The Hershey Foundation
The Hershey Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in Concord Township, Ohio. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity dedicated to providing children in Northeast Ohio with opportunities for personal growth and development. The Foundation supports schools, museums, cultural institutions, and other nonprofit organizations in developing and implementing innovative programs that benefit children across all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.5M
-10.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$563K
-47.2% YoY
Grant Count
24
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
-60.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hershey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $817K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to provide bridges of opportunity for children of Northeast Ohio. The organization is dedicated to empowering educators and community leaders to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in schools and neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio, envisioning a world where all young people learn and thrive in racially equitable, liberating, and empowering educational spaces.
The Foundation supports initiatives in the following areas:
- Creative educational programs for children
- Early childhood initiatives
- Nature, arts, cultural, and science experiences for children
Grantmaking
The Foundation is moving toward proactive grantmaking. Unsolicited proposals and inquiries are not accepted. Organizations may only apply for grants if they receive an invitation from the Foundation.
Grant Range
of $11,000 and an average grant size of $27,600.
Average Grant
of $27,600.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses exclusively on Northeast Ohio, with particular emphasis on the Cleveland area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $13,470,750
- Total Revenue: $707,129
- Total Expenses: $912,969
- Net Income: -$205,840
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $562,500
Grant Activity: The Foundation awarded approximately 30 grants in recent fiscal activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,470,750 | $15,040,382 | $16,416,653 |
| Revenue | $707,129 | $37,229 | $515,255 |
| Expenses | $912,969 | $1,413,500 | $1,130,151 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $787,138 | $1,065,000 | $827,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $586,569 | $49,637 | $241,829 |
| Distributable Amount | $817,296 | $892,433 | $873,065 |
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
109 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Hershey Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hershey Montessori School ($300,000), Montessori Development Partnerships ($50,000), Cleveland Zoological Society ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH SOCCER, LITERARY ARTS, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING | $3,500 |
| ART HOUSE INC CLEVELAND, OH | CREATIVE GARDEN | $2,000 |
| THE CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | STEM LEARNING EQUIPMENT FOR STUDENTS | $3,000 |
| CITY MISSION CLEVELAND, OH | PATHWAYS YOUTH PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| CITY MUSIC CLEVELAND CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | CLURIE BENNIS CHILDREN'S OUTREACH SERIES 2024 | $3,000 |
| CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS CLEVELAND, OH | ENDOWMENT FOR THE MAURA ODONNELL-MCCARTHY CENTER FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING | $20,000 |
| CLEVELAND FOUNDRY CLEVELAND, OH | ROW. SAIL. DREAM. PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC CLEVELAND, OH | ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC EDUCATION: MUSICAL PATHWAY FELLOWSHIP | $20,000 |
| CLEVELAND METROPARKS CLEVELAND, OH | LAKEFRONT FLOATING EDUCATION CENTER | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CLEVELAND, OH | NAMING OPPORTUNITY FOR MUSEUM PENDULUM | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation is managed by the children of founder Jo Hershey Selden:
- Debra Hershey Guren — President, Trustee
- Carole Hershey Walters — Secretary
- Loren W. Hershey — Trustee
- Adam M. Guren — Vice-President, Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBRA H GUREN | PRESIDENT | 15 | $125,000 |
| ZACHARY GUREN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1.5 | — |
| ADAM M GUREN | TREASURER | 4 | $54,000 |
| SARA B GUREN | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Hershey Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission is to provide bridges of opportunity for children of Northeast Ohio. The organization is dedicated to empowering educators and community leaders to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in schools and neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio, envisioning a world where all young people learn and thrive in racially equitable, liberating, and empowering educational spaces. The Foundation supports initiatives in the following areas: • Creative educational programs for children …
How do I apply for a grant from The Hershey Foundation?
**Application Process:** The Foundation is moving toward proactive grantmaking. Unsolicited proposals and inquiries are not accepted. Organizations may only apply for grants if they receive an invitation from the Foundation. **Eligible Recipients:** The Foundation only makes grants to organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals. **Funding Provided For:** • Equipment that directly impacts children • Ca…
Where does The Hershey Foundation make grants?
The Foundation focuses exclusively on Northeast Ohio, with particular emphasis on the Cleveland area.
What size grants does The Hershey Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hershey Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $563K — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hershey Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hershey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $817K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hershey Foundation's EIN?
The Hershey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1525626. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hershey 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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