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Non-profit

Hinman Charitable Foundation

Location:

Carmel Valley, CA
Tax ID:

77-0496541
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $-169,915
Expenses: $240,237
Assets: $3,776,096
Type:

Private Grantmaking Foundation
Founded:

1999
Website:

None
Executive Director:

None

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The Hinman Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Carmel Valley, California. It is the charitable vehicle of technology entrepreneur Brian Hinman. While most of its grants are to noncontroversial items such as schools, universities, and animal shelters, the foundation does make grants to left-of-center causes. Among the causes that the foundation supports are left-of-center immigration-expansionist organizations and other organizations that engage in critical race theory-inspired identity politics. 1

One of the organizations that the foundation has supported is the left-of-center National Immigration Law Center. The National Immigration Law Center has joined with other left-progressive and radical-left organizations in a Los Angeles-based coalition called “Check the Sheriff.” The coalition seeks the resignation of Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva (D) and the investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office by the California Attorney General. 2

Overview

The Hinman Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Carmel Valley, California. It was previously headquartered in the city of Los Gatos, California. 3

The foundation is the private grantmaking vehicle for Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur Brian Hinman. The foundation has been in existence since at least 1999, when the IRS granted the foundation its tax exempt status. 4

Hinman’s first major donation was to his alma mater, the University of Maryland. In 2000, he donated $1.7 million towards the creation of a “living learning” program that would bring would-be entrepreneurs together in a wired-up dormitory. He expressed that he felt that the university was too geared towards bringing students to study government instead of entrepreneurship. 5

Hinman initially seeded his foundation with $11 million that he earned from the success of one of his first companies. 6

While most of the foundation’s grants are to organizations and causes that are noncontroversial such as schools, universities, animal shelters, and other truly charitable causes, the foundation does make donations to center-left and far-left organizations. Most of the political causes the foundation donates to are left-wing immigration-expansionist organizations and left-of-center identity-politics organizations. 7

Leadership

The sole trustee and officer of the foundation is Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur Brian Hinman. 8

He was born in 1962 in Wheaton, Maryland. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland at the age of 20 in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He would also earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 9

At the age of 22 in 1984, he founded PictureTel Corp, which was a leading video conferencing company. In 1991, he relocated to Silicon Valley and founded Polycom, Inc. which was a leading manufacturer of audio, video, and data-conferencing solutions. In 1998, he founded 2Wire, Inc. which distributed broadband content throughout the home. 10

Hinman first seeded his foundation in 1999 with the proceeds he earned from the success of Polycom. His initial contribution was $11 million. 11

Finances

According to the 2019 tax return, the foundation had no net revenue, spent $240,237, and had assets of $4,607,343. 12

Most of the foundation’s contributions in 2019 were to non-political groups except for a $100 contribution to the Mississippi Immigrants’ Rights Alliance. 13

In 2018, the foundation made a $5,000 grant to the National Immigration Law Center. 14 The organization has joined with other center-left to radical left organizations in the “Check the Sheriff” coalition. The coalition seeks the resignation of Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva (D) and the investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department by the California Attorney General. 15

References

  1. Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  2. About”. 2021. Check The Sheriff Coalition. Accessed October 4. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about.
  3. Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  4. Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  5. Shatzkin, Kate. 2000. “Entrepreneurs Repay Colleges With Donations; Young Alumni Give Back To Schools That Helped Them Succeed”. Baltimore Sun. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-03-07-0003070463-story.html.
  6. Shatzkin, Kate. 2000. “Entrepreneurs Repay Colleges With Donations; Young Alumni Give Back To Schools That Helped Them Succeed”. Baltimore Sun. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-03-07-0003070463-story.html.
  7. Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  8.            Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  9. “Brian L. Hinman”. 2021. A. James Clark School Of Engineering, University Of Maryland. Accessed October 4. https://eng.umd.edu/ihof/brian-hinman.
  10. “Brian L. Hinman”. 2021. A. James Clark School Of Engineering, University Of Maryland. Accessed October 4. https://eng.umd.edu/ihof/brian-hinman.
  11. Shatzkin, Kate. 2000. “Entrepreneurs Repay Colleges With Donations; Young Alumni Give Back To Schools That Helped Them Succeed”. Baltimore Sun. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-03-07-0003070463-story.html.
  12.   Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  13. Form 990. 2019. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/770/496/2019-770496541-202042769349100509-F.pdf?_gl=1*122qiwt*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM2NzMuMA.
  14. Form 990. 2018. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/770/496/2018-770496541-17047902-F.pdf?_gl=1*1u9enit*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM3MjUuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzM2MzYzNC4zNy4xLjE2MzMzNjM3MjUuMA..&_ga=2.259123594.1863340088.1633363633-1729401998.1573449492.
  15. About”. 2021. Check The Sheriff Coalition. Accessed October 4. https://www.checkthesheriff.com/about.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 1999

    • 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
    2019 Dec Form PF $-169,915 $240,237 $3,776,096 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2015 Dec Form PF $53,378 $141,807 $4,428,951 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $197,116 $266,297 $4,517,380 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $1,296,428 $260,298 $4,586,561 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $123,305 $303,012 $3,550,431 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $225,165 $274,931 $3,731,138 $1,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Hinman Charitable Foundation

    907 Laureles Grade Rd
    Carmel Valley, CA 93924-9402