy.
Julie Hersh — Co-Founder
Julie Hersh is a speaker and author of Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope, which chronicles her journey through depression and mental wellness. She serves as board chair of the Dallas Theater Center and is involved in volunteer work in the arts.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH A HERSH | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| VALERIE DILLARD | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| REGEN HORCHOW | PRESIDENT | 40 | $175,000 |
Contact Information
Address: Freedom Place at Old Parkland, 4143 Maple Avenue, Suite 350, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (972) 432-3868
Email: info@hershfoundation.org
Website: www.hershfoundation.org
EIN: 75-2720646
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Hersh Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Hersh Foundation's mission is to support healthy communities in the United States, with a focus on North Texas. The foundation believes that a healthy community requires: • Quality cultural institutions accessible to all • Quality support organizations assisting those in need • Leaders and organizations who understand and cultivate democracy, valuing all people and points of view • Accessible healthcare with an intentional focus on research and treatments for mental health • Qu…
How do I apply for a grant from The Hersh Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $50,000 to $5,000,000 • The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no formal grant programs or application cycles • Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project and organization **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public application process, operating instead through direct invitation and relationship-based grantmaking. **Recent Grantees:** The foundation has supported notable organizations including: • Kly…
Where does The Hersh Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses on Dallas and surrounding North Texas communities, with a primary emphasis on those in and around Dallas.
What size grants does The Hersh Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hersh Foundation awarded 102 grants totaling $961K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hersh Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hersh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hersh Foundation's EIN?
The Hersh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2720646. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hersh 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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