About Us

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation invests in creative thinkers and problem solvers who are working to ensure everyone has a meaningful opportunity to thrive.

Our History

Established in 1966, the Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan philanthropy created through the personal generosity of engineer and entrepreneur Bill Hewlett and his wife, Flora. The Hewlett family’s philanthropic ethos remains at the core of the foundation’s enduring priorities and practices. The foundation is wholly independent of HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and the HPE Foundation.

Learn more about the Hewlett Family and Foundation History.

Our Values

We believe all people, no matter who they are or where they come from, should have the opportunity to thrive. That requires mutual respect — and a dedication to everyone’s well-being. Our philanthropic approach, emphasizing patience and collaboration, is rooted in the ethos of our founders and in what we’ve learned about effective philanthropy in nearly six decades of working with nonprofits and other partners in the U.S. and around the world.

Learn more about our guiding principles.

Our Programs

We make grants across a number of program areas, many of which we have supported for decades. Globally — including in the U.S. — we make grants to advance gender equity and governance and to reduce the growing threat of climate change. Our U.S. efforts prioritize strengthening democracy, advancing education for all, and supporting community-led conservation in the North American West. Locally, we make grants to support meaningful artistic experiences in communities across the Bay Area and support regional foundations working on critical issues such as housing.

We also address emerging challenges through time-limited initiatives, such as our current effort to reimagine capitalism and foster a “new common sense” about how the economy works and serves society’s aims. Across all of our programs, we invest in advancing racial justice and in strengthening the effectiveness of philanthropy itself.

Learn more about our programs and initiatives.

Our Grants

We invest in creative thinkers who imagine a better future and in problem solvers who turn ideas into action. We promote constructive dialogue across difference, and we provide reliable, responsive, and strategic support to our partners. In 2022, the foundation awarded more than $560 million in grants, with more than two-thirds of that total awarded as flexible funding. At any one time, we have nearly 3,000 active grants to organizations around the world. That includes support to organizations large and small — from research universities building public knowledge to grassroots organizations supporting community advocacy, from Bay Area artists engaging local audiences to African think tanks developing policy solutions. As of December 31, 2022, the foundation’s assets were approximately $12.8 billion.

Explore our grants database and view our financial statements.

Our People

The Hewlett Foundation depends on a cooperative working relationship between our president, board, and staff. Our board of directors always includes four members of the Hewlett family and between five and 11 other leaders drawn from philanthropy, government, business, education, and civil society. Based in the Bay Area, we have approximately 130 employees working together to advance the foundation’s mission and support our grantees.

Learn more about our staff, staff demographics, and open positions.