Hearst Foundations

The Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the fields of culture, education, health and social services. In addition, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation operates two programs, the United States Senate Youth Program and the Journalism Awards Program. The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. The Hearst Foundation, Inc. was founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1946. In 1949 Hearst established the California Charities Foundations, later renamed the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Both Foundations are guided by the same charitable mission, which reflects the philanthropic interests of their founder. The Tax Reform Act of 1969 brought about the separation of the Foundations and the Hearst Corporation. The Foundations received approximately $137 million from the Corporation in 1975. Both Foundations are independent private philanthropies operating separately from the Hearst Corporation. The two Foundations are managed as one entity, sharing the same funding guidelines, leadership and staff. Staff based in New York City review all proposals from organizations located east of the Mississippi River, and staff in the San Francisco office review those from organizations west of the Mississippi River. MISSION & GOALS The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support. Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not. Hearst Foundations’ Goals The Foundations seek to achieve their mission by funding approaches that: - Create sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults - Improve health and quality of life - Increase academic achievement though access to high-quality educational options - Promote the arts and sciences as a cornerstone of society - Support family stability and self-sufficiency Hearst Foundations' Approach: - Identify best-in-class organizations through the online application process, consensus-building team review of each applicant, financial due diligence and site visits. - Support and grow demonstrably impactful programs to create long-term benefits for society. - Monitor and measure the performance of grantees, using data to learn and improve our collective work.