Hess Philanthropic Fund concentrates large, multi-million dollar gifts to major New York City institutions, with a clear emphasis on biomedical research and premier cultural organizations. Their giving patterns show repeat, high-dollar support for a small number of flagship recipients rather than many small grants, signaling a preference for institutional impact at leading research hospitals, universities, museums, and performing arts institutions. The foundation favors established, city-based organizations that combine scientific research and high-profile arts programming.
Hess Philanthropic Fund’s recent giving is marked by multimillion-dollar support for a small set of New York institutions, with Rockefeller University receiving $8,850,000 in 2025. That scale shows a funder that concentrates its resources rather than spreading them broadly, and the pattern extends across biomedical research, hospitals, museums, opera, and other established city institutions. A second flagship example is the Museum of Modern Art, which received $5,096,400 in 2024 after a $3,757,800 grant in 2023, indicating repeat backing at a high level. The Metropolitan Opera also appears as a major recipient, with $4,450,000 in 2025 and $1,650,000 in 2023. Alongside those large awards, the fund supports other prominent New York organizations such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York Presbyterian Hospital, the American Museum of Natural History, and Congregation Emanu-el. The overall picture is of an institutional grantmaker centered on major public-facing organizations and research-driven institutions in New York City.
Biomedical research and translational science are a clear part of the portfolio. In 2025, Hess Philanthropic Fund gave $8,850,000 to Rockefeller University, and in 2024 it added $4,135,000 to the same institution. Health-related support also appears in grants to Memorial Sloan Kettering for $1,500,000 in 2025 and to New York Presbyterian Hospital for $1,100,000 in 2025. Cultural institutions are another major theme. The Museum of Modern Art received $5,096,400 in 2024, following $3,757,800 in 2023, while the Metropolitan Opera received $4,450,000 in 2025 after a $1,650,000 grant in 2023. The fund also backed the American Museum of Natural History with $2,285,000 in 2023 and $630,000 in 2025, showing support for museum-based exhibitions and science education. Education and civic institutions appear as well, including Trinity School and the Council of Foreign Relations.
Typical grants sit in a mid-six-figure to low-seven-figure range, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $17,500, and a p75 of $100,000, even though the recent top awards are much larger. The record also shows repeat relationships over multiple years, especially with Rockefeller University, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Opera, American Museum of Natural History, Congregation Emanu-el, and Asia Society. Hess Philanthropic Fund is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not make program-related investments. The grantmaking pattern is concentrated and institutionally oriented, with many recipients appearing more than once across 2023 to 2025.
$14.9M
$239.9M
$21.8M
$20.8M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$100K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Hess Philanthropic Fund.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 265 | $66.5M | 98.9% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Highly concentrated: very few grants (9 total) but very large amounts, repeated multi-grant support to flagship institutions, predominantly New York City–based beneficiaries.
Notable grantees: Rockefeller University, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Metropolitan Opera, American Museum of Natural History, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 83% of grants go to recipients in New York state, and New York City organizations dominate the recent grants list. The most frequent recipient cities are New York, NY and Washington, DC, with New York accounting for nearly all of the activity. Outside the United States, the recipient distribution shows 3 grants in Canada, but the recent-grants table is centered on U.S. institutions.
The funder supports major New York City research universities, hospitals, museums, performing arts institutions, and other established civic and educational organizations. Recent grants include Rockefeller University, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Opera, American Museum of Natural History, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Trinity School.
Very concentrated. 83% of grants go to recipients in New York state, and several organizations appear multiple times across 2023 to 2025, including Rockefeller University, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Opera, American Museum of Natural History, Congregation Emanu-el, and Asia Society.
The distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $17,500 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger institutional grants, ranging into the multi-million-dollar level.
Yes. The data shows repeated support to the same institutions across multiple years. Rockefeller University, Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Opera, American Museum of Natural History, Congregation Emanu-el, and Asia Society all received more than one grant in the recent record.
It is classified as a Regular Funder. The fund also does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 3 |
| $145 |
1.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,125,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| METROPOLITAN OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $2,550,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $1,424,425 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,200,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| LINCOLN CENTER THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $540,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| TRINITY SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ASIA SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $275,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $225,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| WNET | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $195,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CONVERSATION PRODUCTIONS | PARKERSBURG, WV | $186,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NY POLICE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT ART SHOW | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW YORK STEM CELL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED | BROOKLYN, NY | $76,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SESAME WORKSHOP | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CONGREGATION EMANU-EL | NEW YORK, NY | $71,100 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SUS SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARTIABLE |
| THE 92ND STREET Y | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | BRONX, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CIVILIANS THEATER COMPANY | BROOKLYN, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| EQUALITY NOW | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SELENI INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARTIABLE |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HYPERTENSION CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MOMA PS1 | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MOMA | NEW YORK, NY | $22,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| LADIES' VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF EAST HAMPTON INC | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATES OF THE NATIONAL THEATER | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FOUR FREEDOMS PARK CONSERVANCY | ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $16,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PUBLIC THEATRENY SHAKESPEARE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CUNY TV FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTER FOR CURATORIAL LEADERSHIP | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION -NY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FOUNDATION FOR ART AND PRESERVATION IN EMBASSIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| WASHINGTON MONTHLY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARTIABLE |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION -LA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| NEUE GALERIE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
METROPOLITAN OPERA
$2,550,000CHARITABLE
LINCOLN CENTER THEATER
$540,000CHARITABLE
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING
$500,000CHARITABLE
TRINITY SCHOOL
$350,000CHARITABLE
HARVARD COLLEGE
$225,000CHARITABLE
WNET
$200,000CHARITABLE
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
$195,000CHARITABLE
CONVERSATION PRODUCTIONS
$186,000CHARITABLE
COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS
$150,000CHARITABLE
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED
$76,500CHARITABLE
CONGREGATION EMANU-EL
$71,100CHARITABLE
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$50,000CHARITABLE
SUS SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED
$50,000CHARTIABLE
THE 92ND STREET Y
$50,000CHARITABLE
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$50,000CHARITABLE
MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER
$50,000CHARITABLE
CIVILIANS THEATER COMPANY
$40,000CHARITABLE
SELENI INSTITUTE
$25,000CHARTIABLE
NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HYPERTENSION CENTER
$25,000CHARITABLE
MOMA PS1
$25,000CHARITABLE
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MOMA
$22,500CHARITABLE
LADIES' VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF EAST HAMPTON INC
$20,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN ASSOCIATES OF THE NATIONAL THEATER
$20,000CHARITABLE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK
$10,000CHARITABLE
CUNY TV FOUNDATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION -NY
$10,000CHARITABLE
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION -LA
$10,000CHARITABLE
NEUE GALERIE
$10,000CHARITABLE