The Hilgos Foundation
The Hilgos Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Its website describes work supporting artistic creation with people who have memory problems or Alzheimer’s, including student-funded projects that engage people with memory impairment.
The Hilgos Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hilgos Foundation gave $13K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $895.214), top state District of Columbia. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,533
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -17.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $895
- +17.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $230
- Total assets
- $63,841
- -1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (3 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Hilgos Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 115 E 85Th St 28E, New York, NY 10028
Phone: (847) 432-5476
Website: https://www.hilgos.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hilgos Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alzheimers Association ($5K). Together the top 10 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 74 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were Washington, DC (41%), Illinois (36%), Massachusetts (9%), Pennsylvania (8%), and New York (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Hilgos Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 14 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $84; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $259 repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 349% 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 $2K (2020) to $15K (2021). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $13K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimers Association Washington, DC | General charitable contribution | $4,500 |
| School of the Art Institute Chicago, IL | General charitable contribution | $4,000 |
| Arts & Minds Marlborough, MA | General charitable contribution | $1,180 |
| Tradeoffs Philadelphia, PA | General charitable contribution | $1,032 |
| Metropolitan Museum New York, NY | General charitable contribution | $420 |
| Les Turner ALS Skokie, IL | General charitable contribution | $259 |
| Phillip's Collection Washington, DC | General charitable contribution | $250 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General charitable contribution | $210 |
| Us Against Alzheimers Washington, DC | General charitable contribution | $204 |
| Filmakers Institute Orlando, FL | General charitable contribution | $150 |
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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 | $63,841 | $15,270 | $16,181 | $12,533 | 14 | $12,533 | $4,881 | $3,586 |
| 2024 | $64,752 | $13,095 | $17,876 | $12,971 | 17 | $12,971 | $2,945 | $3,820 |
| 2023 | $69,533 | $14,133 | $14,140 | $9,745 | 10 | $10,035 | $7,325 | $3,575 |
| 2022 | $69,540 | $12,167 | $16,391 | $11,754 | 16 | $12,024 | $3,099 | $3,957 |
| 2021 | $73,764 | $17,002 | $19,957 | $14,876 | 17 | $17,125 | $7,975 | $4,417 |
| 2020 | $76,719 | $22,008 | $9,412 | $2,462 | 8 | — | $6,888 | $3,894 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hilgos Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K 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 mission is “to support and encourage the ongoing process of artistic creation with people who have memory problems and/or Alzheimer's and who require assistance in creating art that is meaningful and enriching.” Its website describes the Hilgos Award as supporting students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago whose projects involve artistic creation with older adults or people with memory impairment.
Its 2025 grants included arts, health, and cultural organizations. For example, Tradeoffs describes its mission as helping America have smarter, more honest health-policy conversations; the Institute for Therapy through the Arts says it empowers individuals, families, and communities to grow and heal through creative arts therapy; and the Smithsonian Institution describes its mission as increasing and diffusing knowledge.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $12,533. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $4,500, with a median of $230. The largest reported grants included $4,500 to the Alzheimer’s Association, $4,000 to the School of the Art Institute, $1,180 to Arts & Minds, and $1,032 to Tradeoffs. Other reported recipients included the Metropolitan Museum ($420), Les Turner ALS ($259), the Phillips Collection ($250), the Art Institute of Chicago ($210), UsAgainstAlzheimer’s ($204), Filmakers Institute ($150), the Institute for Therapy through the Arts ($103), and the Matthew Ornstein Foundation ($100). The Smithsonian Institution received $75 in 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lee Berna Huebner as a trustee; Judy Holstein, Margot Levin Schiff, Martha Goldstein, and Lily Ling Goldstein as board members; and Elizabeth Hochman Schwartz as a board member and secretary.
The Hilgos Foundation's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Hochman Schwartz
Board Member & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Holstein
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Berna Huebner
Trustees
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margot Levin Schiff
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lily Ling Goldstein
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Goldstein
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Hilgos Foundation
How much does The Hilgos Foundation give each year?
The Hilgos Foundation gave $13K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13K across 17 grants.
What is The Hilgos Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hilgos Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $230, and its average grant was $895, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Hilgos Foundation that year got $84 on average.
Where does The Hilgos Foundation give grants?
The Hilgos Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (36%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does The Hilgos Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Hilgos Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Hilgos Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hilgos Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Alzheimers Association ($4,500), School of the Art Institute ($4,000) and Arts & Minds ($1,180), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hilgos Foundation?
The Hilgos Foundation reported $64K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Hilgos Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to support and encourage the ongoing process of artistic creation with people who have memory problems and/or Alzheimer's and who require assistance in creating art that is meaningful and enriching.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hilgos Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Hilgos Foundation's EIN?
The Hilgos Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4278587. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Hilgos 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Hilgos Foundation funds
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