The Hsieh Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Pasadena, California. Established in January 2006, it operates as a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization dedicated to grantmaking across multiple sectors including education, arts and culture, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.7M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-8.5% YoY
Grant Count
10
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$161K
+9.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hsieh Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $407K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education: Higher education, educational initiatives, and academic institutions
- Arts and Culture: Museums, art museums, and cultural organizations
- Human Services: Community-focused programs and initiatives
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking: Support for philanthropic endeavors
- Health and Science Research: Including nanomedicine and cancer therapy research
Grantmaking
The foundation appears open to new applicants and accepts grant proposals.
Grant Range
$910–$1,170,000
Average Grant
$910–$1,170,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and locations, including:
- Primary states: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, and New York
- Specific cities: Armonk, Duarte, La Jolla, Los Angeles, New York, Pasadena, San Marino, Tampa, Washington, West Haven, and Yorba Linda
- International: Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,564,913
- Total Revenue: $364,618
- Total Expenses: $504,937
- Total Liabilities: $17,900,000
As of December 2021:
- Total Assets: $11,437,584
The foundation's financial position reflects significant assets dedicated to its grantmaking mission, with annual expenses exceeding revenues in recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,665,476 | $7,564,913 | $9,110,660 |
| Revenue | $1,432,330 | $364,618 | $741,220 |
| Expenses | $1,689,627 | $504,937 | $7,634,284 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,613,065 | $1,790,749 | $3,340,640 |
| Net Investment Income | $347,237 | $297,615 | $229,689 |
| Distributable Amount | $407,036 | $422,754 | $551,005 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Hope ($600,000), The J Paul Getty Trust ($509,703), Asian American Scholar Forum Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASIAN AMERICAN SCHOLAR FORUM INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CAF AMERICA ALEXANDRIA, VA | TO SUPPORT CHINA ART FOUNDATION | $100,000 |
| CALTECH PASADENA, CA | CREATE THE TYPE OF RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS IMAGINATIVE INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY | $4,000 |
| CHINA INSTITUTE IN AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT CHINA INSTITUTE IN AMERICA'S EVENT | $3,000 |
| CITY OF HOPE DUARTE, CA | TO SUPPORT CANCER AND DIABETES TREATMENT AND RESEARCH | $600,000 |
| HUNTINGTON LIBRARY SAN MARINO, CA | TO SUPPORT LIU FANG YUAN | $100,000 |
| INSTITUTE 2100 INC MILWAUKEE, WI | FOR NIXON FOUNDATION PROJECT | $100,000 |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL PASADENA, CA | TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $83,686 |
| THE J PAUL GETTY TRUST LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR THE J. PAUL GETTY TRUST'S PST ART | $509,703 |
| THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT HISTORIC PLACES AND SPACES - FOREVER, FOR EVERYONE | $12,576 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ming Hsieh: Director and Chairman
- Fang Zhi Liu Hsieh: Director, Secretary, and Chief Financial Officer
Both leaders serve without compensation. Ming Hsieh founded Cogent Inc., a Pasadena-based company that revolutionized automated fingerprint identification. He earned a BSEE in 1983 and an MSEE in 1984 from USC and serves as a trustee of the university. He was previously listed on the Forbes billionaire list and has given away at least $100 million since the foundation's establishment in 2006.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MING HSIEH | DIRECTOR - CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| FANG ZHI LIU HSIEH | DIRECTOR - SECRETARY/CFO | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Hsieh Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Higher education, educational initiatives, and academic institutions • **Arts and Culture**: Museums, art museums, and cultural organizations • **Human Services**: Community-focused programs and initiatives • **Philanthropy and Grantmaking**: Support for philanthropic endeavors • **Health and Science Research**: Including nanomedicine and cancer therapy research
How do I apply for a grant from The Hsieh Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 21 grants in 2023 • Total giving of $1,612,965 (based on 2024 filing data) • Average grant size: $910–$1,170,000 • Median grant size: $100,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • University of New Haven: $140,000 (to support Henry C. Lee Institute) • Huntington Library Art Museum and Botanical Gardens: $100,000 (to support Liu Fang Yuan) • National Academy of Engineering Fund: $100,000 (to support NAE's Programs) **Notable Historical Support:** • $35 million to USC electrical…
Where does The Hsieh Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and locations, including: • **Primary states**: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, and New York • **Specific cities**: Armonk, Duarte, La Jolla, Los Angeles, New York, Pasadena, San Marino, Tampa, Washington, West Haven, and Yorba Linda • **International**: Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
What size grants does The Hsieh Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hsieh Family Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $161K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hsieh Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hsieh Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $407K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hsieh Family Foundation's EIN?
The Hsieh Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2790125. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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