Hearst Foundation Inc
Hearst Foundation maintains robust assets and strong program spending with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 136161746 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $31.7M |
| Total Expenses | $21.2M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $430 |
| Net Assets | $389.7M |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is Hearst Foundation Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Hearst Foundation Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Hearst Foundation Inc
Hearst Foundation Inc (EIN: 136161746) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $31.7M and total assets of $430.3M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Hearst Foundation Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Hearst Foundation Inc is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 80 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $36.0M |
| Total Expenses | $21.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$14.8M |
| Total Assets | $394.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $4.4M |
| Net Assets | $389.7M |
| Operating Margin | 41.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 222.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Hearst Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $14.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 222.6 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Hearst Foundation Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -124.6% | +21.5% | -21.7% |
| 2021 | +2.4% | -46.0% | +9.7% |
| 2020 | +4.6% | +88.6% | +7.2% |
| 2019 | +91.8% | +7.2% | +22.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1946 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Hearst Foundation Inc with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Hearst Foundation Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $14.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers are either uncompensated or compensated through non-officer channels, which is highly favorable for a foundation of this size with assets exceeding $430 million.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Hearst Foundation Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant negative revenue reported in 2022 (-$10,343,194) warrants further investigation.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Hearst Foundation Inc:
- Consistently high program spending ratio, indicating strong mission focus.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, maximizing funds for charitable purposes.
- Substantial and growing asset base ($430,327,798 latest), ensuring long-term financial stability.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, reflecting sound financial management.
- Consistent history of significant grantmaking activity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hearst Foundation Inc
Is Hearst Foundation Inc a legitimate charity?
Hearst Foundation Inc (EIN: 136161746) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $31.7M. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Hearst Foundation Inc spend its money?
Hearst Foundation Inc directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Hearst Foundation Inc tax-deductible?
Hearst Foundation Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136161746). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Hearst Foundation Inc CEO make?
Hearst Foundation Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $430 annually. The organization reported $31.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Hearst Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
Hearst Foundation Inc directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Hearst Foundation Inc located?
Hearst Foundation Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 136161746.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Hearst Foundation Inc have?
Hearst Foundation Inc has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $31.7M in total revenue.
Is Hearst Foundation Inc. a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, Hearst Foundation Inc. appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates strong financial health with substantial assets, consistently high program spending, and zero reported officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds for its mission.
What caused the negative revenue of $-10,343,194 in 2022?
The IRS 990 data alone does not specify the exact cause. This could be due to significant investment losses, a large return of grants, or an accounting adjustment. Further investigation into the detailed financial statements for that period would be necessary to understand this anomaly.
How does Hearst Foundation Inc. manage its substantial assets?
The consistent growth in assets from $249 million in 2011 to over $430 million currently suggests effective investment management. These assets likely generate income used to fund the foundation's grantmaking activities, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Hearst Foundation Inc showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Hearst Foundation Inc's revenue has grown by 138.5%, moving from $15.1M to $36.0M. Total assets increased by 58.1% over the same period, from $249.3M to $394.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 45.1%, from $14.6M to $21.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Hearst Foundation Inc reported a surplus of $14.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $4.4M in liabilities against $394.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.1%), resulting in net assets of $389.7M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $36.0M | $21.2M | $394.1M | $4.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $-10,343,194 | $23.0M | $343.8M | $3.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $42.0M | $18.9M | $439.2M | $3.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $41.1M | $35.1M | $400.5M | $3.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $39.3M | $18.6M | $373.5M | $3.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $20.5M | $17.3M | $304.0M | $4.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $21.5M | $15.0M | $319.7M | $3.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $31.9M | $16.8M | $314.4M | $4.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $27.9M | $13.1M | $273.0M | $3.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $15.1M | $14.6M | $249.3M | $3.9M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $36.0M, expenses of $21.2M, and assets of $394.1M.
- 2022: Revenue of $-10,343,194, expenses of $23.0M, and assets of $343.8M (revenue -124.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $42.0M, expenses of $18.9M, and assets of $439.2M (revenue +2.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $41.1M, expenses of $35.1M, and assets of $400.5M (revenue +4.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $39.3M, expenses of $18.6M, and assets of $373.5M (revenue +91.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $20.5M, expenses of $17.3M, and assets of $304.0M (revenue -4.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $21.5M, expenses of $15.0M, and assets of $319.7M (revenue -32.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $31.9M, expenses of $16.8M, and assets of $314.4M (revenue +14.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $27.9M, expenses of $13.1M, and assets of $273.0M (revenue +84.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $15.1M, expenses of $14.6M, and assets of $249.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Hearst Foundation Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Hearst Foundation Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.