Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $300 million (2024)
Total Assets: $7.36 billion (December 2023)
Grant Range: $10,000 - several million dollars (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: United States and international (sub-Saharan Africa, Colombia, Uganda, and other regions)
Application Method: Invitation only (except Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters)
Established: 1944

Contact Details

Address: Westlake Village, CA
Website: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org
EIN: 94-3100217

For Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters (the only program accepting public applications):
Website: https://www.hiltonfundforsisters.org
Application Portal: GOapply online system
Deadlines: February 1, June 1, October 1

Overview

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was established in 1944 by hotel magnate Conrad N. Hilton and received its largest boost in 2019 when Barron Hilton's estate increased the endowment beyond $6 billion. With assets of approximately $7.36 billion as of December 2023, the foundation distributed nearly $300 million in grants in 2024, contributing to more than $3.6 billion in total grants awarded since inception. The foundation's mission, derived from Conrad Hilton's will, is to "relieve the suffering, the distressed, and the destitute." Led by President and CEO Peter Laugharn since 2016, the foundation employs a proactive grantmaking strategy, focusing on seven core program areas and championing long-term partnerships that create lasting change. The foundation also awards the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which increased to $3 million in 2025, making it the world's largest annual humanitarian award.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through seven core initiatives:

1. Foster Youth ($25 million in Q4 2024 alone)

Supports transition-age youth (14-26) exiting foster care
Geographic focus: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
Provides housing, educational, and employment support through intensive case management
Recent example: First Place for Youth received $1.55 million for housing stability services in Los Angeles

2. Homelessness

Geographic focus: Los Angeles County exclusively
Supports permanent supportive housing and housing stability programs
Funds health and human services for vulnerable populations
Supports policy development for homelessness prevention
Recent example: The Center in Hollywood received $3 million for connecting unhoused people to permanent housing

3. Opportunity Youth

Enhances educational and career pathways for young people
Supports workforce development and economic mobility
Recent example: Liberty's Kitchen received $650,000 to expand impact on New Orleans youth

4. Refugees

Supports refugee-led organizations and host communities
Geographic focus: Colombia, Uganda, and other regions
Addresses needs of people displaced by conflict or persecution

5. Catholic Sisters

Supports Catholic nuns' work globally through multiple programs
Includes education, training, healthcare capacity building, and entrepreneurship
The Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters is the ONLY program accepting public applications
Recent example: Marywood University received $10 million for the Higher Education for Sisters in Africa program

6. Safe Water

Geographic focus: Sub-Saharan Africa
Provides access to safe water and sanitation services
Supports infrastructure development and health interventions

7. Global Early Childhood Development

Supports early childhood interventions during formative years
Focus on multisectoral approaches involving health, education, and social services
Recent example: Children in Crossfire received $2 million for Tanzania's coordinated approach to developmental milestones

Special Program: Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize

$3 million annual award (increased from $2.5 million in 2025)
World's largest humanitarian prize for nonprofit organizations
Nominations accepted year-round through online portal
Recent recipient (2025): Mines Advisory Group for landmine removal and armed violence reduction

Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters Details

The one publicly accessible program has specific parameters:

Grant Range: $10,000 - $25,000 (typically $10,000-$15,000)
Maximum Request: $15,000 for most projects; $10,000 for countries ranked "very high" on Human Development Index
Duration: One year only
Application Deadlines: February 1, June 1, October 1
Decision Timeline: Approximately 5 months after deadline
Frequency Limit: Maximum 2 grants per organization within 10 years

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

Strategic, evidence-based approaches to systemic challenges
Long-term partnerships rather than one-time grants
Solutions that can be scaled or replicated
Programs serving vulnerable and disadvantaged populations
Capacity building for grantee organizations
Data-driven interventions with measurable outcomes

What They Don't Fund

For the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters (the only program with published restrictions):

Internal congregation needs (formation programs, retired sister support, novitiates)
Infrastructure costs (construction, repairs, utilities, rent, vehicle purchases with limited exceptions)
Personnel compensation (salaries, stipends, or remuneration)
Student tuition or scholarships
Debt repayment or deficit reduction
Endowments
Land or building purchases
Spiritual retreats
Established organizations with budgets exceeding $2 million

Generally (across all programs, based on common foundation practices):

