The Hermine and David Heller Foundation concentrates support on contemporary arts and cultural innovation in urban contexts, elite education (higher ed and private K–12), and market-based social impact initiatives and public policy. Their grants favor New York City cultural institutions and national academic and policy organizations, blending funding for program innovation (e.g., digital initiatives, incubators) with general operating and major gifts to established institutions.
The Hermine and David Heller Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by major support for the New Museum of Contemporary Art, including a $985,000 grant in 2023 for its gala and a $735,000 grant in 2025 for general operating support. That pattern points to a funder that backs established institutions with both event-based and unrestricted support. Contemporary art and cultural organizations recur alongside higher education, private schools, public space programming, and policy groups. The foundation also gave $900,000 to President & Fellows of Harvard College in 2023 and $530,000 to National Philanthropic Trust in 2024, showing a mix of institutional philanthropy and pooled-fund support. Its portfolio includes operating support for New York cultural and educational organizations, project support for digital initiatives, and grants to organizations outside the arts, such as policy, medical research, and social impact entities. The presence of multiple large gifts in the $200,000 to $300,000 range, along with repeated support for select recipients over several years, suggests a structured relationship with organizations that fit the foundation’s program interests. Recent grants also show attention to institutions tied to urban public life, elite education, and nonprofit infrastructure.
Contemporary art institutions appear frequently in the foundation’s grant record. In 2024, it gave $400,000 to New Museum of Contemporary Art for digital initiatives and New Inc., and it also supported the museum with $85,000 in 2024 for general operating and gala support. Urban public space programming is another clear thread. Friends of the High Line Inc received $300,000 in 2023 for general operating support, followed by $250,000 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2025 for High Line annual events and general operating support. The foundation also gave $100,000 in 2023 to Friends of Hudson River Park for general operating support. Education is a third area. Harvard College received $250,000 in 2025 for general operating support, while Grace Church School received $300,000 in 2023 and $205,000 in 2024, both for general operating support. Poly Prep Country Day School also appears with $100,000 grants in 2024 and 2025.
$2.3M
$26.3M
$2.4M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $250K, with a median of $72K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$72K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Concentrated, relatively large gifts with several repeat grantees; mix of program-specific funding (innovation/digital) and unrestricted or general operating support, plus occasional gifts to philanthropic intermediaries and national institutions.
Notable grantees: New Museum of Contemporary Art, Friends of the High Line, Harvard College (President & Fellows of Harvard College), Third Way Institute, Acumen Fund
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $72,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent giving includes both one-time grants and repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, especially for operating and event support. The pattern also includes larger gifts for institutional support and smaller grants for specific purposes such as medical research and digital initiatives. The foundation is a private foundation, with no individual grants and no program-related investments reported.
Giving is heavily concentrated in New York, which accounts for 78% of grants and is the top state by grant count. New York City recipients include New Museum of Contemporary Art, Grace Church School, Friends of the High Line Inc, Acumen Fund Inc, Nabu Global Inc, and Paul Taylor Dance Foundation. Outside New York, recipient cities include Cambridge, Washington, Port Chester, Brooklyn, Rosemont, Hartford, and East Hampton. All recent grants listed go to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants center on contemporary art and cultural institutions, education, public space programming, policy groups, and a smaller number of medical research and social impact organizations. Examples include New Museum of Contemporary Art, Harvard College, Friends of the High Line Inc, Third Way Institute, and the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $72,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from $65,000 to $985,000 in the grants provided here.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including New Museum of Contemporary Art, Friends of the High Line Inc, Third Way Institute, Grace Church School, Harvard College, Morrys Camp Inc, and Poly Prep Country Day School. Repeated support often takes the form of general operating funding or annual event support.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 78% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Many recipients are in New York City, with additional grants to places such as Cambridge, Washington, Port Chester, Brooklyn, Hartford, Rosemont, and East Hampton.
Yes. The recent record includes $530,000 to National Philanthropic Trust for general operating support, $300,000 to Acumen Fund Inc for general operating support, and $100,000 to the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine for medical research. It also supports public policy through Third Way Institute.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $735,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THIRD WAY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | HIGH LINE ANNUAL EVENTS AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MORRYS CAMP INC | PORT CHESTER, NY | $205,000 | 2026 | 2023 BENEFIT AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING INC | HARTFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $70,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GALA SUPPORT |
| EAST END TEMPLE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DAY ONE NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHRISTIAN HERALD ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JOHNNY MAC TENNIS PROJECT | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GOVERN FOR AMERICA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SKYLINERS SYNCHRONIZER SKATING TEAM | PELHAM, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TANENBAUM CENTER FOR INTERRELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST VINCENT'S SERVICES INC DBA HEARTSHARE | BROOKLYN, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $530,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR DIGITAL INITIATIVES AND NEW INC. |
| THIRD WAY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $265,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | HIGH LINE ANNUAL EVENTS AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NABU GLOBAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $205,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MORRYS CAMP INC | PORT CHESTER, NY | $105,000 | 2024 | 2023 BENEFIT AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC SOCIETY OF SPORTS MEDICINE | ROSEMONT, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING AND GALA SUPPORT |
| PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $55,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACUMEN FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JOHNNY MAC TENNIS PROJECT | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $17,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DAY ONE NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW RENAISSANCE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE GO PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHRISTIAN HERALD ASSOCIATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GOVERN FOR AMERICA INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TANENBAUM CENTER FOR INTERRELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | LABYRINTH FUND SUPPORT |
| NEW MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NEW YORK, NY | $985,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE 2021 GALA |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $900,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACUMEN FUND INC | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THIRD WAY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NABU | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MORRYS CAMP INC | PORTCHESTER, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF HUDSON RIVER PARK | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
HARVARD COLLEGE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HIGH LINE ANNUAL EVENTS AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MORRYS CAMP INC
$205,0002023 BENEFIT AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EAST END TEMPLE
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHRISTIAN HERALD ASSOCIATION INC
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SKYLINERS SYNCHRONIZER SKATING TEAM
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST VINCENT'S SERVICES INC DBA HEARTSHARE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$530,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HIGH LINE ANNUAL EVENTS AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HARVARD COLLEGE
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL
$205,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MORRYS CAMP INC
$105,0002023 BENEFIT AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
POLY PREP COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW RENAISSANCE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION INC
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$2,500LABYRINTH FUND SUPPORT
GRACE CHURCH SCHOOL
$300,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MORRYS CAMP INC
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT