Hitz Foundation

The Hitz Foundation operates as a tightly focused private family foundation anchored by the passions of David Hitz, co-founder of NetApp (retired 2019), and managed operationally by his brother Kenneth Hitz as President. With assets of approximately $79.5 million and annual giving reaching an estimated $5.9 million in 2024, the foundation distributes at a 7–8% payout rate — well above the legally required 5% minimum — signaling genuine philanthropic urgency.

This is a high-conviction, relationship-first funder. The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals, listing application instructions as none. With only 4–11 grants made per year across the entire portfolio, every grant represents a deliberate, personal commitment rather than a programmatic response to an open call. Organizations must be identified by foundation leadership or introduced through trusted intermediaries.

David Hitz's giving philosophy centers on a small number of deeply personal passions: Shakespearean theater (particularly modernizing or translating Shakespeare for contemporary audiences), environmental conservation in East Africa and Mesoamerica, digital heritage preservation through 3D scanning and archaeological documentation, and select education and scientific research. First-time applicants must position their work squarely within these stated interests — generic arts, environment, or education framing will not suffice.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival relationship is the foundation's defining partnership, with $6 million committed across multiple grants and a landmark $10 million five-year pledge announced in November 2022. This is not a funder seeking portfolio diversity; it invests deeply in a small set of organizations over many years.

For organizations hoping to enter consideration, the path runs through deliberate relationship-building: Silicon Valley technology networks (NetApp alumni, Stanford connections), environmental conservation convenings in the Bay Area, or cultural philanthropy circles where David Hitz and Kenneth Hitz are active participants. Kenneth Hitz is the operational gatekeeper; David Hitz is the visionary behind the giving priorities. Cold outreach is almost certainly futile. Warm introductions through board members of current grantees — particularly Global Digital Heritage, Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund, or Pacunam — offer the most realistic entry point for organizations aligned with the foundation's niche interests.

The Hitz Foundation's grantmaking shows a clear upward trajectory over the past decade: grants paid grew from $860,500 in 2012 to $4.03 million in 2023, with 2024 data from third-party sources indicating a record $5.9 million disbursed across six grants. Total giving (including grants plus program-related expenses) reached $5.04 million in 2023 and approximately $6.3 million in 2024.

Grant sizes vary enormously within a single portfolio year. The foundation's own profile data indicates a typical range of $25,000–$900,000 with a median of $125,000, but real-world awards stretch well beyond that ceiling: Oregon Shakespeare Festival received $3.6 million in fiscal year 2024 alone. Across all 19 grants tracked in the database, totaling $10.38 million, the average award is $546,474 — heavily skewed upward by the OSF relationship.

Breaking down by program area using tracked grant dollars: - Arts (Shakespearean theater): $6.0 million to Oregon Shakespeare Festival across 3 grants — 58% of all tracked dollars - Research and digital heritage: $2.47 million to Global Digital Heritage (3 grants) plus $730,000 to Pacunam (scientific/archaeological research) and $192,000 to Waka Research Foundation — approximately 33% combined - Environmental conservation: $600,000 to Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund across 3 grants — approximately 6% - History and preservation: $195,000 combined to Global Heritage Fund and World Monuments Fund — roughly 2% - Education and policy: $200,000 combined to Arizona State University Foundation (3 grants) and Roosevelt Institute — approximately 2%

Geographically, Oregon dominates by dollar volume due to OSF. California (home state), Florida, Arizona, New York, and Missouri each receive smaller allocations. Internationally, the foundation supports work in East Africa (Maasai), Guatemala and Mesoamerica (Pacunam), and globally for digital heritage projects.

Foundation assets have grown from $34.5 million in 2012 to a peak of $84.4 million in 2022, settling at $79.5 million in 2024 — suggesting some portfolio liquidation to support elevated grantmaking. Revenue is driven by investment income and periodic large contributions from David Hitz, including a $10.3 million contribution infusion in 2020 that likely funded the subsequent OSF commitment.

The Hitz Foundation occupies a distinctive niche among private foundations with approximately $79–80 million in assets: it concentrates giving far more intensely (fewer than 11 grants per year) and maintains a higher payout rate than most foundations of comparable size. Its closest asset-based peers paint a markedly different picture.

