The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the United States, based in Menlo Park, California. Established in 1966 by engineer and entrepreneur Bill Hewlett and his wife Flora, the foundation is a nonpartisan, private charitable foundation classified as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is wholly independent of Hewlett-Packard Company, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and the HPE Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.2B
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$625.0M
+5.9% YoY
Grant Count
2,001
+5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$312K
+0.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $680.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Hewlett Foundation invests in creative thinkers and problem solvers working to ensure everyone has a meaningful opportunity to thrive. The foundation addresses major societal challenges including climate change, persistent inequities, and threats to democracy by harnessing society's collective capacity to solve problems.
The foundation's primary program areas include:
- Education — Providing students with rigorous, relevant, and innovative educational opportunities to foster mobility and help them contribute to their communities and country
- Environment — Addressing climate change globally and conserving the U.S. West to ensure people, communities, and the planet flourish
- Performing Arts — Supporting meaningful artistic experiences for communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
- Gender Equity and Governance — Promoting gender equity and responsive governance
- Global Development
- Philanthropy
- Population
The foundation also makes grants to support disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants across multiple program areas, many of which it has supported for decades, as well as limited-time initiatives focused on specific problems.
Grant Range
$50 to $11,805,000
Average Grant
amount varies by program area
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes grants nationally and internationally, with particular focus on:
- California (especially the San Francisco Bay Area for regional grantmaking)
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Global development initiatives
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $14,202,751,280
- Total Revenue: $785,000,000
- Total Expenses: $755,000,000
- Total Liabilities: $361,000,000
- Number of Employees: 134
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,202,751,280 | $13,332,174,215 | $12,779,109,242 |
| Revenue | $784,700,540 | $602,064,005 | $652,108,628 |
| Expenses | $754,606,113 | $699,937,452 | $655,021,446 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $690,042,975 | $648,774,278 | $613,260,139 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,032,277,156 | $876,765,933 | $456,365,865 |
| Distributable Amount | $680,182,376 | $635,906,688 | $653,535,635 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Actionaid Usa ($1,080,000), African Women's Development Fund ($1,000,000), African Population and Health Research Center Inc ($875,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 19TH NEWS AUSTIN, TX | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| 4 LEARNING LOS ANGELES, CA | FOR SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL REMIX PROGRAM | $255,000 |
| 4 LEARNING LOS ANGELES, CA | FOR INTERNAL ORGANIZATION PLANNING | $50,000 |
| AARHUS UNIVERSITY | FOR THE CENTER FOR CRITICAL GLOBAL POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE PROJECT | $66,668 |
| ABHINAYA DANCE COMPANY OF SAN JOSE INC SAN JOSE, CA | FOR LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION PLANNING | $40,000 |
| ABHINAYA DANCE COMPANY OF SAN JOSE INC SAN JOSE, CA | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ABORTION ACTION MISSOURI FOUNDATION SAINT LOUIS, MO | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| ABORTION ACTION MISSOURI FOUNDATION SAINT LOUIS, MO | FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WELLNESS | $60,000 |
| ABORTION CARE NETWORK WASHINGTON, DC | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ABORTION CARE NETWORK WASHINGTON, DC | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mariano-Florentino Cuellar — Leadership position (as of 2023)
- Elizabeth Peters — Vice President and Chief Operating Officer / General Counsel
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUELLAR | CHAIRMAN | 3 | — |
| MELODY BARNES | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ALECIA DECOUDREAUX | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PERSIS DRELL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ERIC GIMON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| BILLY HEWLETT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID HEWLETT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARY ELLEN ISKENDERIAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SARAH JAFFE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SUSAN MEANEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LARRY KRAMER | PRESIDENT (THRU 01/24) | 40 | $226,435 |
| AMBER MILLER | PRESIDENT (AS OF 09/24) | 40 | $845,372 |
| ELIZABETH PETERS | VP & COO (AS OF 09/24) | 40 | $966,891 |
| SURESH BHAT | CFO & TREASURER (THRU 10/24) | 40 | $767,029 |
| DWIGHT KODA | CFO & TREASURER (AS OF 10/24) | 40 | $357,059 |
| KRISTY TSADICK | GC & CO SEC (AS OF 09/24) | 40 | $584,449 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several recent initiatives:
A $10 million grant program to support the security of emerging technologies
Hewlett Foundation Announces $10 Million in Grants to Support the Security$2.5 million grant to Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security for research on AI-driven information warfare
Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security Awarded $2.5 ...$2.5 million grant to The Hoover Institution's Technology Policy Accelerator for research on strategic technological surprise
Hewlett Foundation Announces $10 Million in Grants to Support the Security$1.5 million in grants distributed to 10 nonprofits
Hewlett Foundation Announces $10 Million in Grants to Support the SecurityThe Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions program supporting creation of exceptional art
Announcing the Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions: New grants to support creationThe foundation continues to emphasize constructive dialogue across difference and provides reliable, responsive, and strategic support to its partners to build an inclusive society where all people, communities, and the planet flourish.
Hewlett Foundation Announces $10 Million in Grants to Support the SecuritySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation fund?
The Hewlett Foundation invests in creative thinkers and problem solvers working to ensure everyone has a meaningful opportunity to thrive. The foundation addresses major societal challenges including climate change, persistent inequities, and threats to democracy by harnessing society's collective capacity to solve problems. The foundation's primary program areas include: • **Education** — Providing students with rigorous, relevant, and innovative educational opportunities to foster mobility an…
How do I apply for a grant from The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation?
The foundation makes grants across multiple program areas, many of which it has supported for decades, as well as limited-time initiatives focused on specific problems. **Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $624,609,380 • Total grants made: 696+ grants • Grant range: $50 to $11,805,000 • Average grant amount varies by program area **Recent Notable Grants:** • Amalgamated Charitable Foundation: $10,000,000 (for the Global Fund for A New Economy) • ClimateWorks Foundation: $10,000,000 (Gener…
Where does The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation make grants?
The foundation makes grants nationally and internationally, with particular focus on: • California (especially the San Francisco Bay Area for regional grantmaking) • District of Columbia • New York • Global development initiatives
What size grants does The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation award?
In 2024, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation awarded 2,001 grants totaling $625.0M — an average of about $312K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $680.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation's EIN?
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1655673. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William & Flora Hewlett 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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