William Randolph Hearst Foundation
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1948 by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Based in New York City, it operates as one of two Hearst Foundations (alongside The Hearst Foundation, Inc.) and is ranked among the nation's 100 largest foundations. The foundation identifies and funds outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$942.7M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$34.9M
-5.2% YoY
Grant Count
264
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$132K
-0.2% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Hearst Foundations serve as national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the following fields:
- Culture
- Education
- Health
- Social Services
The foundation is particularly committed to supporting well-established organizations that achieve differentiated results with evidence of impact.
Grantmaking
Provides scholarships for outstanding performance in college-level journalism. The program includes five monthly writing competitions, two photojournalism competitions, one audio competition, two television competitions, and four multimedia competitions with championship finals in all divisions.
Ready to take the next step with William Randolph Hearst Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national focus, funding organizations throughout the United States. Primary geographic areas of grantmaking include New York, California, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $943 million
- Total Revenue: $69.1 million
- Total Expenses: $44.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $23.3 million
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $863.5 million
- Total Revenue: $78.5 million
- Total Expenses: $61.8 million
Combined Hearst Foundations (2023):
- Annual Giving: $68.075 million across 283 grants
- Cumulative Impact: Over $1.5 billion awarded across more than 22,730 grants to 6,400 organizations since inception
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $942,659,590 | $863,516,672 | $755,108,483 |
| Revenue | $69,138,944 | $78,532,237 | $-22,498,294 |
| Expenses | $44,887,894 | $61,774,279 | $42,769,518 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $41,668,725 | $43,048,273 | $44,855,872 |
| Net Investment Income | $80,754,125 | $43,552,430 | $23,613,949 |
| Distributable Amount | $43,357,614 | $37,741,399 | $40,857,566 |
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 Alamo Trust Inc ($500,000), The Juilliard School ($500,000), Harvard University ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alamo Trust Inc San Antonio, TX | To support a capital campaign for the Vistors Ctr and 4D Theater Lobby | $500,000 |
| Asheville Art Museum Association Asheville, NC | To support conservation, digitization and education programming | $200,000 |
| Bronx Childrens Museum Bronx, NY | To support the Expanding Assess Initiative to encourage learning | $200,000 |
| Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society Inc Charlotte, NC | To support music education and outreach programs | $100,000 |
| Harmony Project Los Angeles, CA | To provide general operating support | $150,000 |
| Houston Grand Opera Houston, TX | To provide the expansion of the Community and Learning programs | $300,000 |
| Houston Symphony Society Houston, TX | To support Education and Community Engagement initiatives | $225,000 |
| Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Chicago, IL | To provide general operating support | $150,000 |
| Latino Theater Company Los Angeles, CA | To provide arts education and outreach programs for youth | $100,000 |
| Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts New York, NY | To provide support for the 10 arts organization within the Lincoln Center Campus | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William R Hearst III | President Director | — | — |
| Virginia H Randt | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Frank J Bennack Jr | Vice President Director | — | — |
| John G Conomikes | Vice President Director | — | — |
| David J Barrett | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Anissa B Balson | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Gilbert C MaurerDeceased 2025 | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Mark F Miller | Vice President Director | — | — |
| James M Asher | VP Secretary Director | — | — |
| Catherine A Bostron | Assistant Secretary | — | — |
| Eve B Burton | Assistant Secretary | — | — |
| Carlton J Charles | Assistant Treasurer | — | — |
| Lisa H Hagerman | Vice President Director | — | — |
| George R Hearst III | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Steven R Swartz | Vice President Director | — | — |
| Mitchell I Scherzer | Vice President Assist. Treas. | — | — |
| Roger P Paschke | Assistant Treasurer CIO | — | — |
| Karen Alsup | Deputy Inv. Officer | — | — |
| Mary Fisher | Treasurer Controller | 27 | $140,910 |
| Donna Kalajian Lagani | VP Eastern Dirrector | 27 | $318,523 |
Contact Information
Headquarters: 300 West 57th Street, Floor 26 New York, NY 10019
Regional Contacts:
- Organizations West of the Mississippi: support.sf@hearstfdn.org
- Organizations East of the Mississippi: support.ny@hearstfdn.org
Phone: 212-649-3748
Website: www.hearstfdn.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William Randolph Hearst Foundation fund?
The Hearst Foundations serve as national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the following fields: • **Culture** • **Education** • **Health** • **Social Services** The foundation is particularly committed to supporting well-established organizations that achieve differentiated results with evidence of impact.
How do I apply for a grant from William Randolph Hearst Foundation?
• **Typical Award Range:** $100,000–$2,500,000 • **Decision Timeline:** 4-6 weeks for initial review; approximately 6 months average from submission to award • **Success Rate:** Approximately 25-30% overall (approximately 20% for new applicants; approximately 80% for prior grantees) **Journalism Awards Program** Provides scholarships for outstanding performance in college-level journalism. The program includes five monthly writing competitions, two photojournalism competitions, one audio compet…
Where does William Randolph Hearst Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national focus, funding organizations throughout the United States. Primary geographic areas of grantmaking include New York, California, and North Carolina.
What size grants does William Randolph Hearst Foundation award?
In 2024, William Randolph Hearst Foundation awarded 264 grants totaling $34.9M — an average of about $132K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William Randolph Hearst Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William Randolph Hearst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $43.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in William Randolph Hearst Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with William Randolph Hearst Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching William Randolph Hearst Foundation to a real strategy.