The John S Hilson Family Fund
The John S Hilson Family Fund is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 1964. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with no employees and focuses on general purpose grantmaking to educational and charitable institutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.4M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$267K
-24.2% YoY
Grant Count
43
+4200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-98.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John S Hilson Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $360K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science and STEM Education
The foundation primarily supports institutions in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 28 grants in 2024, with total giving of $266,965. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,394,238
- Total Giving: $266,965
- Total Revenues: $30,819
- Total Expenses: $330,593
- Investment Income and Dividends: $155,263
Revenue Sources: The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends, with minimal contributions from external sources.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,394,238 | $4,704,935 | $4,914,515 |
| Revenue | $30,819 | $246,770 | $194,297 |
| Expenses | $330,593 | $458,143 | $408,077 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $291,340 | $398,380 | $353,300 |
| Net Investment Income | $119,613 | $187,267 | $142,648 |
| Distributable Amount | $360,272 | $329,927 | $381,289 |
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
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pratt Institute ($70,000), Manhattanville College ($30,000), Pratt Institute ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE PURCHASE, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| Boston University Boston, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $17,500 |
| Deerfield Academy Derfield, MA | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| One Story Brooklyn, NY | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Vermont College of Fine Arts Montpelier, VT | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| The Humane Society Washington, DC | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| NAACP Legal Defense & Education New York, NY | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Arlington, VA | General Puroose | $1,000 |
| Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Miami, FL | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| International Justice Washington, DC | General Purpsoe | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM HILSON | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| DWIGHT HILSON | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John S Hilson Family Fund fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science and STEM Education The foundation primarily supports institutions in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
How do I apply for a grant from The John S Hilson Family Fund?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 28 grants in 2024, with total giving of $266,965. Recent notable grants include: • Pratt Institute: $70,000 (General Purpose) • Manhattanville College: $30,000 (General Purpose) • St. Andrew's School: $25,000 (General Purpose) **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $100 to $70,000.
Where does The John S Hilson Family Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
What size grants does The John S Hilson Family Fund award?
In 2024, The John S Hilson Family Fund awarded 43 grants totaling $267K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John S Hilson Family Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John S Hilson Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $360K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John S Hilson Family Fund's EIN?
The John S Hilson Family Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6135887. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John S Hilson Family Fund'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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