The Hillside Foundation concentrates large, multi-year gifts to prominent cultural and research institutions while also funding local food access and climate-related nonprofits in the Washington, D.C. region and beyond. Its portfolio mixes marquee institutional sponsorships (museum galleries and annual dinners) with targeted support for urban agriculture, environmental/climate solutions, and medical/rare-disease research. The foundation favors repeat grants to a small set of prioritized organizations and occasional event- or program-specific sponsorships.
A defining feature of The Hillside Foundation Inc is its repeated support for the Smithsonian Institution’s Nash Innovations Gallery, with gifts in 2023, 2024, and 2025 totaling more than $3.6 million across the recent grants list. That pattern sits alongside another major cultural commitment: the United States Holocaust Museum, which received multiple awards for permanent-exhibition revitalization, campaign support, tribute-dinner sponsorship, and related programming. The foundation’s giving also extends into science and public-benefit work, including support for Johns Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute and the Syngap Research Fund. In the Washington, D.C. region, it has backed DC Greens for both organizational support and nutrition and wellness needs of patients in D.C., showing a mix of institutional sponsorships and service-oriented grants. Other recent gifts reach Island Grown Initiative, The Kennedy Center, Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club, and The Barker Adoption Foundation, indicating a portfolio that combines museum and remembrance projects with food access, climate-related infrastructure, medical research, and family services.
Cultural and remembrance institutions sit at the center of the foundation’s portfolio. The United States Holocaust Museum received $3,000,000 in 2023 to support the revitalization of the permanent exhibition, plus $1,000,000 in 2024 for the Never Again: What You Do Matters campaign and $250,000 in 2025 for the same campaign. In another cultural line, The Kennedy Center received $250,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for exempt purposes. The foundation also funds food access and local agriculture. DC Greens received $500,000 in 2023 and $500,000 in 2024 for exempt purposes, followed by $500,000 in 2025 to support nutritional and wellness needs of patients in D.C. Island Grown Initiative received $500,000 in 2023 for the Growing Together campaign and $1,000,000 in 2024 for the exempt purpose of the organization, then $1,000,000 in 2025 to support updates to the greenhouse. Health and research appear through Johns Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute, which received $625,000 in 2024 and $277,627 in 2025, and through the Syngap Research Fund, which received $455,000 in 2025.
The Hillside Foundation Inc makes large grants: the 25th percentile is $166,667, the median is $500,000, and the 75th percentile is $1,000,000. The recent record shows repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, including Smithsonian Institution, the United States Holocaust Museum, DC Greens, Island Grown Initiative, Johns Hopkins University, and The Defiant Requiem Foundation. Most awards are project-specific, campaign-related, or tied to exempt-purpose support, with some event sponsorships. The foundation is a grantmaker, not an individual-giving vehicle, and the data does not show a public application process.
$4.2M
$1.1M
$3.1M
$4.2M
Most grants fall between $167K and $1M, with a median of $500K.
25th Percentile
$167K
Median
$500K
75th Percentile
$1M
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving with multiple repeat grants to a small number of flagship grantees; a mix of institutional sponsorships/event underwriting and multi-year program support; few but large grants rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Island Grown Initiative, DC Greens, UC Berkeley Foundation
The foundation gives most often in Washington, D.C., and 59% of its grants go to recipients in the District. Recent D.C. recipients include the United States Holocaust Museum, Smithsonian Institution, DC Greens, The Kennedy Center, and The Defiant Requiem Foundation. Beyond the District, recent grants reached Vineyard Haven and Edgartown, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; Berkeley, California; Palo Alto, California; and Bethesda, Maryland. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants show a strong emphasis on cultural and remembrance institutions, especially the United States Holocaust Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, along with support for health research, food access, climate-related work, and family services. Several awards are tied to campaigns, exhibition work, or exempt-purpose support.
The foundation’s typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $166,667, the median is $500,000, and the 75th percentile is $1,000,000. Recent awards include several seven-figure grants and multiple half-million-dollar grants.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat giving to several recipients across multiple years, including the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Holocaust Museum, DC Greens, Island Grown Initiative, Johns Hopkins University, and The Defiant Requiem Foundation.
Its giving is regional, with 59% of grants going to recipients in Washington, D.C. The recent grants list also includes recipients in Massachusetts, Maryland, California, and all grants in the dataset went to U.S. organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,166,667 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE NASH INNOVATIONS GALLERY |
| ISLAND GROWN INITIATIVE | VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT UPDATES TO THE GREENHOUSE |
| UC BERKLEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE HAAS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS FUND |
| DC GREENS | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT NUTRITIONAL AND WELLNESS NEEDS OF PATIENTS IN D.C. |
| SYNGAP RESEARCH FUND | PALO ALTO, CA | $455,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $277,627 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE NEVER AGAIN: WHAT YOU DO MATTERS CAMPAIGN |
| THE DEFIANT REQUIEM FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | TO PRESERVE THE MEMORY AND LEGACY OF TEREZIN PRISONERS DURING WWII |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,166,667 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE NASH INNOVATIONS GALLERY |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE REVITALIZATION OF THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION |
| ISLAND GROWN INITIATIVE | VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE NEVER AGAIN: WHAT YOU DO MATTERS CAMPAIGN |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $625,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE |
| DC GREENS | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| UC BERKLEY FOUNDATION | BERKELEY, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE SOLUTUIONS FUND |
| THE KENNEDY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | EDGARTOWN, MA | $166,666 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD |
| THE DEFIANT REQUIEM FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE REVITALIZATION OF THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT NASH INNOVATIONS GALLERY |
| ISLAND GROWN INITIATIVE | VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | $500,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE GROWING TOGETHER CAMPAIGN |
| DC GREENS | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $365,000 | 2023 | 2022 ANNUAL TRIBUTE DINNER SPONSORSHIP |
| THE KENNEDY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | EDGARTOWN, MA | $166,667 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD |
| B'NAI TZEDEK | POTOMAC, MD | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUING THE TRADITION CAMPAIGN |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE UKRAINIAN INITIATIVE PROGRAM |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $62,500 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE SURVIVOR AFFAIRS PROGRAM |
| THE BARKER ADOPTION FOUNDATION | BETHESDA, MA | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF FINDING PERMANENT LOVING FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM |
ISLAND GROWN INITIATIVE
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT UPDATES TO THE GREENHOUSE
UC BERKLEY FOUNDATION
$500,000TO SUPPORT THE HAAS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS FUND
SYNGAP RESEARCH FUND
$455,000TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
TO SUPPORT THE WILMER EYE INSTITUTE
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$250,000TO SUPPORT THE NEVER AGAIN: WHAT YOU DO MATTERS CAMPAIGN
THE DEFIANT REQUIEM FOUNDATION
$25,000TO PRESERVE THE MEMORY AND LEGACY OF TEREZIN PRISONERS DURING WWII
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT THE REVITALIZATION OF THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION
TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT THE NEVER AGAIN: WHAT YOU DO MATTERS CAMPAIGN
MARTHA'S VINEYARD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
$166,666TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD
THE DEFIANT REQUIEM FOUNDATION
$25,000TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$3,000,000TO SUPPORT THE REVITALIZATION OF THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION
MARTHA'S VINEYARD BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
$166,667TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD
B'NAI TZEDEK
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUING THE TRADITION CAMPAIGN
TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF FINDING PERMANENT LOVING FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM