The Hershey Family Foundation
The Hershey Family Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports educational and community-based initiatives. The foundation has connections to the Hershey legacy and operates with a focus on strengthening institutions and communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.8M
-9.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.6M
+1.1% YoY
Grant Count
43
-4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$154K
+5.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hershey Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports educational institutions and community organizations. Primary funding areas include:
- Education and academic institutions
- Community centers and social services
- Cultural institutions
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated grant activity in recent years:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has funded organizations across multiple regions, including Ohio and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,833,639 | $45,252,440 | $48,133,774 |
| Revenue | $2,905,187 | $2,835,956 | $2,344,041 |
| Expenses | $6,719,162 | $6,646,156 | $6,920,145 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,644,135 | $6,571,330 | $6,826,161 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,810,546 | $2,786,130 | $2,274,865 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,097,919 | $3,939,764 | $4,111,317 |
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
209 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Whole School Mindfulness ($750,000), Pres & Fellows Harvard University ($500,000), Mind and Life Institute ($451,900).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALTRUISM IN MEDICAL INSTITUTE PITTSBURGH, PA | TO INCREASE COMPASSION AND RESILIENCE AMONG HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR PATIENTS. WE DELIVER LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS; WRITE CURRICULUM; PUBLISH BOOKS; AND COLLABORATE ON METRICS TO MEASURE OUTCOMES. OVER THE PAST YEARS OUR COMPASSION TRAININGS HAVE IMPACTED A GROWING NUMBER OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. | $80,000 |
| BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL BOSTON, MA | FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL WELLNESS FUND AT BRIGHAM AND WOMANS. BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL IS DEDICATED TO: SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY, PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY HEALTH CARE TO PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES OF MEDICINE THROUGH RESEARCH, | $250,000 |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY PROVIDENCE, RI | FUNDING TO BROWN UNIVERSITY FOR CONTEMPLATICE STUDIES INITIATIVE. | $90,000 |
| BUDDHIST DIGITAL RESOURCE CTR BOSTON, MA | USING STATE-OF-THE ART TECHNOLOGY, THE BUDDHIST DIGITAL RESOURCE CENTER IS THE LEADER IN THE FIELD OF DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF BUDDHIST TEXTS, WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS FOR THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY. THE BUDDHIST DIGITAL RESOURCE CENTER IS THE LARGEST ONLINE ARCHIVE OF TIBETAN AND BUDDHIST TEXTS IN THE WORLD, AND PROVIDES OPEN ACCESS TO THIS INCREDIBLE BODY OF LITERATURE VIA AN ONLINE LIBRARY, A MOBILE APP, AND HARD DRIVE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS. | $100,000 |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE MONTGOMERY, AL | EJI IS COMMITTED TO ENDING MASS INCARCERATION AND EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, TO CHALLENGING RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE, AND TO PROTECTING BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. | $100,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | FUNDING FOR AMERICA'S HUNGRY THROUGH A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS IN THE FIGHT TO END HUNGER. | $100,000 |
| FINCA WASHINGTON, DC | FUNDING HELPS PROVIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES TO THE WORLD'S LOWEST-INCOME ENTREPRENEURS. | $100,000 |
| FUNDERBURG SCHOLARS CONCORD, MA | FUNDERBURG SCHOLARS IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS INNER CITY YOUTH ATTEND COLLEGE. 86% OF OUR FUNDS WERE USED FOR TUITION AND 13% FOR TEXTBOOKS. THE STUDENTS ARE THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST URBAN MINISTRY'S AFTER SCHOOL ROXBURY YOUTH PROGRAM. | $75,000 |
| GLOBAL ARTS PROJECT FOR PEACE TUCSON, AZ | FUNDING FOR THE PROMOTION OF WORLD PEACE THROUGH USE OF THE ARTS. | $35,000 |
| GRADUATE SCHOOL FUND (HARVARD) CAMBRIDGE, MA | FUNDING TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS. | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARRY J HERSHEY | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| CONNIE HERSHEY DECEASED ON 51324 | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025**: Awarded $20,000 to Hershey Montessori School to support the Huntsburg Campus
Hershey Montessori School nets $20,000 award for Huntsburg Campus**2024**: Provided funding support documented in the San Diego LGBT Community Center's annual report
[PDF] ANNUAL - The San Diego LGBT Community CenterFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Hershey Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports educational institutions and community organizations. Primary funding areas include: • Education and academic institutions • Community centers and social services • Cultural institutions
How do I apply for a grant from The Hershey Family Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated grant activity in recent years: • Awarded $20,000 to Hershey Montessori School for its Huntsburg Campus (2025) • Provided support to the San Diego LGBT Community Center (documented in their FY2024 Annual Report)
Where does The Hershey Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation has funded organizations across multiple regions, including Ohio and California.
What size grants does The Hershey Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hershey Family Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $6.6M — an average of about $154K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hershey Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hershey Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hershey Family Foundation's EIN?
The Hershey Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1574366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hershey Family 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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