The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include art schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies, and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% are targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support:

• Program, capital, and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Preference Will Be Giving:

• Artist development and training

• Arts education programs that effectively fill the void of arts programming in K–12 curricula

• Science programs that focus on developing skills in science, technology, engineering, environment and math

There are no deadlines. Proposals are accepted year-round through the Hearst Foundations’ online application portal.

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.

Please note:

• If a grant request is unsuccessful, an organization must wait a minimum of one year from the date of declination before reapplying.

• Grantees must wait a minimum of three years from their grant award date before the Foundations will consider another request.