The Heising-Simons Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Heising-Simons Foundation is a private foundation in Los Altos, California. In tax year 2024 it gave $167 million in 671 grants; the typical grant was $148,432 and the largest $3.6 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$167 million
- Number of grants671
- Typical grant$148,432
- Largest grant$3.6 million
- Assets$810 million
- New grantees26%
Giving in 2024 was up from $164 million the year before.
26% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $164 million | 712 | $872 million |
| 2024 | $167 million | 671 | $810 million |
How to apply
The Heising-Simons Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Heising-Simons Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 40 states, the most to California. It also paid $372,918 in 4 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 285 | $63.0 million |
| District of Columbia | 83 | $25.4 million |
| New York | 68 | $15.0 million |
| Massachusetts | 35 | $7.6 million |
| Virginia | 10 | $5.6 million |
| Arizona | 17 | $4.5 million |
| Texas | 25 | $4.1 million |
| Colorado | 12 | $3.8 million |
| Illinois | 16 | $2.9 million |
| Oregon | 10 | $1.7 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Defense Fund Inc | To advance climate and clean energy policies | $3.6 million |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | To advance climate and clean energy policies | $3.3 million |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation | For the democracy frontlines fund | $2.1 million |
| Global Impact | For the emerging bilingual collaborative | $2.0 million |
| National Association for Family School and Community Engagement | For the center for family math | $1.9 million |
| California Education Partners | For the preschool to third grade coherence collaboration (p3cc) | $1.5 million |
| New Venture Fund | For the emerging bilingual collaborative | $1.5 million |
| Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University | For the children's equity project | $1.3 million |
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | For general support | $1.2 million |
| Regents of the University of California at Berkeley | For the center for the study of child care employment | $1.2 million |
| Tides Foundation | For practitioners' voice ca 2.0 | $1.1 million |
| Alliance for Early Success | For general support | $1.0 million |
| Center for Community Change | For general support | $1.0 million |
| Environmental Defense Fund Inc | To validate methanesat measurements | $1.0 million |
| International Council on Clean Transportation | For general support | $1.0 million |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc | For the four freedoms fund | $1.0 million |
| Philanthropic Ventures Foundation | To support quality upk implementation in california | $1.0 million |
| Powermylearning Inc | For family playlists and organizational effectiveness support | $1.0 million |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | To advance u.s. Power ($600,000) and transportation sector transformation ($400,000) | $1.0 million |
| Third Sector New England Inc | For the raising child care fund | $1.0 million |
| Advanced Energy Institute | To reform wholesale power markets, expand transmission, engage in utility planning in key states ($800,000), and defend clean energy tax credits ($100,000). | $900,000 |
| Climate Power Education Fund | For general support | $850,000 |
| Society for Research in Child Development | For the srcd policy fellowship | $817,770 |
| Learning Policy Institute | For general support | $780,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | For the stanford center on early childhood | $775,000 |
| American Indian College Fund | To strengthen indigenous early childhood pedagogy and workforce pathways at tribal colleges | $750,000 |
| English Learners Success Forum | For general support | $750,000 |
| Teachers College Columbia University | For ecpihe phase iii | $750,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation | To advance clean vehicle standards and transportation electrification | $750,000 |
| TNTP Inc | To prototype a pipeline for tk educators ready to serve multilingual learners | $749,335 |
| Center for American Progress | For the tackling climate and environmental injustice program | $700,000 |
| Climateworks Foundation | To advance climate finance | $700,000 |
| Edsource Inc | For general support | $700,000 |
| Gridlab Inc | For general support | $700,000 |
| University of Washington | To continue implementing the district innovation and leadership for early education (dial ee) | $700,000 |
| Arizona Board of Regents University of Arizona | To support the second development phase of magaox | $626,580 |
| Tides Center | For the starfish institute's STEM education work | $625,000 |
| James Bell Associates | For the national home visiting resource center | $611,983 |
| Arizona Board of Regents University of Arizona | For the nautilus space observatory | $600,000 |
| Community Initiatives | For the just solutions | $600,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Sushma Raman
- Jennifer Shipp
- Kevin Luu
- Elizabeth D Simons
- Caitlin Heising
- Mark W Heising
- Chelsey Scaffidi
- Judy Blumenstein
Questions people ask
Does The Heising-Simons Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Heising-Simons Foundation give?
$167 million in tax year 2024, across 671 grants, with a typical grant of $148,432.
Who runs The Heising-Simons Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Sushma Raman (President & Ceo (Thru 7/24/24)), Jennifer Shipp (Sec (Thru 7/8/24), Interim Ceo & Pres), Kevin Luu (Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer) and Elizabeth D Simons (Chair of the Board) among 8 officers and trustees.
What does The Heising-Simons Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, environment and conservation and science and research.