Head & Heart Foundation Trust

The Head & Heart Foundation Trust is a private foundation established in 2020 and administered by Bessemer Trust Company of Delaware, one of the oldest multifamily wealth management firms in the United States. The foundation operates on a preselected-grantee model, meaning it identifies and selects organizations to fund proactively rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Principal Julia E. Coombs (since May 2023) directs the foundation's grantmaking, which reflects strong environmental and conservation values. The foundation's focus areas center on environmental protection — including wildlife conservation, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation — alongside education and human services. With Bessemer Trust serving as corporate trustee, the foundation benefits from professional wealth management, which has generated significant investment returns to sustain philanthropic activities. The foundation operates with minimal staff (1 employee as of 2024), consistent with a trust-administered model where the corporate trustee handles operational and administrative functions. The foundation's grantmaking has scaled rapidly from just 2 grants in 2020 (its founding year) to 83 grants in 2024, indicating a deliberate ramp-up strategy.

The Head & Heart Foundation Trust holds $245.4 million in assets and distributed $12.76 million across 83 grants in 2024. Total revenues in 2024 were $17.97 million, primarily from investment income and asset sales rather than new donations, suggesting a self-sustaining endowment model. Total expenses were $13.42 million. The foundation has grown grantmaking rapidly: from 2 awards in 2020 to 50 in 2021, 71 in 2022, 84 in 2023, and 83 in 2024. Grant sizes range from $10,000 to $750,000, with notable recent grants including $500,000 to Earthjustice, $500,000 to Project Chimps, and $450,000 to American Rivers. The foundation appears to be partially liquidating investment positions to fund philanthropy, generating returns through asset sales. At a 5.2% effective payout rate ($12.76M on $245M in assets), the foundation exceeds the IRS 5% minimum distribution requirement. Geographic distribution spans 28+ states with primary concentration in California, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Bessemer Trust receives approximately $449,000 annually in trustee compensation for administration.

The Head & Heart Foundation Trust occupies a mid-tier position among U.S. environmental and conservation funders. At $245 million in assets and $12.8 million in annual giving, it is larger than most specialized conservation foundations but smaller than major environmental funders like the Doris Duke Foundation or Packard Foundation. Its preselected-grantee model is common among trust-administered foundations. The rapid scaling from 2 to 83 grants in four years is notable and suggests an intentional expansion of the grantmaking program. Its focus on both wildlife/animal welfare (e.g., Project Chimps) and environmental litigation (Earthjustice) indicates a broad conservation mandate.

The Head & Heart Foundation Trust has maintained steady grantmaking through 2023-2024 after a rapid scaling period. In 2024, the foundation distributed $12.76 million across 83 grants, slightly down from 84 grants in 2023 but consistent in overall giving level. Notable 2024 grants included $500,000 to Earthjustice (environmental law), $500,000 to Project Chimps (primate sanctuary), and $450,000 to American Rivers (river conservation), as well as support for the Natural Resources Defense Council. The foundation's grantmaking trajectory shows remarkable growth from its founding: just 2 grants in 2020, expanding to 50 in 2021, 71 in 2022, and stabilizing at 83-84 grants annually in 2023-2024. Julia E. Coombs assumed the role of Principal in May 2023, providing leadership direction for the trust's charitable activities. The foundation continues to operate from its Wilmington, Delaware address at Bessemer Trust's offices (20 Montchanin Road), maintaining its lean operational structure with a single employee. Revenue generation from investment income and asset sales ($17.97 million in 2024) continues to sustain and potentially grow the grantmaking budget.

The Head & Heart Foundation Trust explicitly states that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This means there is no formal application pathway for organizations not already in the foundation's network. However, organizations working in environmental conservation can consider these strategies: (1) Understand the foundation's strong environmental orientation — Earthjustice, American Rivers, Project Chimps, and NRDC represent the types of organizations favored. (2) Organizations focused on wildlife conservation, climate change mitigation, renewable energy, or environmental litigation are most aligned. (3) The foundation distributes across 28+ states but concentrates in California, Oregon, and DC — organizations in these areas may have an advantage. (4) Build visibility in the environmental and conservation community, as the foundation's preselection process likely identifies grantees through sector networks and Bessemer Trust's philanthropic advisory relationships. (5) Grants range from $10,000 to $750,000, with the foundation capable of making substantial multi-hundred-thousand-dollar commitments. (6) The foundation has been steadily adding new grantees each year (from 2 to 83 in four years), suggesting openness to new organizations. (7) The foundation address is c/o Bessemer Trust, 20 Montchanin Road, Suite 1500, Wilmington, DE 19807.