The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40
The Richard C Von Hess Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 and granted tax-exempt status in 1991. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with a primary focus on supporting cultural and educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.2M
-4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+40.2% YoY
Grant Count
24
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$111K
+40.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was created to assist the work of Wright's Ferry Museum, a historic 18th-century house museum located in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Beyond this core mission, the foundation supports art education and other charitable purposes.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with demonstrated support for arts and cultural institutions. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains connections to Pennsylvania, particularly Columbia where Wright's Ferry Museum is located. Recent grants demonstrate support for institutions in Maryland and beyond, indicating a broader geographic reach than the foundation's home state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,182,770
- Total Revenues: $2,240,196
- Total Expenses: $3,064,521
- Staff: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,182,770 | $21,117,297 | $22,247,625 |
| Revenue | $2,240,196 | $1,614,007 | $2,066,929 |
| Expenses | $3,064,521 | $2,297,360 | $1,196,562 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,921,592 | $2,155,855 | $1,069,577 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,061,413 | $1,384,068 | $1,939,944 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,215,904 | $1,190,289 | $1,124,259 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Baltimore Museum of Art Inc ($500,000), The Royal Oak Foundation ($280,500), Woodmere Art Museum ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Demuth Foundation Lancaster, PA | FOUNDATION REINTERPRETATION | $76,400 |
| Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens Washington, DC | THE STORY OF SEA CLOUD | $50,000 |
| Historical Society of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | SUPPORT 200TH ANNIVERSARY | $75,000 |
| Peabody Essex Museum Salem, MA | SUPPORT THE SAINTS, | $100,000 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA | MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP & | $49,600 |
| The Baltimore Museum of Art Inc Baltimore, MD | JACOBS WING | $500,000 |
| Independence Seaport Museum Philadelphia, PA | COMMEMORATE THE NATION'S | $20,000 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA | PAFA'S HISTORIC LANDMARK | $125,000 |
| Westmoreland Museum of American Art Greensburg, PA | SUPPORT FOR 65 ARTISTS, 65 | $55,000 |
| Woodmere Art Museum Philadelphia, PA | SECURE NAMING RIGHTS | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Thomas Hills Cook serves as Trustee of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS HILLS COOK | MANAGING TRUSTEE | 40 | $96,000 |
| WARREN A REINTZEL ESQUIRE | TRUSTEE | 14 | $11,120 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 fund?
The foundation was created to assist the work of Wright's Ferry Museum, a historic 18th-century house museum located in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Beyond this core mission, the foundation supports art education and other charitable purposes.
How do I apply for a grant from The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with demonstrated support for arts and cultural institutions. Recent grants include: • Baltimore Museum of Art ($500,000) for the Jacobs Wing • The Royal Oak Foundation ($280,500) for restoration of an entryway • Woodmere Art Museum ($250,000) to secure naming rights The foundation made 23 grants totaling $2,584,630 in 2024, indicating consistent annual grantmaking activity. The foundation made one grant in the prior year, suggesting variable annual giving…
Where does The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 make grants?
The foundation maintains connections to Pennsylvania, particularly Columbia where Wright's Ferry Museum is located. Recent grants demonstrate support for institutions in Maryland and beyond, indicating a broader geographic reach than the foundation's home state.
What size grants does The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 award?
In 2024, The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 awarded 24 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $111K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40 reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40's EIN?
The Richard C Von Hess Foundation 0262-02-40's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6962077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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