Heinz Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Heinz Family Foundation, based in Pittsburgh, PA, with a US geographic focus, makes grants only to previously selected qualified organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so there is no application route for a cold approach.
- Any organisation that isn't a qualified US 501(c)(3) public charity won't be funded, with the sole exception of Heinz Award winners; the Foundation also doesn't fund individuals outside that exception.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $100,000, with a median of $25,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant recorded was $500,000.
- The pattern is relationship-led rather than open-competition: 73% of grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, and half of all grants across the three most recent filings were $25,000 or less.
- No deadlines or applicant-led steps are stated, reflecting that grants are made by invitation to organisations already known to the Foundation.
Overview
Heinz Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pittsburgh, PA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (heinzawards.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Heinz Family Foundation makes grants only to previously selected qualified recipients and does not consider unsolicited requests. Its filing states that grantees must be qualified US 501(c)(3) public charities, with an exception for Heinz Award winners. The Foundation described recognition of individual achievements in the arts, economy and environment as one of its primary charitable purposes; its dedicated awards programme has concluded. Its organisation-grant record spans educational institutions, cultural organisations, environmental bodies, and health and humanitarian charities. Many grants support general operations, while others support library programmes and clinical services. This describes a varied record rather than a single stated field for its wider charitable grants.
Geographic Focus
United States.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals or organizations unless they are a qualified 501(C)(3) public charity in the United States, with the exception of the Heinz Award winners
How to apply
The Foundation does not consider unsolicited grant requests and makes grants only to prior selected qualified organisations; no applicant-led steps or deadlines are stated.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 73% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 321 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 22%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to organisations Heinz Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 91 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Yale University · Undergraduate scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year$206,0002024 tax year
- Denver Film Society · For the "chasing time" film$150,0002024 tax year
- Sun Valley Lacrosse · For general operating support$150,0002024 tax year
- World Central Kitchen · For general operating support$125,0002024 tax year
- Khan Academy · For the khanmingo ai powered tutor program$125,0002024 tax year
- iNaturalist · Designated payment by ken-ichi m. ueda, 2024 heinz award winner - environment$125,0002024 tax year
- iNaturalist · Designated payment by scott loarie, 2024 heinz award winner - environment$125,0002024 tax year
- Fred Rogers Company · For the writers' neighborhood professional development program$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elissa Brown — Term Director
- Alison Byers — Term Director
- Theodore H Stebbins Jr — Term Director
- Linda K Smith Esq — Term Director
- Ronald Davenport — Term Director
- Christopher Heinz — Class B Permanent Director
- Andre Heinz — Class B Permanent Director
- Teresa Heinz — Chair / CEO
- Wendy MacKenzie — Secretary And Term Director
- Michele Battle — Treasurer
- McCall Cravens — Chief Investment Officer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,434,571 | $6,057,500 | $118,248,771 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,126,036 | $4,739,500 | $125,099,864 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,584,416 | $4,265,500 | $130,222,017 | Filing for 2024 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 Heinz Family Foundation?
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Contact
- Pittsburgh, PA
Applying to Heinz Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pittsburgh, PA