Grants to individuals
Political organizations or campaigns
Religious organizations for sectarian purposes
Fundraising events
Projects outside their seven core program areas

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Peter Laugharn (since January 2016)

Peter Laugharn brings 25 years of foundation and nonprofit experience with a focus on vulnerable children. His background includes:

Executive Director of Firelight Foundation (2008-2014)
Executive Director of Bernard van Leer Foundation (six years)
Various roles at Save the Children (11 years), including eight years in Mali developing the Village Schools model that increased access for 45,000 children
Ph.D. in education from University of London; degrees from Stanford and Georgetown
Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco (1982-1984)
Co-founder of International Education Funders Group and Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS

The foundation has a family-majority board ensuring Conrad Hilton's philanthropic vision continues for generations. Specific current board member names were not available in the research.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for most of its programs.

The foundation employs a proactive grantmaking strategy, meaning they actively seek out and invite organizations that align with their strategic priorities. As stated on their website: "By carefully selecting projects and grantees that align with our mission, vision and values, we amplify our collective potential to alleviate human suffering."

Exception - Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters: This is the ONLY program that accepts public applications.

Application Method:

Submit through GOapply online portal exclusively
Three annual deadlines: February 1, June 1, October 1
Two-step process: (1) Submit project proposal; (2) If invited, submit full grant application

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be presented by a vowed member of a women's religious congregation officially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church's CICLSAL office
Congregation must have completed the ad experimentum period
Project must have sister involvement: either one sister working minimum 30 hours weekly OR two or more sisters contributing 30+ combined hours weekly

Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize:

Nominations accepted year-round through the online nominations portal
Nominators complete a nomination form and upload a signed nomination letter
Award amount: $3 million (as of 2025)

Getting on Their Radar

For organizations interested in the foundation's main grantmaking programs (not the Fund for Sisters), there is no public application process. The foundation proactively identifies organizations through:

Their Strategic Approach: The foundation uses evidence-based research and sector analysis to identify organizations working in their seven core program areas. They seek organizations that demonstrate:

Strong alignment with their mission to "relieve the suffering, the distressed, and the destitute"
Evidence-based approaches with measurable outcomes
Capacity for long-term partnerships
Potential for scaling or replicating successful interventions
Strong organizational leadership and governance

What This Means: Organizations cannot apply directly. The foundation's program staff actively research and identify potential partners. Building visibility within your sector, publishing outcomes data, and demonstrating effective interventions in one of their seven core areas may help your organization come to their attention, but there are no guarantees or specific pathways to pursue.

Decision Timeline

For Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters:

Applications due: February 1, June 1, or October 1
Decision and notification: Approximately 5 months after deadline
Total timeline: ~5 months from submission to award announcement

For Main Foundation Grants:

No published timeline since grants are by invitation only
Based on quarterly grant announcements, the foundation makes grant decisions throughout the year

Success Rates

No published success rate data is available for any of the foundation's programs. Given that most programs operate by invitation only, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

For the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters, specific acceptance rates are not published.

Reapplication Policy

For Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters:

Organizations may receive a maximum of 2 grants within a 10-year period
Subsequent applications may not be submitted until after the completion of the 10th year
Organizations can receive only one grant per country per application cycle

For Main Foundation Programs: No specific reapplication policy is published, as the foundation operates by invitation.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Invited by the Foundation

While the foundation does not publish specific guidance for invited applicants, their values and strategic approach suggest they prioritize:

1. Alignment with Core Values: The foundation explicitly operates according to five core values:

Integrity: Honest and fair conduct in all activities
Thinking Big: Bold, enthusiastic approaches to major challenges (inspired by Conrad Hilton's quote: "Nothing worth doing can be done without enthusiasm")
Humility: Recognition that meaningful solutions require partnerships
Stewardship: Maximizing resources through efficient operations, measurable outcomes, and capacity building investment
Compassion: Genuine respect and concern for disadvantaged populations

2. Evidence-Based Approaches: Review of recent grants shows the foundation favors:

Programs with demonstrated outcomes and measurable impact
Data-driven interventions with evaluation components
Scalable or replicable models
Multi-sectoral approaches that address systemic issues

3. Long-Term Partnership Potential:

The foundation emphasizes "long-term partnerships that spark lasting change"
Many grantees receive multi-year or repeat funding
Example: Marywood University's "Phase IV" grant indicates sustained partnership over time