Peer giving estimates are based on the standard 5% private foundation minimum payout applied to stated asset levels; actual disbursements are not publicly confirmed for these foundations.

Hitz Foundation distinguishes itself from these asset peers in three important ways: its payout rate of 7–8% exceeds the sector minimum by a meaningful margin; its giving is dramatically concentrated (the top two grantees — OSF and Global Digital Heritage — account for more than 80% of all tracked grant dollars); and its funding interests are unusually specific and passion-driven. Other foundations in this asset range with Philanthropy and Grantmaking NTEE classifications tend to operate more diversified portfolios across broader geographies. Grant seekers who cannot identify genuine overlap with the Hitz family's specific philanthropic vision should redirect resources toward more programmatically accessible peers.

The most significant recent milestone was the November 2022 announcement of a $10 million commitment to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon — the foundation's largest known gift, structured as annual payments over five years. The 2024 fiscal year 990 (filed with the IRS in November 2025) confirms that payments continued on schedule, with $3.6 million disbursed to OSF in fiscal year 2024 alone.

Beyond the OSF relationship, fiscal year 2024 grantmaking included: $1.208 million to Global Digital Heritage for 3D documentation and research; $730,000 to Pacunam for Mesoamerican archaeological research; $250,000 to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund for East African conservation; $100,000 to the Roosevelt Institute for general operating support; and $50,000 to the Arizona State University Foundation for education programs.

Operationally, Kenneth Hitz's compensation has risen steadily — from $100,000 in 2019 to $284,329 in 2023 and approximately $257,000 in 2024 — suggesting increasing foundation activity and possibly expanded programming or grant management responsibilities. David Hitz (Treasurer/Chairman) remains uncompensated, consistent with his role as founding donor and strategic visionary.

No public press releases or new program initiative announcements were found for 2025 or 2026. The foundation does not maintain an active social media presence, and its Wix-hosted website (hitzfoundation.org) is minimally updated. The absence of public communications is entirely consistent with the foundation's private, invitation-only approach — it finds its grantees; grantees do not find it through open channels.

Since the Hitz Foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited grant requests, standard application strategies are largely irrelevant. The following guidance reflects how organizations realistically enter this foundation's consideration.

Verify authentic alignment before investing any time. The foundation funds three distinct passion areas: (1) Shakespearean theater, specifically modernizing or translating Shakespeare for contemporary audiences; (2) environmental conservation, particularly in East Africa and Mesoamerica; (3) digital heritage preservation, including 3D scanning and documentation of at-risk archaeological sites. If your organization does not fit one of these three areas specifically — not just broadly — this is not the right funder.

Map existing grantee networks first. Current and past grantees — Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Global Digital Heritage, Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund, Pacunam, Global Heritage Fund, World Monuments Fund — have board members and leadership who move in the same philanthropic circles as the Hitz family. A board introduction or peer referral from these organizations is the single highest-value activity.

Leverage Silicon Valley networks strategically. David Hitz co-founded NetApp in 1992 and retired in 2019 after a career deeply embedded in Bay Area technology. NetApp alumni networks, Princeton University connections, and tech-sector environmental philanthropy convenings (such as those hosted by Silicon Valley Community Foundation) offer natural introduction opportunities.

Plan for a long relationship timeline. Every major grantee in this portfolio has received multiple grants over multiple years — Global Digital Heritage, OSF, and Maasai each show 3+ grants in the database. First-time grants consistently range from $50,000–$130,000 before relationships deepen toward multi-million commitments. Do not approach expecting a large first-year award.

Prepare analytically rigorous materials. David Hitz holds Princeton degrees in computer science and electrical engineering. If a conversation is secured, have ready a tight two-page program summary with measurable outcomes, budget transparency, and a clear theory of change — intellectual depth and quantitative rigor will matter more than narrative polish.

Use official contact channels only. Address: 1801 Page Mill Rd, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94304. Phone: (650) 845-8100. Contact: Sangeeta Lam, c/o Frank Rimerman Co. LLP. Website: hitzfoundation.org. Do not attempt to reach David or Kenneth Hitz through personal or professional channels outside the foundation.