Hickory Foundation concentrates its giving on intellectual, civic and educational institutions that promote American history, public policy debate, and conservative-leaning ideas. They fund national cultural and policy organizations (think tanks, history education groups, and a major public library) with multi‑year, sizable grants, and show a particular preference for organizations that produce scholarship, public education, or policy advocacy. Recipients tend to be established institutions rather than grassroots service providers.
Hickory Foundation gives in concentrated, repeated blocks to established institutions working on American history, public policy, and conservative-leaning ideas. One of its clearest signals is a three-year series of grants to The Witherspoon Institute, including $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern sits alongside support for policy advocacy organizations such as the Foundation for Government Accountability and The Federalist Society, as well as education and culture groups like the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and The New York Public Library. The foundation’s recent grant list shows a preference for institutions that publish scholarship, shape policy debate, or provide public-facing educational programs. Its giving is national in scope and centers on organizations with established public roles rather than local service delivery. Several awards recur over multiple years, which suggests a durable relationship model rather than isolated one-off gifts. The portfolio also includes support for publishing and commentary through Encounter for Culture & Education Inc (Encounter Books) and for civic and educational infrastructure through The New York Public Library. Across these grants, Hickory Foundation appears to favor organizations with a public influence strategy, whether through research, education, cultural programming, or policy work.
In public policy and advocacy, Hickory Foundation gave $350,000 in 2025 to the Foundation for Government Accountability for charitable purposes, and $225,000 in both 2024 and 2025 to The Federalist Society. Those awards point to steady support for policy organizations with a national reach. In history education, the foundation backed the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History with $260,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2024. It also supported Brighter Choice Foundation with $100,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing a repeated commitment to education-related institutions. For cultural and publishing work, Hickory Foundation gave Encounter for Culture & Education Inc (Encounter Books) $250,000 in 2024 and $75,000 in both 2023 and 2025. It also made a $150,000 grant in 2025 to The Foundation for Cultural Review Inc, another sign of support for editorial and commentary institutions.
$2.7M
$42.9M
$3.7M
$2.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
About 6% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, large grants to a small number of national-level organizations; several repeat awards to flagship grantees rather than many small, local grants.
Notable grantees: The Witherspoon Institute, Foundation for Government Accountability, The New York Public Library, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Encounter for Culture & Education (Encounter Books)
Hickory Foundation’s grants cluster around mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $40,000, while the recent grant list also includes larger institutional gifts. The pattern is repeat funding rather than isolated support. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including The Witherspoon Institute, The Federalist Society, Children’s Scholarship Fund, and Brighter Choice Foundation. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. It operates through charitable grants, with a national geographic scope.
Grantmaking is national, and recipients are concentrated in New York. The top state by grant count is NY, while recipients in New Jersey account for 6% of grants. Recent grant recipients include New York City organizations such as The New York Public Library, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Encounter for Culture & Education Inc, and St Luke's Chamber Ensemble Inc. The list also includes Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; Naples, FL; and Augusta, ME, showing a spread across several major metro areas.
The foundation supports established institutions in public policy, American history education, publishing and cultural commentary, and library programming. Recent grants went to groups such as The Witherspoon Institute, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Encounter for Culture & Education Inc (Encounter Books), and The New York Public Library.
Yes. The recent grant list shows multi-year support for several recipients, including The Witherspoon Institute at $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and The Federalist Society at $225,000 in both 2024 and 2025.
The foundation’s typical grant distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $40,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include larger institutional awards, such as $350,000 and $300,000.
Its top state by grant count is New York. Recent grants also show recipients in Washington, DC; Arlington, Virginia; Naples, Florida; Augusta, Maine; and several New York City organizations.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates that it does not fund individuals, and its recent giving is directed to organizations rather than people.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY | NAPLES, FL | $350,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE WITHERSPOON INSTITUTE | PRINCETON, NJ | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $225,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN PRINCIPLES PROJECT FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ST LUKE'S CHAMBER ENSEMBLE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE LIFE FLIGHT FOUNDATION | AUGUSTA, ME | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL REVIEW INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BRIGHTER CHOICE FOUNDATION | GLENMONT, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ENCOUNTER FOR CULTURE & EDUCATION INC(ENCOUNTER BOOKS) | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INSTITUTE FOR FREE SPEECH | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BROOKLIN BOTANIC GARDEN | BROOKSVILLE, ME | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MT VERNON LADIES ASSOCIATION | MOUNT VERNON, VA | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BALLOTPEDIA | MIDDLETON, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF CZECH GREENWAYS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GOLDWATER INSTITUTE | PHOENIX, AZ | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CURE CHILDHOOD CANCER ASSOCIATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER INC | RESTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PARENTS TELEVISON COUNCIL INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GOODMAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LANDMARK LEGAL FOUNDATION | KANSAS CITY, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GILDER LEHRMAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW YORK CIVIL RIGHTS COALITION | NEW YORK, NY | $19,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BROOKLIN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY | BROOKLIN, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT INC | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMENTARY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LAMBERTVILE-NEW HOPE AMBULANCE & RESCUE SQUAD | LAMBERTVILLE, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY | MIDLAND, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ISLAND INSTITUTE | ROCKLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FREE TO CHOOSE NETWORK | ERIE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THOMAS COLE HISTORIC HOUSE | CATSKILL, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TALIESIN PRESERVATION | SPRING GREEN, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ACTION INSTITUTE | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIEND MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY | BROOKLIN, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE | UPLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SPENCE CHAPIN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PENINSULA AMBULANCE CORPS | BLUE HILL, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ST HUEBERT'S ANIMAL WELFARE | MADISON, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SCHOOL CHOICE WISCONSIN | WEST ALLIS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WEST AMWELL FIRE COMPANY | LAMBERTVILLE, NJ | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LALH(LIBRARY OF AMERICAN LANDSCAPE HISTORY INC) | AMHERST, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BUILDING CONSERVANCY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WOODLAWN CONSERVANCY INC | BRONX, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA | PENN WYNNE, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY
$225,000CHARITABLE
THE LIFE FLIGHT FOUNDATION
CHARITABLE
BRIGHTER CHOICE FOUNDATION
$100,000CHARITABLE
BROOKLIN BOTANIC GARDEN
$50,000CHARITABLE
MT VERNON LADIES ASSOCIATION
$35,000CHARITABLE
BALLOTPEDIA
$35,000CHARITABLE
FRIENDS OF CZECH GREENWAYS INC
$30,000CHARITABLE
CURE CHILDHOOD CANCER ASSOCIATION
$25,000CHARITABLE
PARENTS TELEVISON COUNCIL INC
$25,000CHARITABLE
GOODMAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY
$25,000CHARITABLE
PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$20,000CHARITABLE
NEW YORK CIVIL RIGHTS COALITION
$19,000CHARITABLE
BROOKLIN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
$15,000CHARITABLE
LAMBERTVILE-NEW HOPE AMBULANCE & RESCUE SQUAD
$10,000CHARITABLE
MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
$10,000CHARITABLE
TALIESIN PRESERVATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
ACTION INSTITUTE
$10,000CHARITABLE
FRIEND MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
$10,000CHARITABLE
THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE
$10,000CHARITABLE
PENINSULA AMBULANCE CORPS
$10,000CHARITABLE
ST HUEBERT'S ANIMAL WELFARE
$5,000CHARITABLE
WEST AMWELL FIRE COMPANY
$5,000CHARITABLE
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BUILDING CONSERVANCY
$5,000CHARITABLE
JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA
$2,000CHARITABLE