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WHH Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.2M

WHH Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,146,785 (2023)
  • Total Assets: ~$163 million
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $225,000 (typical higher education grants: $5,000-$50,000)
  • Number of Grants: 108 awards (2023)
  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California and states where board members reside (Oregon, Colorado, Illinois)
  • Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 1060 Avondale Rd, San Marino, CA 91108

Alternative Contact: 333 S. Hope St., 54th Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: (213) 486-9500

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding.

Overview

The WHH Foundation was established in 1961 by William (Bill) Holman Hurt (1927-2021) as William H. Hurt Charities, Inc. The foundation, with assets of approximately $163 million, distributed $4.1 million in grants in 2023 across 108 awards. Bill Hurt was a longtime Capital Group Companies executive, graduate of USC and Harvard Business School, and neighbor of Caltech. The foundation reflects his philosophy of "investing in people" and "human capital," with a particular emphasis on education and health as necessary components to building human capital effectively over extended periods. The foundation's most significant philanthropic legacy is a $75 million gift to Caltech that established the William H. Hurt Scholars Program, supporting early-career faculty across all academic disciplines. Children's Hospital of Los Angeles has been described as the foundation's "longest and biggest beneficiary," where Hurt served as a director for more than 25 years and as an honorary director until his passing in 2021.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation supports four primary areas:

Education: Universities receive particular emphasis, especially those on the West Coast. Recent beneficiaries include USC, Caltech, and Oregon State University. Higher education grants typically fall in the $5,000 to $50,000 range.

Science & Medical Research: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles is the foundation's longest and biggest beneficiary. Other grantees include California Pacific Medical Center, AIDS Research Alliance, UCSF Foundation, and OHSU Foundation (Oregon Health & Science University).

Arts & Culture: Museums and cultural organizations across Los Angeles and beyond, including The Huntington Library, Natural History Museum Foundation, and Norton Simon Museum. The foundation commissioned Kehinde Wiley's "A Portrait of a Young Gentleman," which debuted at The Huntington in 2021.

Humanitarian Efforts & Community Building: Human services, family services, child welfare, libraries, and public libraries. Examples include Foothill Family Service (Pasadena) and CASA of Central Oregon.

What They Fund

  • Higher education institutions and early-career faculty support
  • Medical research and children's health organizations
  • Arts institutions, museums, and cultural programs
  • Libraries and information access
  • Family and child welfare services
  • Community building initiatives
  • Organizations enhancing "human capital" through education, health, and the arts

What They Don't Fund

While explicit exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation demonstrates clear preferences:

  • Focus on established institutions rather than grassroots organizations
  • Strong geographic preference for California and states where board members reside
  • Preselected charitable organizations only

Governance and Leadership

President: Bernadette Glenn - A native of Dublin, Ireland, she holds a BA in History and English and Higher Diploma in Education from University College Dublin, plus an M.Phil in Gender and Women's Studies from Trinity College Dublin. She serves on the Board of Overseers of The Huntington Library, is a member of the Executive Committee of Caltech's Board of Associates, and serves as Co-Chair of Social Venture Partners – Los Angeles. Glenn has stated that the $75 million Caltech gift was designed to "help create a new class of scholars who were educated beyond their fields" and address major societal challenges.

Chair: Mark L. Purnell (son-in-law of founder Bill Hurt) - Serves without compensation. He chairs the WHH Foundation board and is also involved with The Huntington. According to Purnell, "Bill used to talk about his philanthropy as investing in people, what he referred to as 'human capital,' and got the most joy in seeing people with high potential go out into the world and make a difference."

Treasurer: Kelley A. Purnell (daughter of Bill Hurt) - Serves without compensation. She has stated that her father "was always looking to the future, investing, not for the short term, but for something down the road."

Vice Chair: Kristen S. Purnell - Serves without compensation.

Director, Operations & Programs: Xenia Emmanuel

The foundation is governed by family members who maintain a multi-generational commitment to philanthropy, with the Purnell family continuing the legacy established by William H. Hurt.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The WHH Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or grant applications.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the foundation's relationships with established institutions and organizations in states where board members reside (primarily California, Oregon, Colorado, and Illinois).

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's president, Bernadette Glenn, is actively involved in the philanthropic community through her roles on the Board of Overseers of The Huntington Library, Executive Committee of Caltech's Board of Associates, and as Co-Chair of Social Venture Partners – Los Angeles. Board chair Mark Purnell and other family members are similarly engaged with The Huntington and other California cultural institutions.

The foundation demonstrates a pattern of supporting:

  • Institutions where board members serve in leadership roles (The Huntington, Caltech)
  • Established organizations in communities where family members reside
  • Long-term relationships (such as the multi-decade relationship with Children's Hospital of Los Angeles)

Organizations seeking funding from this foundation would need to establish relationships through these existing networks and demonstrated alignment with the foundation's "investing in human capital" philosophy, rather than through a formal application process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of trustees based on preexisting relationships.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors characterize their grant-making approach based on documented patterns:

"Investing in Human Capital": This phrase, repeatedly emphasized by founder Bill Hurt and current leadership, is central to understanding the foundation's approach. According to President Bernadette Glenn, the Caltech gift was designed to "help create a new class of scholars who were educated beyond their fields." Successful grantees demonstrate how their work builds human capital through education, health, arts, and community development.

Long-term Relationships: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles exemplifies the foundation's preference for sustained partnerships over decades. Kelley Purnell noted her father "was always looking to the future, investing, not for the short term, but for something down the road."

Institutional Excellence: The foundation gravitates toward established, high-quality institutions rather than emerging organizations. Recent recipients include USC, Caltech, UCSF, OHSU, The Huntington Library, and Norton Simon Museum.

Geographic Connections: Strong preference for California-based organizations and institutions in states where board members reside. The foundation makes grants in areas where family members have personal connections and can observe impact.

Unrestricted Support for Emerging Leaders: The Caltech William H. Hurt Scholars Program provides unrestricted funding to early-career faculty, emphasizing "intellectual freedom alongside financial support" and facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration. This reflects the founder's belief in supporting "people with high potential go out into the world and make a difference."

Multi-generational Engagement: The Purnell family demonstrates an "evolving, engaged form of philanthropy" beyond single transactional donations, aspiring to be involved "both as a patron and as a behind the scenes collaborator."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications - do not submit proposals unless specifically invited
  • Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: All funding flows through preexisting relationships and board member connections
  • Human Capital Philosophy: Frame any potential relationship around how your organization builds human capital through education, health, arts, or community development
  • Established Institution Preference: The foundation favors well-established organizations with proven track records over grassroots or emerging nonprofits
  • California Focus: Geographic proximity matters - the foundation has deep ties to Southern California institutions and communities where board members reside
  • Long-term Vision: Successful partnerships span decades, not single grants - think sustained impact rather than transactional funding
  • Board Leadership Connections: Bernadette Glenn, Mark Purnell, and family members are deeply engaged in California philanthropic circles through The Huntington, Caltech, Social Venture Partners LA, and similar networks

References

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