The Hearthland Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: ~$15 million
Success Rate: Invitation only (not applicable)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $25,000 - $10,000,000
Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Los Angeles, New York, and St. Louis
Total Assets: ~$449 million

Contact Details

Address: 11400 W Olympic Blvd Suite 550, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Email: info@hearthlandfoundation.org

Phone: (310) 481-3513

Website: https://hearthlandfoundation.org

Overview

The Hearthland Foundation was established in 2019 by filmmaker Steven Spielberg and actress Kate Capshaw, emerging from their shared concern about political divisions and threats to democracy in America. The foundation represents a rebranding of the couple's long-existing Wunderkinder Foundation (established in 1985). With assets of approximately $449 million, Hearthland awards around $15 million annually in grants. The foundation was created to "harness creativity and nurture moral imagination in service of our country," working to build a more just, equitable, and connected America. All funding occurs through a racial equity and social justice lens. The foundation emphasizes its belief in "the power of art, storytelling, and working together for the common good," reflecting the founders' backgrounds as storytellers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hearthland Foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with fixed amounts or deadlines. Instead, grants are made by invitation only and vary based on need and organizational context. Recent grants demonstrate significant multi-year commitments:

Major Multi-Year Grants (Examples):

Barack Obama Foundation: $10 million (2019-2025)
American Exchange Project: $5.15 million (2021-2025)
StoryCorps' One Small Step: $4.516 million (2020-2025)
MASS Design Group: $2.5 million (2021-2025)
Report for America: $2.5 million (2021-2025)
Solutions Journalism Network: $2.25 million (2019-2025)
Rural Democracy Initiative: $2.1 million (2021-2025)
Firelight Media: $2 million (2021-2024)

Grant Characteristics:

Both general operating support and program-specific funding available
Multi-year commitments encouraged for sustained impact
Grant sizes typically range from $25,000 to $500,000, with exceptional grants reaching into the millions
Invitation-only basis (no open application process)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations working at the intersection of three strategic areas:

1. Building a Shared Democracy

Voting rights expansion and protection
Democratic participation and civic engagement
Building relationships across political and social divides
Supporting rural democracy and multiracial coalition organizing
Recent grantees include: Black Voters Matter, When We All Vote, Free Election Fund, Welcoming America, Resetting the Table

2. Telling an Honest and Generative American Narrative

Journalism and solutions-based reporting
Storytelling that reflects authentic American experiences
Media supporting underrepresented communities
Arts and cultural initiatives
Recent grantees include: Solutions Journalism Network, Report for America, Equal Justice Initiative, Firelight Media, Center for Rural Strategies, TransLash Media

3. Fostering a Culture of Accompaniment

Supporting marginalized and "unaccompanied" communities
Building connection, care, and kinship across communities
Criminal justice reform and reentry support
Immigrant and refugee services
Youth support (particularly unhoused youth)
Recent grantees include: Thread, World Central Kitchen, One Fair Wage, Deep Canvass Institute, Freedom Reads

Additional Areas of Interest:

Arts and culture (reflecting founders' backgrounds)
Environmental and climate justice
Jewish organizations and education
Veterans' organizations and war memorials

What They Don't Fund

Individuals (must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have fiscal sponsor)
Organizations based outside the United States or its territories
Unsolicited applications (currently invitation-only)

Governance and Leadership

Board Members

Kate Capshaw - Co-founder and Board Member
Steven Spielberg - Co-founder and Board Member
Gerald Breslauer - Board Member
Tammy Anderson - Board Member
Kristie Macosko Krieger - Board Member

Leadership and Staff

Rachel Levin - President of Philanthropy
Dominique Turrentine - Chief of Staff
Shayna Triebwasser - Senior Program Officer (Lead: Journalism & Bridging)
Gabe Rose - Senior Program Officer (Lead: Freedom to Vote & Organizing Multiracial Coalitions)
Gayle Karen Young - Senior Adviser
Kate Fowle - Director, Arts Program
Andrea Sorin - Director of Grants Management and Operations
Carrie Davis - Communications
Danielle Lara - Grants Manager
Jessica Depies - Program Officer
Kalia Brooks - Program Officer
Grace Osborne - Program Associate
William Hernández Luege - Program Associate
Stephanie Flax - Office & Events Manager
Belen Soto - Operations Associate
Laura Maria Vignale - Design

The foundation emphasizes bringing "expertise from across the fields of philanthropy, design, education, journalism, public policy, community organizing, technology, psychology, movement building, leadership development, systems change, fine art, and film."

