Hellman Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Hellman Foundation's priority area is the San Francisco Bay Area, with a particular focus on San Francisco and Alameda County, and it names Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin plus six more California counties as part of this Bay Area priority, so check your organisation sits within that footprint before approaching.
- For its Collaborative Change Initiative, it is looking for existing cross-sector collaborations with a designated backbone organisation, a track record of working together, committed in-kind and financial support, and community members with lived experience meaningfully involved in decision-making, so review its criteria carefully to confirm fit before submitting.
- For request size, its stated single-programme figures are a useful guide: LAUNCH grants of $495,000 and GROWTH grants of $825,000, since no general grant range is given.
- Its approach is partnership-led: community panels review proposals and make funding recommendations, and the foundation says it listens to local leaders and organisations and tailors flexible funding and capacity-building support to partners, so expect ongoing relationship-building rather than a one-off application.
- Application method varies by programme, so confirm which route applies to your proposal before applying.
Overview
Hellman Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Hellman Foundation's primary focus is the San Francisco Bay Area. It works to build equity and opportunity, advance knowledge, and foster health, science, the arts, innovation and creativity. It supports a broad range of organisations and initiatives, with particular emphasis on education and youth development, and health and basic-needs programmes. Its Collaborative Change Initiative backs cross-sector, community-led solutions tackling disparities in health, education and equitable opportunities. The foundation describes a strategic, partnership-based approach: it listens to local leaders and organisations, and seeks to meet pressing local needs while bolstering partners' impact. Community panels review proposals and make funding recommendations, and awarded collaborations can receive flexible funding and tailored capacity-building support.
Themes
- Equity and opportunity
- Education
- Youth development
- Health
- Basic needs
- Arts
- Science, innovation and creativity
Geographic Focus
San Francisco; Alameda County. Priority: San Francisco Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and 6 more counties in California.
How to apply
For the Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative, applicants should review the criteria to confirm fit and eligibility before submitting information to the foundation.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- Strong applicants are existing cross-sector collaborations that include community representatives with lived experience, the nonprofit sector and the public sector.
- Collaborations should be member driven and have a designated organisation serving as a central backbone.
- Collaborations should meaningfully centre community members with lived experience in decision-making and participation in the target community.
- Applicants should have a track record of working together, including setting a shared vision, testing solutions, providing direct services and learning from experience.
- The collaboration's strategy should include direct services to its target population and have potential for sustainability.
- Collaborations should have committed in-kind resources and financial support.
- Collaborations should be willing and able to participate in an initiative prioritising accountability, transparency, capacity building and learning.
Officers and directors
- Annie Ulevitch — Executive Director
- Patricia Hellman Gibbs — Director
- Marco W Hellman — Director
- Joanne Hagopian — Treasurer / Secretary
- Judith Hellman — Director
- Frances Hellman — Board Chair / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $48,911,614 | $27,128,190 | $639,986,057 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $66,971,526 | $36,126,050 | $635,837,954 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $64,555,585 | $42,961,909 | $625,574,242 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Hellman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- San Francisco, CA
- hellmanfoundation.org
Applying to Hellman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA
- hellmanfoundation.org