Hess Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send it a cold application.
- Its giving is by invitation only, so the realistic route in is an introduction through someone who already knows the foundation.
- Its stated priority is New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, so a charity working in those places will find the closest match.
- Most grants are modest: half of its grants to organisations across recent filings were $40,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $500,000, so a request in that typical range is a sensible starting point, though its largest grant was about $20,000,000.
- Repeat funding is common, as 45% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the filing before.
Overview
Hess Foundation is a US private foundation based in Parsippany, NJ.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (ncrp.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The recorded giving is predominantly unrestricted support to further recipients’ exempt purposes. Grants went to educational institutions, hospitals and medical organisations, museums, orchestras and other arts bodies, as well as organisations working in social services, community support and civic or policy work. Other awards supported research, endowments, financial aid and named projects in areas such as reproductive health, leadership, education, science and technology. The grant record spans organisations in multiple states, with the largest shares going to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and the District of Columbia.
Geographic Focus
Priority: New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 45% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 276 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 19% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 45% of grant dollars went to organisations Hess Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 141 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Icahn School of Medicine · The raquel and jaime gilinski department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science and unrestricted purposes$20,150,0002023 tax year
- Steppingstone Foundation · Endowment for staff salaries and unrestricted purposes$5,333,3332023 tax year
- Harvard Business School · John b. hess fund for innovation and leadership, the hbs dean's honorary endowment for business and society and unrestricted purposes$5,150,0002023 tax year
- College of Physicians of Philadelphia · An unrestricted grant to further the donee's exempt purpose.$5,000,0002023 tax year
- Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts · For the design, reconstruction and endowment of david geffen hall and unrestricted purposes$4,350,0002023 tax year
- Philadelphia Orchestra · An unrestricted grant to further the donee's exempt purpose.$4,000,0002023 tax year
- Center for Strategic and International Studies · An unrestricted grant to further the donee's exempt purpose.$2,000,0002023 tax year
- Franklin Institute · Earth systems exhibit and unrestricted purposes$1,600,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Thomas H Kean Co Hess Foundation — Director, Secretary
- John B Hess Co Hess Foundation — Director, President
- Eugene Wgoodwillie JR Co Hess FND — Outgoing Director, Treasurer
- Constance Williamsco Hess Foundatn — Director, Vice President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $48,984,192 | $40,981,500 | $1,073,022,816 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $74,400,800 | $63,385,033 | $1,152,220,844 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Hess Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Parsippany, NJ
Applying to Hess Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Parsippany, NJ