The Hersh Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1.25 million (2024)
• Total Assets: $13.5 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $50,000 - $5,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Dallas and surrounding North Texas communities

Contact Details

Address: Freedom Place at Old Parkland, 4143 Maple Avenue, Suite 350, Dallas, TX 75219

Phone: (972) 432-3868

Email: info@hershfoundation.org

Website: www.hershfoundation.org

Overview

The Hersh Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 1997 by Julie and Ken Hersh, located in North Texas. With total assets of approximately $13.5 million and annual grantmaking of around $1.25 million, the foundation is committed to enriching and improving the quality of life for all people by supporting organizations with demonstrable results. The foundation focuses on three primary areas: mental health research and mental illness prevention programs, education and leadership programs that work with students of all ages, and North Texas cultural organizations including arts programs that foster creativity, conversation, collaboration, and inclusion. Ken and Julie Hersh have given away more than $30 million to North Texas mental health initiatives, leadership development, education, and cultural institutions. In 2024, Kenneth A. Hersh received the Horatio Alger Award for his lifetime achievements and philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hersh Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with no formal grant programs or application cycles. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project and organization:

• Major institutional grants: $2,000,000 - $5,000,000 (capital campaigns, endowed chairs, centers)
• Program grants: $50,000 - $100,000 (specific programs and initiatives)
• General support: Amounts vary based on organizational needs

Priority Areas

Mental Health Research and Prevention

• Research into causes and treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and related conditions
• Mental illness prevention programs
• Mental health education and awareness in schools
• Mental health navigation and resource connection services
• Accessible healthcare with intentional focus on mental health treatment

Education and Leadership Programs

• Early childhood education and development
• K-12 education programs that work with students of all ages
• Programs that help students become productive citizens and lead meaningful lives
• Leadership development initiatives
• Organizations that understand and cultivate democracy

North Texas Cultural Organizations

• Arts programs that foster creativity, conversation, collaboration, and inclusion
• Cultural institutions accessible to all
• Public art and community gathering spaces
• Theater and performing arts that engage diverse communities

Community Support

• Organizations assisting those in need
• Community health and wellbeing initiatives
• Programs serving underserved populations

What They Don't Fund

• Private foundations
• Individuals or families
• Faith-based organizations where the primary purpose is to promote religious doctrine
• Political organizations or candidates
• Lobbyists
• Fraternal or social groups
• Athletic teams
• International organizations not qualified under U.S. IRS regulations
• Agencies that redistribute grant funds

Governance and Leadership

Kenneth A. Hersh - Co-Founder and Chairman Ken Hersh, a 1981 graduate of St. Mark's School of Texas, earned his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1989. He co-founded Natural Gas Partners (NGP) in 1988, building it into one of the nation's largest natural resources private equity investment firms managing over $20 billion. From 2016 to 2025, he served as President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Hersh sits on the boards of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the Dallas Citizens Council, and the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation.

Ken Hersh on the foundation's approach: "We wanted to make an impact on North Texas by focusing our philanthropic efforts on areas where mental health and wellness were interwoven into different areas of focus, such as arts and leadership."

Julie K. Hersh - Co-Founder Julie Hersh is an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and author of "Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope." She boldly detailed her struggles with depression, including three suicide attempts, and became a national advocate to highlight the need to better understand depression. Julie served as board chair of the 2017 Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center and received the Mental Health America Ruth Altschuler Community Advocate Prism Award.

Julie Hersh on mental health advocacy: "Despite medical advances, too many people die by suicide because they are afraid to seek help." She emphasizes that "sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress management and social support systems are as critical to brain health as not smoking is to lung health."

Regen Horchow - President Regen Horchow is President of The Hersh Foundation and manages the Horchow family investments. A Dallas native and graduate of The Hockaday School and Yale University, she holds a M.Ed from the University of North Texas. She helped start and currently leads Early Matters in Dallas and serves as board chair of the Dallas College Foundation. She also serves on the boards of SMU Simmons School, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the Executive Council of the Yale Child Study Center.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hersh Foundation does not have a public application process. Grant applications to the foundation are by invitation only. The foundation proactively identifies and reaches out to organizations that align with their mission and focus areas in Dallas and surrounding North Texas communities.

Getting on Their Radar

Demonstrate Alignment with Foundation Priorities: The Hersh Foundation focuses on organizations with demonstrable results in mental health, education/leadership, and cultural programs in the Dallas area. Organizations making significant impact in these areas, particularly those integrating mental health and wellness into their programming, are more likely to attract the foundation's attention.

Connect Through Shared Networks: The foundation's leadership is deeply embedded in Dallas philanthropic and civic networks. Ken Hersh sits on multiple Dallas-area boards, while Regen Horchow leads Early Matters Dallas and serves on United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Building relationships within these networks increases visibility to the foundation.

Participate in Dallas Mental Health Ecosystem: Given the foundation's deep commitment to mental health (having given over $30 million to North Texas mental health initiatives), organizations working in this space should engage with UT Southwestern's Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (which the Hersh Foundation established) and other mental health networks where foundation leadership is active.

Focus on Innovation and Community Impact: The foundation's support for initiatives like Public Works Dallas at Dallas Theater Center (engaging 200 people in community theater) and Klyde Warren Park (1.3 million visitors annually) suggests interest in innovative approaches that serve broad, diverse communities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As an invitation-only foundation, the timeline from initial contact to grant award varies by project and is not standardized.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not publish statistics on the number of organizations considered versus those funded.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations that have previously received funding may be invited to apply for subsequent grants based on the success of prior partnerships.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrable Results Are Essential: The foundation explicitly states it supports "organizations with demonstrable results." Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate outcomes, not just outputs.

Mental Health Integration as a Differentiator: Ken and Julie Hersh have emphasized their desire to make an impact by focusing on areas where mental health and wellness are interwoven into different areas of focus. Programs that integrate mental health awareness into education, arts, or community development initiatives appear particularly compelling.

Connection to Julie Hersh's Advocacy: Julie Hersh's personal journey and advocacy work clearly influence funding priorities. Her emphasis on holistic, preventative approaches to mental wellness suggests the foundation values innovative, destigmatizing methods that emphasize wellness over illness.

Scale and Accessibility Matter: The foundation's support for institutions serving broad, diverse communities suggests interest in programs that are accessible to all. Julie Hersh chairs Dallas Theater Center, which won the 2017 Regional Tony Award partly for its commitment to making participants "creators, not just spectators of art."

Educational Excellence and Innovation: Major grants to St. Mark's School of Texas ($5 million) and St. Alcuin Montessori School ($2 million) demonstrate support for educational institutions with specific facilities that advance their missions.

Long-term Institutional Partnership: The $5 million gift to establish the Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care at UT Southwestern represents the foundation's approach to creating lasting impact through institutional infrastructure rather than just program funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only grantmaking: The Hersh Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Relationship-building within Dallas philanthropic and mental health networks is essential.
• Mental health is the unifying thread: Even when funding education or arts, the foundation seeks organizations that integrate mental health and wellness.
• Demonstrable results required: Track record, evidence of impact, and clear outcomes are essential.
• Range from $50,000 to $5 million: Grants vary dramatically based on the project, from program support to transformational institutional gifts.
• Accessibility and inclusion are core values: Support for institutions accessible to all and programs that engage diverse communities is evident.
• Personal connection matters: Board service and personal relationships create pathways to funding.
• Think long-term and transformational: The foundation prefers to make lasting, structural impact when making major investments.

References

• The Hersh Foundation official website. "About." https://www.hershfoundation.org/about (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• The Hersh Foundation official website. "How to Apply." https://www.hershfoundation.org/apply (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Hersh Foundation - Form 990 Filings." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/752720646 (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• Grantmakers In Health. "Hersh Foundation." https://www.gih.org/grantmaker-focus/hersh-foundation/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• Southwestern Medical Foundation. "Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care Established with $5 Million Gift from Hersh Foundation." https://swmedical.org/center-for-depression-research-and-clinical-care-established-with-5-million-gift-from-hersh-foundation/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• Dallas News. "'It's our turn': Bush Center CEO Ken Hersh adds philanthropy to a résumé of oil, gas and esports." April 19, 2020. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2020/04/19/near-billionaire-successfully-switches-lanes/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. "Regen Horchow Staff Profile." https://mmhpi.org/staff/regen-horchow/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• Struck By Living. "About Julie." https://www.struckbyliving.com/about/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• Wikipedia. "Kenneth Hersh." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Hersh (Accessed February 4, 2026)
• CauseIQ. "The Hersh Foundation | Dallas, TX." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-hersh-foundation,752720646/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)