William Randolph Hearst Foundation
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, and one of two independent Hearst Foundations. The foundations share leadership, staff, and funding guidelines, and support nonprofit organizations in culture, education, health, and social services across the United States.
William Randolph Hearst Foundation at a glance
In short: William Randolph Hearst Foundation gave $34.9M across 264 grants in 2024 (avg $132K), top state New York. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $34,926,150
- -5.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 264
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $132,296
- -0.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $942,659,590
- +9.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (124 of 249, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to William Randolph Hearst Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted through the Hearst Foundations Grants Portal. The foundations provide application instructions and a sample application; incomplete applications or applications missing required attachments cannot be reviewed. The filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Application restrictions and other process details are provided by the foundations.
- Contact
Application contact: See The Fdn'S Website Hearstfdnorg
Mailing address: 300 W57Th St, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 649-3748
Website: https://hearstfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
15 open opportunities from William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Hearst Foundation: Culture Grant
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Amount
More than US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Hearst Foundation: Education Grant
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Amount
More than US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Hearst Foundation: Social Service Grant
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Amount
More than US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who William Randolph Hearst Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New York-Presbyterian Hospital ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $7.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 grants to individuals ($402,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,662 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 655 grants of 1,662 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Hearst Foundations describe their grantmaking as national, supporting organizations across the United States. In 2024, the largest shares of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s grant dollars went to recipients in New York (34%) and California (18%), followed by Florida (6%), Texas (6%), and Massachusetts (5%). Staff in New York review proposals from organizations east of the Mississippi River, while staff in an individual recipient review those from west of it.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 264 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is William Randolph Hearst Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 124 of 249 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $154K; repeat grants $126K. How we count
Medians: $125K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 27% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $34.1M (2021) to $69.7M (2020). In 2024 it made 264 grants totaling $34.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Presbyterian Hospital New York, NY | To support new Cancer Building with a capital investment | $2,000,000 |
| Norton Museum of Art West Palm Beach, FL | To support the expansion and renovation of facility | $1,000,000 |
| Alamo Trust Inc San Antonio, TX | To support a capital campaign for the Vistors Ctr and 4D Theater Lobby | $500,000 |
| The Juilliard School New York, NY | To provide scholarships in the performing arts | $500,000 |
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA | To support undergraduate financial aid through the Phobe Apperson Hearst Scholarship | $500,000 |
| Covenant House New York, NY | To support Anti-Human trafficking program | $500,000 |
| Inner City Scholarship ( Partnership Schools) New York, NY | To provide scholarships | $500,000 |
| Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles, CA | To support the Building LACMA capital campaign | $500,000 |
| Columbia University in the City of NY New York, NY | To establish the WRH Journalism scholarship | $500,000 |
| The Paley Center for Media New York, NY | To establish the Hearst HS Media Internship | $500,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $942,659,590 | $69,138,944 | $44,887,894 | $34,926,150 | 264 | $41,668,725 | $80,754,125 | $43,357,614 |
| 2023 | $863,516,672 | $78,532,237 | $61,774,279 | $36,856,583 | 278 | $43,048,273 | $43,552,430 | $37,741,399 |
| 2022 | $755,108,483 | $-22,498,294 | $42,769,518 | $39,942,056 | 337 | $44,855,872 | $23,613,949 | $40,857,566 |
| 2021 | $963,161,767 | $91,490,647 | $37,231,918 | $34,104,000 | 322 | $39,049,949 | $100,187,084 | $44,368,765 |
| 2020 | $878,575,745 | $92,096,829 | $84,117,074 | $69,730,750 | 461 | — | $31,128,500 | $39,064,149 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William Randolph Hearst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $43.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Hearst Foundations’ mission is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits so people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive, and satisfying lives. They support well-established organizations addressing significant issues in culture, education, health, and social services, particularly those serving large demographic or geographic constituencies. Their stated goals include improving health and quality of life, increasing access to high-quality education, promoting the arts and sciences, supporting family stability, and creating sustainable employment and career paths.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Norton Museum of Art describes its mission as bringing visitors the transformative power of art through its collections and programs. The Alamo Trust says it works to preserve and restore the Alamo complex and educate visitors about its history. Texas Children’s Hospital describes its mission as improving the health of children and women through patient care, education, and research.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 264 grants totaling $34,926,150. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,000,000, with a median of $100,000. Recent large awards included $2,000,000 to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for a new cancer building; $1,000,000 to the Norton Museum of Art for facility expansion and renovation; and $500,000 each to the Alamo Trust for a capital campaign, The Juilliard School for performing-arts scholarships, and Covenant House for an anti-human-trafficking program. Other 2024 awards included $500,000 to Harvard University for undergraduate financial aid, $500,000 to Columbia University to establish a journalism scholarship, and $500,000 to the Paley Center for Media to establish a high-school media internship.