Philosophy from Leadership: Rachel Levin, President of Philanthropy, notes that as storytellers themselves, Spielberg and Capshaw recognize the potency of storytelling in creating social change. The foundation "takes a proactive approach to grantmaking and prioritizes collaboration with like-minded organizations."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hearthland Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation currently accepts proposals by invitation only, as they describe themselves as being "in the early stages of learning and launching the Foundation." They note this policy may change in the future and will update their website accordingly.

Organizations interested in funding can contact the foundation at info@hearthlandfoundation.org, though this does not guarantee consideration for funding. The foundation "takes a proactive approach to grantmaking" and identifies potential grantees through its network and research.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must hold 501(c)(3) nonprofit status OR have secured a fiscal sponsor
Must be based in the United States or its territories
Work must align with at least one (preferably at the intersection of multiple) of the foundation's three focus areas
All work is evaluated through a racial equity and social justice lens

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model and emphasis on relationship-building, the process likely varies significantly by organization and context.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. The foundation proactively identifies and invites organizations rather than reviewing unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. The foundation appears to favor multi-year partnerships with grantees, as evidenced by numerous 3-5 year grant commitments.

Application Success Factors

Since the Hearthland Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to position themselves favorably should understand what the foundation values:

Alignment with Creative Principles

The foundation has articulated seven core principles that guide their work:

Kinship: The foundation values organizations that recognize interconnection and mutual dependence, using the metaphor "Like aspen trees, which seem to stand alone but in reality have roots that are deeply entangled."
Where the Light Gets In: They seek positive momentum and working solutions, especially during challenging times, to build upon.
Accompaniment: Long-term partnership and supporting marginalized communities is prioritized over transactional relationships.
Being Game: Willingness to take risks and engage thoughtfully with uncertainty and innovation.
Artistry and Beauty: Creative expression and aesthetic experience are viewed as fundamental human needs that belong universally.
Casting Wide and Well: Success emerges from bringing together diverse skills, perspectives, lived experiences, and cultural traditions.
Time: Balance urgency with sustainability, working simultaneously at sprint and marathon paces.

What the Foundation Values:

Intersection of focus areas: Organizations working at the intersection of multiple priority areas (shared democracy, honest narrative, culture of accompaniment) appear particularly well-positioned
Storytelling and arts-based approaches: Reflecting the founders' backgrounds, creative approaches to social change are valued
Racial equity lens: All funding decisions are made through a racial equity and social justice lens
Multi-year vision: The foundation shows strong preference for sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants
Collaboration: The foundation describes itself as interested in "co-creating projects" rather than just providing funding
National and local impact: While supporting national organizations, they maintain particular interest in their "home communities" of Los Angeles, New York, and St. Louis

Geographic Priorities: Organizations based in or serving Los Angeles, New York, or St. Louis may have additional consideration, alongside national organizations working in the foundation's priority areas. There is also notable interest in rural America, the South, and the Midwest.

Recent Funding Patterns: Analysis of the grantee portfolio reveals strong support for:

Organizations bridging political and social divides
Journalism and media organizations serving underrepresented communities
Civic engagement and voting rights organizations
Arts and cultural organizations
Criminal justice reform and reentry support
Organizations supporting immigrant, refugee, and unhoused communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: This is an invitation-only funder. Focus on building visibility in the sectors they support rather than submitting proposals.
Leverage your network: The best pathway to funding is through introductions from current grantees, board members, or sector leaders who can make warm introductions to foundation staff.
Multi-year partnerships favored: The foundation makes substantial multi-year commitments (3-5 years common), suggesting they seek deep partnerships rather than transactional relationships.
Intersection matters: Organizations working at the intersection of their three focus areas (democracy, narrative, accompaniment) appear most aligned, particularly when approached through a creative/storytelling lens.
Racial equity is central: All funding decisions are made through a racial equity and social justice lens—this is not an add-on but a core framework.
Scale matters less than alignment: Grants range from $25,000 to $10 million, suggesting the foundation is flexible on organization size and focuses more on mission alignment and impact potential.
Geographic sweet spots: While they fund nationally, organizations in Los Angeles, New York, and St. Louis, or working in rural America, may have additional consideration.
Creative approaches valued: Given the founders' backgrounds in film and the arts, organizations that incorporate storytelling, artistry, and creative methods in their work may resonate particularly well.

References

Accessed: December 2025