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Non-profit

Hillman Family Foundations

Website:

hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/
Location:

PITTSBURGH, PA
Tax ID:

25-6065959
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2015):

Revenue: $67,672,759
Expenses: $47,245,425
Assets: $407,506,560
Type:

Left-of-Center Grantmaking Organization
President:

David K. Roger

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Hillman Family Foundations is a collection of 18 left-of-center grantmaking organizations that fund other organizations and causes predominantly in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. 1 Some of the foundations also operate in California, New York, and Oregon. 2 Altogether, the foundations have over $1.5 billion in assets. 3

The first foundations in the network were founded by Pittsburgh industrialist John Hartwell Hillman. 4 Today, the 18 foundations together offer millions of dollars in grants to a variety of left-of-center organizations, including abortion advocacy groups like Planned Parenthood 5 and gun control groups like Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. 6

Founding and History

Hillman Family Foundations was formed in 2008 as the umbrella organization of 18 related grantmaking organizations associated with the extended Hillman family. 7 Previously, the foundations were administered independently. The first four of the family foundations, the Hillman Foundation, Polk Foundation, Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation, and Henry L. Hillman Foundation, were named after John Hartwell Hillman, Jr., and his three children, respectively, between 1951 and 1968. 8

John Hartwell Hillman’s son, Henry L. Hillman, expanded the foundations further, creating 14 more foundations named after his wife, children, and grandchildren. 9

Each of the 18 foundations have general areas of focus in their grantmaking that often overlap with each other, including health and medicine, education, economic development, equity, arts and culture, environmentalism, animal welfare, and abortion access. 10

The Hillman family originally made its money in coal, iron, and steal brokerage. John Hartwell Hillman, Jr., the creator of the original Hillman Foundation, was born in 1880 and operated the family company J.H. Hillman & Sons. J.H. Hillman & Sons expanded operations to mining, barge lines, coke ovens, and blast furnaces. John Hartwell Hillman’s son, Henry L. Hillman, took over the company in the 1950s, renaming the organization “The Hillman Company” and expanding operations to aircraft component manufacturing, concrete pipe production, sporting good manufacturing, and chemical production. 11

Subsidiary Foundations and Activities

The Hillman Family Foundations is the umbrella organization that provides administrative and oversight support to 18 different subsidiary foundations, largely named after the family members of Henry L. Hillman and each with its own particular area of focus. The 18 organizations are Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation, Dylan Todd Simonds Foundation, Elsie H. Hillman Foundation, Henry John Simonds Foundation, Henry Lea Hillman, Jr. Foundation, Hillman Foundation, Juliet Ashby Hillman Foundation, Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation, Justin Brooks Fisher Foundation, Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation, Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation, Matthew Hillman Fisher Foundation, Nina Baldwin Fisher Foundation, Polk Foundation, Summer Lea Hillman Foundation, Talbott and Carter Simonds Foundation, and William Talbott Hillman Foundation. 12

The foundations engage in a wide array of grantmaking activities, including supporting many left-of-center causes. For example, the foundations have donated $1,235,0000 to abortion activist group Planned Parenthood in recent years, 13 including $800,000 in donations from the Henry Lea Hillman, Jr. Foundation. 14

Many of the Hillman Family Foundations have provide grants for climate change activism in recent years, including a $25,000 grant from the Henry Lea Hillman, Jr. Foundation, 15  $90,000 from Justin Brooks Fisher Foundation, 16 at least $100,000 from Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation, 17 $15,000 from the Summer Lea Hillman Foundation, 18 and $43,000 from Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation. 19

The Hillman Family Foundation also supports other left-of-center organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 20 Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 21 Tides Foundation, 22 Urban Institute, 23 Heal the Bay, 24 Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, 25 Voto Latino Foundation, 26 Southern Poverty Law Center, 27 NAACP, 28 Democracy Works, 29 NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, 30 and Guns Down America. 31

References

  1. “FAQs.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs.
  2. “FAQs.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs.
  3. “Form 990.” Line I. Guidestar. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/256/065/2019-256065959-17775659-PA.pdf
  4. “FAQs.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs.
  5. “Grants.” Henry Lea Hillman Jr. Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://henryleahillmanjrfoundation.org/grants.
  6. “Grants.” Henry Lea Hillman Jr. Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://henryleahillmanjrfoundation.org/grants.
  7. “Hillman Family Foundations.” Foundation Director Online. August 20, 2021. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=HILL007.
  8. “FAQs.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs.
  9. “FAQs.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs.
  10. “Hillman Family Foundations.” Foundation Director Online. August 20, 2021. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=HILL007.
  11. “About Elsie Hillman.” University of Pittsburgh. Accessed May 2, 2022. http://elsiehillman.pitt.edu/elsie.html.
  12. “FAQs.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs.
  13. “Find a Foundation.” Hillman Family Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://hillmanfamilyfoundations.org/#FAQs. (Note: Search in each subsidiary foundation for the term “Planned Parenthood.”)
  14. [1] “Grants.” Henry Lea Hillman Jr. Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://henryleahillmanjrfoundation.org/grants.
  15. “Grants.” Henry Lea Hillman Jr. Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://henryleahillmanjrfoundation.org/grants.
  16. “Explore Recent Grants.” Justin Brooks Fisher Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://justinbrooksfisherfoundation.org/grants.
  17. “Explore Recent Grants.” Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://lilahhilliardfisherfoundation.org/grants.
  18. “Explore Recent Grants.” Summer Leah Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://summerleahillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  19. “Explore Recent Grants.” Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://audreyhillmanfisherfoundation.org/grants.
  20. “Explore Recent Grants.” Dylan Todd Simonds Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://dylantoddsimondsfoundation.org/grants.
  21. “Grants.” Henry Lea Hillman Jr. Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://henryleahillmanjrfoundation.org/grants.
  22. “Explore Recent Grants.” Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation.” Accessed May 2, 2022. https://lilahhilliardfisherfoundation.org/grants.
  23. “Explore Recent Grants.” Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://maryhillmanjenningsfoundation.org/grants.
  24. “Explore Recent Grants.” Matthew Hillman Foundations. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://matthewhillmanfisherfoundation.org/grants.
  25. “Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  26. [1]“Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  27. “Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  28. “Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  29. “Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  30. “Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
  31. “Explore Recent Grants.” William Talbott Hillman Foundation. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://williamtalbotthillmanfoundation.org/grants.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 1965

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2015 Dec Form PF $67,672,759 $47,245,425 $407,506,560 $31,801,470 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $50,574,295 $34,317,960 $414,368,802 $16,580,156 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $49,325,020 $22,907,016 $399,034,668 $13,789,924 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $37,372,453 $17,363,706 $357,584,648 $14,096,853 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $17,203,377 $14,441,892 $318,733,429 $15,960,853 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2010 Dec Form PF $10,661,715 $9,452,517 $319,130,647 $19,288,419 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Hillman Family Foundations

    330 GRANT ST SUITE 2000
    PITTSBURGH, PA 15219-0000