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San Simeon Fund

Annual Giving
$4.7M

San Simeon Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,720,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (varies by award)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States
  • Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Contact Details

Address: 765 Market Street, Apt 34D, San Francisco, CA 94103

Phone: (415) 538-3300

Website: No public website

EIN: 20-1986583

Overview

The San Simeon Fund is a private family foundation established in 2004 in California by William R. Hearst III and Margaret C. Hearst. The foundation has grown significantly since its inception, with total assets of $65,024,046 as of 2024, up from $34,686,142 in 2011. The foundation distributed $4,777,959 in charitable grants in 2024. William R. Hearst III serves as president of the foundation and is also president of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and a director of the Hearst Corporation. The San Simeon Fund operates as a private independent foundation under section 501(c)(3) and has been tax-exempt since November 2005. The foundation's grant activity has varied over recent years, making between 2 and 12 awards annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The San Simeon Fund does not publish specific grant program information or funding priorities. As a private family foundation, grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees.

Grant Activity

Recent grant activity shows:

  • 10 awards in 2024 (totaling approximately $4.7 million)
  • 2 awards in 2023
  • 5 awards in 2022
  • 12 awards in 2020

The foundation's grants vary significantly in size and frequency from year to year, reflecting a discretionary approach to grantmaking.

Priority Areas

The San Simeon Fund does not publicly disclose specific priority areas or funding themes. As a private family foundation connected to the Hearst family, it may align with broader Hearst family philanthropic interests, which historically include education, health, culture/arts, and social services, though this cannot be confirmed for the San Simeon Fund specifically.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented.

Governance and Leadership

William R. Hearst III - President

  • President of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation (since 2003)
  • Director of the Hearst Corporation
  • Founder of the San Simeon Fund

Margaret C. Hearst - Vice President & CFO

  • Co-founder of the San Simeon Fund

Cynthia D. Lund - Secretary

All officers serve without compensation. The foundation is operated by the Hearst family as a private philanthropic vehicle.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The San Simeon Fund does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, approximately 71% of similar foundations only make contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants appear to be made through:

  • Trustee discretion and selection
  • Pre-existing relationships
  • Invitation only

The foundation's Form 990-PF filings indicate that it operates as a traditional private family foundation where grantmaking decisions are made internally by the board of trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Decisions are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees.

Success Rates

Not applicable for organizations without pre-existing relationships. The foundation made between 2 and 12 grants annually in recent years, but the total number of inquiries or proposals received (if any) is not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Since the San Simeon Fund does not accept unsolicited applications, success factors relate more to relationship building and alignment with foundation interests:

  • Pre-existing relationships: The foundation appears to identify and select grantees through trustee networks and existing connections
  • Alignment with Hearst family values: Given William R. Hearst III's leadership role in both the San Simeon Fund and the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, organizations working in areas traditionally supported by Hearst family philanthropy (education, health, culture, social services) may be of interest
  • Financial capacity: With annual giving of approximately $4.7 million distributed among 2-12 organizations, the foundation appears capable of making significant grants
  • Established organizations: Private family foundations typically prefer to support well-established organizations with proven track records

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The San Simeon Fund does not accept unsolicited applications and operates through trustee discretion
  • The foundation is a private family vehicle of the Hearst family, with William R. Hearst III as president
  • Annual grantmaking totaled $4.7 million in 2024, distributed among approximately 10 organizations
  • The foundation has substantial assets ($65 million) and capacity for significant grants
  • Building relationships with foundation leadership or Hearst family networks would be essential for consideration
  • No public information is available about funding priorities, application processes, or strategic focus areas
  • Organizations should not submit unsolicited proposals but may consider relationship-building strategies if they have relevant connections

References

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