The foundations report receiving more than 1,000 requests annually, with about 300 funded. On average, 80% of annual funding goes to past grantees and 20% to new partners. The initial review includes proposal review, financial analysis, and impact evaluation; applicants are generally notified of a decline or next steps within four to six weeks. Organizations moving forward receive a site visit before Board consideration. The Board meets quarterly, and the average time from submission to award is six months. Unsuccessful applicants must wait at least one year after declining before reapplying, and grant recipients must wait at least three years from their award date before another request will be considered. Grantees report progress and results until funds are expended; endowment recipients report annually in perpetuity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William R. Hearst III as president and director. Directors and officers listed include Virginia H. Randt, Frank J. Bennack Jr., John G. Conomikes, David J. Barrett, Anissa B. Balson, Gilbert C. Maurer, Mark F. Miller, and James M. Asher. Catherine A. Bostron is listed as assistant secretary.
William Randolph Hearst Foundation is led by William R Hearst III, President Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William R Hearst III
President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary Fisher
Treasurer Controller
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Treasurer Controller, 2024
On filings since 2020
27 hrs/week
$121K (2020) → $141K (2024)
Donna Kalajian Lagani
Vice President Eastern Dirrector
Vice President Executive Director → Vice President Eastern Dirrector, 2024
On filings since 2022
27 hrs/week
$63K (2022) → $319K (2024)
Anissa B Balson
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Carlton J Charles
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Catherine A Bostron
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David J Barrett
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Frank J Bennack Jr.
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
George R Hearst III
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James M Asher
Vice President Secretary Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lisa H Hagerman
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mark F Miller
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mitchell I Scherzer
Vice President Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Roger P Paschke
Assistant Treasurer CIO
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steven R Swartz
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Virginia H Randt
Vice President Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eve B Burton
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
John G Conomikes
Vice President Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Karen Alsup
Deputy Inv. Officer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Gilbert C MaurerDeceased
Vice President Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Gilbert C Maurer (2020–2023) — Vice President Director
- Former: Paul Dinovitz (2020–2022) — Vice President Executive Director
- Former: Eve B Bostron (2020) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: John G Conomkies (2020) — Vice President Director
- Former: Ralph Cuomo (2020) — Treasurer · Filing note: Deceased
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $319K, to Donna Kalajian Lagani (VP Eastern Dirrector). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about William Randolph Hearst Foundation
How much does William Randolph Hearst Foundation give each year?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation gave $34.9M across 264 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $36.9M across 278 grants.
What is William Randolph Hearst Foundation's typical grant size?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $132,296, across 264 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William Randolph Hearst Foundation that year got $154K on average.
Where does William Randolph Hearst Foundation give grants?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation's top state is New York, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (18%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (39 grants), Los Angeles, CA (9 grants), San Francisco, CA (8 grants) and Greenville, SC (7 grants).
Does William Randolph Hearst Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 9% of William Randolph Hearst Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 264) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "USSYP scholarship" (64 grants), "JAP scholarship" (23 grants) and "To provide Emergency Hurricane Helene Aid" (11 grants).
Who are William Randolph Hearst Foundation's largest grantees?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include New York-Presbyterian Hospital ($2,000,000), Norton Museum of Art ($1,000,000) and Harvard University ($647,500 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 6 grants to individuals ($402,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William Randolph Hearst Foundation?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation reported $942.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $43.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does William Randolph Hearst Foundation fund?
The Hearst Foundations’ mission is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits so people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive, and satisfying lives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William Randolph Hearst Foundation?
Applications are submitted through the Hearst Foundations Grants Portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William Randolph Hearst Foundation's EIN?
William Randolph Hearst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6019226. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work William Randolph Hearst Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William Randolph Hearst Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-randolph-hearst-foundation-morg_fcba34fef1494373a4406c892973e5ae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136019226_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William Randolph Hearst Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-randolph-hearst-foundation-morg_fcba34fef1494373a4406c892973e5ae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from William Randolph Hearst Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
William Randolph Hearst Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?