William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 94-1655673 · since 1968hewlett.org·Africa, China, Europe, India, International, Mexico, San Francisco, United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$625M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $580k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$150k

Typical grant (median)

2,001 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Before approaching the foundation, check that your work fits one of its stated themes, such as Education, Environment or Performing Arts, and that your area appears in its geographic focus, which the filing lists as Priority: Bay Area; Globally; U.S. West; East and West Africa; Mexico; U.S.; Europe; China; India.
Most grants go to organisations the foundation identifies itself, and 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the two previous filings, so it looks relationship-led and a cold request is unlikely to be the main route in.
Half of its grants to organisations were $150,000 or less, so a request of that order is a realistic starting point, though its typical range of $5,000 to $580,000 describes what most grants fall between rather than a limit.
It generally does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry, so watch for invitations through its open processes, which it publicises through email updates and LinkedIn, and note that it prefers long-term, general operating support whenever possible.
It does not fund individuals, scholarships, unincorporated associations or groups, or political candidates and political action committees, so organisations of those kinds should not apply.

Overview

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a US private foundation based in Menlo Park, 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 foundation makes grants for rigorous, relevant and innovative educational opportunities, including open educational resources and practices; action on climate change globally and conservation in the U.S. West; and meaningful artistic experiences for communities across the San Francisco Bay Area. It supports gender equity and responsive governance in East and West Africa, Mexico and the U.S., and nonpartisan work to strengthen U.S. governing institutions and public trust. Its other stated areas include strengthening the capacity of its grantees, nonprofits and philanthropy, exploring ideas about the future of capitalism, and fostering public benefits from emerging technologies while mitigating their risks. It funds organisations working in areas aligned with its programme goals and strategies. Most grants are awarded to organisations identified by the foundation, though it sometimes invites proposals through open processes. It prefers long-term, general operating support whenever possible and describes its work with grantees as facilitative and partnership-based.

Themes

Education
Environment
Performing Arts
Gender Equity and Governance
U.S. Democracy
Effective Philanthropy
Economy and Society

Geographic Focus

Priority: Bay Area; Globally; U.S. West; East and West Africa; Mexico; U.S.; Europe; China; India.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Scholarships
Unincorporated associations or groups
Political candidates or political action committees

How to apply

Most grants go to organisations identified by the foundation. From time to time it invites letters of inquiry and other proposals through open processes; these opportunities are publicised through email updates and LinkedIn. Outside those opportunities, it generally does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% 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 5,745 grants to organisations were $150,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Requests should align with the goals and strategies of the foundation’s programmes and initiatives.
The foundation prefers long-term, general operating support whenever possible.
It treats grantees as partners and works in a facilitative rather than controlling way.
It supports organisations across the ideological spectrum when its views align on an issue.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

California28%

District of Columbia24%

New York10%

Massachusetts4%

Colorado2%

Maryland2%

6 other states: 6%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 24%

The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations William and Flora Hewlett Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
12% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Kenya, United Kingdom, Uganda, Senegal).
35% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

2,001 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $150k

How much do they typically give?

Share of 2,001 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k4%

$1k–$2.5k3%

$2.5k–$5k2%

$5k–$10k2%

$10k–$25k3%

$25k–$50k7%

$50k–$100k13%

$100k–$250k28%

$250k–$500k21%

$500k–$1M10%

$1M and over6%

Median $150k (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

European Climate Foundation · For the climate finance fund
$11,212,9112024 tax year
European Climate Foundation · For the climate finance fund
$11,000,0002024 tax year
ClimateWorks Foundation · For general operating support
$10,000,0002024 tax year
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation · For the global fund for a new economy
$10,000,0002024 tax year
European Climate Foundation · For general operating support
$9,000,0002024 tax year
San Francisco Foundation · For general operating support
$7,500,0002024 tax year
MSI-US · For support of the challenge fund
$7,500,0002024 tax year
Energy Foundation · For general operating support
$7,000,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Kristy Tsadick — GC & Company Secretary (As Of 09/24)
Elizabeth Peters — VP & COO (As Of 09/24)
Amber Miller — President (As Of 09/24)
Susan Meaney — Director
Sarah Jaffe — Director
Mary Ellen Iskenderian — Director
David Hewlett — Director
Billy Hewlett — Director
Eric Gimon — Director
Persis Drell — Director
Alecia Decoudreaux — Director
Melody Barnes — Director
Mariano-Florentino Cuellar — Chairman
Dwight Koda — CFO & Treasurer (As Of 10/24)

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$655,021,446	$560,367,747	$12,779,109,242	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$699,937,452	$590,142,860	$13,332,174,215	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$754,606,113	$624,609,380	$14,202,751,280	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.