Hess Philanthropic Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Hess Philanthropic Fund is based in New York, NY, and its grants chiefly support organisations in New York, spanning universities and schools, museums, performing-arts and cultural organisations, hospitals, social-service providers, religious organisations and civic institutions, though no geographic focus is formally stated.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes grants only to preselected charitable organisations by invitation, so small charities should not send cold applications.
- With 99% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had already funded in the two previous filing years, this looks like a relationship-led funder rather than an open competitive one.
- Typical requests are modest: half of its grants were $15,000 or less, and about eight in ten fall between $195 and $335,000, so a request in that range would be realistic, even though one grant reached as high as $8,850,000.
- Because it states it does not accept unsolicited requests, organisations without an existing connection or invitation should not apply.
Overview
Hess Philanthropic Fund is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings do not state a named funding field: recorded purposes are charitable. The grants chiefly support organisations in New York and include universities and schools, museums, performing-arts and cultural organisations, hospitals, social-service providers, religious organisations and civic institutions. Some recipients are elsewhere in the United States, but New York accounts for the overwhelming share of grant dollars. The filed application information says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations, so this is not an open unsolicited application process. The records do not set out further eligibility criteria or describe selection preferences.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 203 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 36% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations Hess Philanthropic Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Canada).
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 72 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Rockefeller University · Charitable$5,125,0002024 tax year
- Metropolitan Opera · Charitable$2,550,0002024 tax year
- Museum of Modern Art · Charitable$1,424,4252024 tax year
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital · Charitable$1,200,0002024 tax year
- American Museum of Natural History · Charitable$600,0002024 tax year
- Lincoln Center Theater · Charitable$540,0002024 tax year
- Memorial Sloan Kettering · Charitable$500,0002024 tax year
- Trinity School · Charitable$350,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Margaret Hess Chi — Director
- Peter Hess Friedland — Director
- Marlene Hess — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $20,335,458 | $14,516,092 | $304,600,779 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $28,196,148 | $21,330,591 | $339,366,112 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $20,834,954 | $14,881,927 | $352,137,699 | 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 Hess Philanthropic Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to Hess Philanthropic Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY