Hearst Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $68,075,000 (2023)
Success Rate: 30% overall (5% for new applicants)
Decision Time: 6 months average
Grant Range: $100,000 - $10,000,000+
Geographic Focus: United States (National)

Contact Details

Email:

East of the Mississippi River: support.ny@hearstfdn.org
West of the Mississippi River: support.sf@hearstfdn.org

Address: 300 W 57th St Fl 26, New York, NY 10019

Overview

The Hearst Foundation Inc (EIN 13-6161746) was founded in 1946 by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst and operates jointly with The William Randolph Hearst Foundation (founded 1949). Together, the Hearst Foundations represent major national philanthropic resources with combined assets of $1.3 billion. Since inception, they have awarded over $1.5 billion across more than 22,730 grants to 6,400 organizations. In 2023, the foundations made 283 grants totaling $68.075 million. The foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits working in culture, education, health, and social services to ensure people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive, and inspiring lives. Their strategic approach emphasizes best-in-class organizations demonstrating measurable impact through rigorous evaluation processes including consensus-building team reviews, financial due diligence, and mandatory site visits.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking (Rolling applications)

Grant Range: $100,000 minimum; typical grants $75,000-$150,000
Application Method: Online portal, year-round rolling basis (no deadlines)
Notable Awards: Recent grants range from $100,000 to $10 million (NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital received $10 million for cancer care building)

Endowment Grants (By invitation/limited)

Available only to organizations with existing Hearst Foundation endowments
Requires track record of strong performance and consistent stewardship

Priority Areas

Culture

Arts and science programs focusing on youth engagement
Theaters, symphonies, performing arts centers, operas
Museums (art, science, history)
Ballets, dance companies, and arts schools
Examples: Brooklyn Museum, Studio Museum in Harlem, Bay Area Discovery Museum

Education

Higher education institutions (primary focus)
Innovative models of early childhood and K-12 education
Professional development programs
Organizations demonstrating success in preparing students to thrive in global society
William Randolph Hearst Scholarships
Examples: Hunter College Foundation, California Polytechnic State University

Health

Medical research and healthcare delivery
Mental health programs
Improving health and quality of life initiatives
Examples: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Children's Health Fund, People Concern (mental health services)

Social Services

Creating sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults
Programs supporting growing families
Food security initiatives (local food banks)
Community development

What They Don't Fund

Festivals, tours, conferences, workshops, or seminars
Local chapters of national organizations (typically fund at national/headquarters level only)
Scholarship or fellowship recipients studying or residing outside the United States
Organizations requesting grants below $100,000 minimum
Generally do not fund endowments (except for organizations with existing Hearst endowments)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The Hearst Foundations are overseen by a Board of Directors that meets quarterly in March, June, September, and December.

Key Leadership

Frank A. Bennack Jr., Chairman of the Hearst Foundations, Executive Vice Chairman and former Hearst CEO (served on board for over 40 years)
William R. Hearst III, President of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and Director of The Hearst Foundation, Inc.; also Chairman of the Board of Hearst Corporation
George R. Hearst, Jr., President and Director of The Hearst Foundation, Inc.; Director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Steven R. Swartz, Hearst President and CEO, Director of the Hearst Foundations
Donna Kalajian Lagani, Vice President and Eastern Director

Leadership Quote

William R. Hearst III on the foundations' mission: "I know Donna will make a positive impact on people's lives — creating the kind of opportunities that my grandfather envisioned when he started the Foundations in 1946."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Review Eligibility: Thoroughly review Funding Limitations, Funding Areas (Culture, Education, Health, Social Service), and Grant Recipients Database to evaluate eligibility
Online Portal: All applications must be submitted via the Hearst Foundations Grants Portal at https://www.hearstfdn.org
Complete Application: Applications must be completed in full with all required attachments or they will not be reviewed
Rolling Deadline: Year-round, rolling application process with no fixed deadlines
Three-Month Window: Once created, applications can be edited for three months before being removed from the system

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in the United States

Decision Timeline

Initial Review: 4-6 weeks before applicants are notified of decline or next steps
Site Visit: All organizations moving forward will receive a site visit by a program officer before board consideration
Board Meetings: Quarterly in March, June, September, and December
Total Timeline: Average of 6 months from proposal submission to grant award

Success Rates

Overall Applications: 1,000+ grant requests received annually
Overall Success Rate: Approximately 30% (about 300 grants awarded)
Prior Grantees: 80% of funded grants go to prior grantees
New Applicants: 20% of funded grants go to new grantees (approximately 5% success rate for first-time applicants)

This highly competitive environment means new applicants face significant challenges, though those that advance to site visit stage have demonstrated strong alignment with foundation priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful Applicants: Must wait minimum of 1 year from date of declination before reapplying
Successful Grantees: Must wait minimum of 3 years from grant award date before the Foundations will consider another request

Application Success Factors

What the Hearst Foundations Look For:

Best-in-Class Organizations: The foundations identify top-tier organizations through rigorous evaluation including "consensus-building team review of each applicant, financial due diligence and site visits"
Demonstrated Impact: Focus on organizations showing measurable outcomes in their core priority areas:
- Creating sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults
- Improving health and quality of life
- Increasing academic achievement through access to high-quality educational options
Financial Strength: Program staff conduct independent financial analysis of each grant request, assessing organizational sustainability and fiscal responsibility
Consensus Through Team Review: The program staff independently assess each grant request and then discuss proposals in team meetings to achieve consensus on progression, which includes proposal review, financial analysis, and impact evaluation
Strong Site Visit Performance: All requests brought to the Board of Directors will have had a site visit—this is viewed as "an integral part of the due diligence process"
Research Comparable Grants: The foundations explicitly direct organizations to "refer to the Grant Recipients Database to see the types and amounts of grants awarded in the recent past to comparable organizations"

Red Flags to Avoid:

Incomplete applications or missing required attachments
Requests below the $100,000 minimum
Programs that fall under funding exclusions (festivals, tours, conferences, workshops, seminars)
Applications from local chapters when national organizations should apply
Requests that don't align with demonstrated funding priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Substantial Minimum Required: The $100,000 minimum grant size means this funder is only suitable for organizations with significant capacity and programmatic scope
Prior Relationships Matter Enormously: With 80% of funding going to repeat grantees, new applicants face a 5% success rate versus 30% overall—building a long-term relationship through an initial successful grant is critical
Research Past Grantees Thoroughly: The foundations explicitly recommend reviewing their Grant Recipients Database to understand what comparable organizations have received—use this guidance
Site Visits Are Make-or-Break: Every grant that reaches the board has had a site visit, making organizational readiness to showcase programs in person essential
Plan for Six-Month Timeline: The average six-month decision process requires planning grant requests well in advance of when funding is needed
Three-Year Gap Between Grants: Successfully funded organizations must wait three years before reapplying, so timing requests strategically is essential—ensure you're asking for the right amount for the right program
Consensus-Driven Process: Multiple staff members review and discuss each proposal in team meetings, meaning applications must be compelling to diverse evaluators, not just one program officer

References

All sources accessed December 2024.