4. Capacity and Leadership:

Organizations with strong governance structures
Demonstrated organizational capacity to manage substantial grants (recent grants range from hundreds of thousands to millions)
Clear leadership vision aligned with the foundation's mission

For Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters Applicants

Success Tips from the Fund:

Review all eligibility criteria thoroughly before applying
Ensure strong institutional support through required superior letters documenting the congregation's ongoing involvement and governance
Focus proposals on projects directly benefiting vulnerable populations rather than internal organizational needs
Demonstrate clear sister involvement and governance, even for ministries founded by but no longer staffed by sisters
Stay within the published funding limitations ($15,000 maximum for most projects)

What They Fund:

Community development projects
Education initiatives
Healthcare services
Social services
Projects benefiting vulnerable populations in developing regions

Common Rejection Reasons (based on published exclusions):

Requests for internal congregation needs rather than external service projects
Infrastructure costs or personnel compensation
Projects in established organizations with budgets exceeding $2 million
Inadequate demonstration of sister involvement or governance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-Only for Most Programs: The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals except for the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters. Organizations cannot apply directly to the main foundation programs—focus instead on building sector visibility and demonstrating evidence-based impact in one of their seven core areas.
Think Big and Long-Term: The foundation prioritizes bold, scalable solutions and long-term partnerships over small, one-time projects. Recent grants average in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, indicating they seek partners capable of significant impact.
Values Alignment is Critical: Explicitly demonstrate how your work embodies the foundation's five core values—integrity, thinking big, humility, stewardship, and compassion. Use Conrad Hilton's philosophy that "man with God's help and personal dedication is capable of anything he can dream."
Evidence and Measurement Matter: The foundation emphasizes evidence-based approaches, robust monitoring and evaluation, and measurable outcomes. Include data on impact and evaluation frameworks in any communication with the foundation.
Geographic and Programmatic Focus is Narrow: Ensure your work falls within one of the seven core program areas (Foster Youth, Homelessness, Opportunity Youth, Refugees, Catholic Sisters, Safe Water, or Global Early Childhood Development) and, for some programs, within specific geographic regions (e.g., Los Angeles County for Homelessness, sub-Saharan Africa for Safe Water).
For Sisters' Fund Applicants: Stay within the $15,000 limit, focus on external service projects (not internal congregation needs), clearly demonstrate sister involvement, and emphasize work with vulnerable populations. Plan ahead for the 5-month decision timeline and remember you can only receive 2 grants in 10 years.
Consider the Humanitarian Prize: If your organization is doing extraordinary work to alleviate human suffering at scale, consider seeking a nomination for the $3 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which accepts year-round nominations and is open to organizations globally.

References

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Official Website - Our Approach to Grantmaking: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/grants/overview/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Mission, Vision and Values: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/about/mission-vision-and-values/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Founder and History: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/about/founder-and-history/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Our Initiatives: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/work/our-initiatives/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Peter Laugharn Biography: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/people/peter-laugharn/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Press Release - "The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Granted Nearly $300 Million in 2024": https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/news/the-conrad-n-hilton-foundation-granted-nearly-300-million-in-2024/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Press Release - "Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Awards More Than $27 Million in Grants in the First Quarter of 2024": https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/news/conrad-n-hilton-foundation-awards-more-than-27-million-in-grants-in-the-first-quarter-of-2024/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Press Release - "Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Awards $8.5 Million in Grants in the Second Quarter of 2024": https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/news/conrad-n-hilton-foundation-awards-8-5-million-in-grants-in-the-second-quarter-of-2024/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Press Release - "Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Awards More Than $42 Million in Grants in the Third Quarter of 2024": https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/news/conrad-n-hilton-foundation-awards-more-than-42-million-in-grants-in-the-third-quarter-of-2024/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters - Grants Overview: https://www.hiltonfundforsisters.org/grants/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters - Limitations on Grants: https://www.hiltonfundforsisters.org/grants/eligibleprojects-2/limitations/ (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize: https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/work/humanitarian-prize/our-prize/ (Accessed December 2025)
PR Newswire - "Marking the 30th Anniversary of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, International Jury Selects Mines Advisory Group as the 2025 Prize Recipient" (December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3100217 (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/943100217 (Accessed December 2025)
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_N._Hilton_Foundation (Accessed December 2025)