Hitz Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; approach it only if you already have a route to its attention.
- Its stated priority is the world, and its themes are science, arts, environment, digital preservation, education, archaeology and health and human services, so check that your work fits one of these.
- Every grant dollar paid to organisations in the filing went to organisations the foundation had already funded in earlier filings, which points to a relationship-led funder rather than an open one.
- About 8 in 10 of its 19 grants fell between $50,000 and $2,000,000, and half were $200,000 or less, so a modest request near the lower end fits best, though that band is typical rather than a ceiling, as its largest grant was $3,600,000.
- Organisations with no existing link to the foundation should not expect to be considered.
Overview
Hitz Foundation is a US private foundation based in Palo Alto, 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 Hitz Foundation is a private non-operating family foundation supporting numerous projects in science, the arts and the environment throughout the world. Its website describes support for digital preservation and LiDAR mapping, Shakespeare translation, education and Mayan archaeology. It also says it supports other projects in a variety of fields, including good government and health and human services. Its project descriptions include digital models of heritage sites and museum collections, and conservation efforts benefiting wildlife, wilderness and local Maasai communities.
Themes
- Science
- Arts
- Environment
- Digital preservation
- Education
- Archaeology
- Health and human services
Geographic Focus
Priority: The world.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% 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 19 grants to organisations were $200,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 11%
- The largest single recipient received 58% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Hitz Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 11% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Guatemala).
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 6 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $490k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival · Arts$3,600,0002024 tax year
- Global Digital Heritage · Research$1,208,0002024 tax year
- PACUNAM · Scientific and archaelogical research$730,0002024 tax year
- Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund · Environment$250,0002024 tax year
- Roosevelt Institute · General operating support$100,0002024 tax year
- Arizona State University Foundation · Education$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David Hitz — Treasurer / Chairman
- Jasmine Berjikly — Secretary
- Kenneth Hitz — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,237,075 | $3,176,000 | $79,290,601 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,044,772 | $4,031,000 | $85,156,972 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,935,085 | $5,938,000 | $85,647,330 | 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 Hitz Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palo Alto, CA
- hitzfoundation.org
Applying to Hitz Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palo Alto, CA
- hitzfoundation.org