Herbst Family Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various causes, primarily in the arts and education sectors. Its mission reflects a commitment to enhancing cultural and educational opportunities, as evidenced by its funding of universities, arts organizations, and programs that promote artistic expression and historical education. The foundation serves a diverse range of recipients, including educational institutions, symphonies, theaters, and organizations focused on wildlife conservation and refugee assistance. Its funding activities indicate a strong focus on program support, particularly in the arts and education, contributing to the enrichment of communities and the advancement of knowledge.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Arts, culture, and higher-education organizations that fit a program-support profile and can plausibly be nominated or introduced to the funder, especially those in the foundation's home state or within the funder's existing grantee network.
Good Fit
- • Arts, cultural, museum, or symphonic organization seeking program support.
- • University department or academic fundraising office seeking a targeted program or named support.
- • Located in the foundation's primary state or already connected to recurring grantees.
- • Capacity to manage relatively small unrestricted program grants and occasional larger awards.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year went to recipients across 10 states, showing a multi-state footprint, although a strong dollar concentration (65%) remained in the foundation's home state.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 31 distinct recipients and a mix of institutional types (universities, symphonies, theaters, public media, national organizations), indicating a broad recipient set despite some dollar concentration in a few large awards.
New Applicants
Filings state the fund supports only preselected recipients and no public application route was found; while 16 new recipients appeared in the latest year, there is no evidence that unfamiliar applicants can submit unsolicited proposals, so unsolicited entry appears unlikely.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
