Hillside Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Hillside Foundation primarily funds Jewish causes, but also support STEM education, health, and more. The foundation's philanthropy centers around the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly the D.C. area.

IP TAKE: The foundation is not transparent or accessible, preferring a low-profile and no public website. It also does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals.

Networking is key for getting this funder's attention, which will be challenging unless you know the family or previous grantees.

PROFILE: The Hillside Foundation is the primary philanthropic vehicle of Allan Holt and his wife, Shelley. Holt graduated from Rutgers University and received an MBA from UC Berkeley. He worked at Avenir Group, Inc., an investment and advisory company, before joining the Carlyle Group in 1992. Based in Washington, D.C., Holt is a senior partner and managing director of the Carlyle Group and Co‑Head of Carlyle’s U.S. buyout group. In addition to Jewish causes, this funder supports arts and culture, food systems and public health with a focus on the D.C. area.

Grants for Jewish Causes and Israel

The Hillside Foundation does not have clearly defined grantmaking programs; however, tax records show that support for Jewish causes and Israel is the foundation’s primary funding interest. It has given more in this space than any other.

The son of Holocaust survivors, Holt was appointed vice chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by President Obama in December 2015. The following year, the Hillside Foundation gave a $20 million gift to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in support of a comprehensive revitalization of its permanent exhibition, and it continues to steadily support the museum.

In addition to the Holocaust Museum, the foundation has supported the Friends of Auschwitz Birkenau Foundation, as well as steady funding for the Defiant Requiem Foundation; the film Defiant Requiem tells the story of the Nazi concentration camp, Terezín. Other grantees include Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Hillside is a major supporter of Congregation B'Nai Tzedek, giving a $1 million grant to create the “B’nai Tzedek Fund for the Future.”

Grants for STEM Education and Sustainable Agriculture

Hillside prioritizes STEM fields in its education philanthropy. This could be because Carlyle deals with the aerospace, defense, and IT sectors. Holt has served as a board member of Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and, in 2019, Hillside gave $11 million to the Museum. It also helped establish the museum’s Holt Scholars Program, which supports classroom activities, field trips, and teacher professional development. It has also supported DC STEM Network's STEM Institute for Educators, and the ARCS Foundation, an "organization started and run entirely by women who boost American leadership and aid advancement in science and technology."

Outside of STEM education, Hillside has supported Holt's alma mater UC Berkeley; Maya Angelou School, a public charter; DC Greens, a nonprofit that provides education and school garden programs to engage children and low-income families in sustainable nutrition; and Island Grown Initiative, a sustainable agriculture organization providing local food advocacy and farm education through a farm-to-school program on Martha’s Vineyard.

Grants for Public Health and Access

The foundation has focused on women's healthcare and access to treatment. It has supported 3D mammography at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Hillside has also given $10 million to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for a new surgical facility.

Grants for Arts and Culture

The foundation’s funding for arts and culture institutions has not been as robust as support for other areas. Nevertheless, it has made grants in this space, including $11 million to the National Air and Space Museum. Grantees have included the Kennedy Center, National Children’s Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution.

OTHER: The foundation has supported Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), a "philanthropic investment organization that helps great leaders build strong, high-performing nonprofit institutions." A component of the family's philanthropy also involves human services.  

Important Grant Information

Grants typically range from $50,000 to $200,000, and $250,000 is the most common amount. The foundation does not maintain a website or provide a clear way for grantseekers to get in touch. It also does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.

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CONTACT:

The Hillside Foundation, Inc.
1001 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Ste. 220S
Washington, DC 20004

(202) 729-5506