The Hearthland Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal and should look first for a route to an invitation.
- Its three themes, shared democracy, honest and generative narrative, and a culture of accompaniment, are the main test of fit, and it works mostly with groups of national scope, with some local support especially in Los Angeles and New York.
- Individuals are not funded, while 501(c)(3) organisations and fiscally sponsored organisations are eligible for general operating and programme costs.
- Most grants fall between $50,000 and $750,000, with a median of $200,000, so a request near that band matches typical practice, though the largest grant was $2,000,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- About 36% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in the two filings before its latest one, so an existing link to the foundation is worth weighing.
Overview
The Hearthland Foundation is a US private foundation based in Los Angeles, 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 Hearthland Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits working at the intersection of its three areas of focus: building a shared democracy, telling an honest and generative American narrative, and fostering a culture of accompaniment. Most often, it supports groups with national scope, while providing some locally targeted support, especially in Los Angeles and New York. Its approach combines grantmaking with co-created projects and strategic collaborations among charitable organisations, drawing on art, storytelling and working together for the common good. It funds both general operating expenses and costs tied to specific programmes, and eligible applicants include organisations with 501(c)(3) status and fiscally sponsored organisations.
Themes
- Shared democracy
- Honest, generative narrative
- Culture of accompaniment
Geographic Focus
United States. Priority: Los Angeles; New York.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 36% 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 159 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
6 other states: 16%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 10%
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 36% of grant dollars went to organisations The Hearthland Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 14% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 91 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $225k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Childrens Hospital Of Los Angeles · Health$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Studio Museum in Harlem · Arts, culture & media$1,675,0002024 tax year
- American Exchange Project · Bridging divides$1,250,0002024 tax year
- Rewild · Environment & climate change$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Barack Obama Foundation · Civic engagement$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Eternal Seeds · Arts, culture & media$1,000,0002024 tax year
- GroundTruth Project · Journalism$750,0002024 tax year
- American Exchange Project · Bridging divides$750,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tammy Anderson — CFO (As Of 12/31), Director
- Michael Rutman — President (As Of 12/31), Director
- Meghan Christiansen — Secretary (As Of 12/31)
- Kristie Macosko Krieger — Director
- Steven Spielberg — Director
- Kate Capshaw Spielberg — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $14,852,040 | $10,132,834 | $390,824,076 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $16,828,890 | $11,347,450 | $500,580,198 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $32,894,921 | $26,709,000 | $624,468,603 | 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 The Hearthland Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@hearthlandfoundation.org
- Los Angeles, CA
- hearthlandfoundation.org
Applying to The Hearthland Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@hearthlandfoundation.org
- Los Angeles, CA
- hearthlandfoundation.org