The Hearst Foundations are private philanthropic organizations that support leading U.S.-based nonprofit healthcare institutions working to improve access to care and strengthen the healthcare workforce. The Foundations prioritize funding for regional hospitals, medical centers, and specialized facilities serving high-need populations, including low-income individuals, rural communities, and veterans. Their health grantmaking portfolio also includes funding for public health initiatives, medical research, and programs to develop early-career medical investigators.
Roughly 30% of the Foundations’ total funding has historically gone to the health sector, with a strong preference for organizations with annual budgets exceeding $10 million. Approximately 80% of awarded funding is allocated to prior grantees, while 20% is directed toward new applicants. Only 25% of overall applicants receive funding, emphasizing the competitive nature of the program. The minimum grant size is $100,000, and support may be provided for programmatic, capital, and, in limited cases, endowment purposes.
Priority areas include professional development for healthcare providers and educators; initiatives that enhance access to quality care for underserved populations; programs addressing the complex needs of aging populations; mental and behavioral health services; and efforts that scale innovative, coordinated care delivery systems. The Foundations also support biomedical research, particularly for new treatments and cures for prevalent diseases such as cancer, and for fostering young investigators at the start of their careers.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Hearst Foundations’ online Grants Portal. Once submitted, proposals undergo an internal evaluation process involving financial and strategic review. Organizations whose proposals advance to board-level consideration are subject to a site visit. The board meets quarterly, and the entire grant decision process typically spans around six months from submission.
Eligibility requirements include U.S.-based 501(c)(3) status, audited annual expenses of at least $2 million, and an established leadership team in place for a minimum of one year. Organizations must wait at least one year from a declination or three years from a previous grant award before reapplying. The Foundations do not fund seed programs, events, advocacy, or funding requests from local chapters of national organizations. Additional application guidance and a database of past grantees are available on the Foundations’ website.
