The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation board of directors approved over $79 million in grants, including Program-Related Investments, in the fourth quarter of 2025, and a total of over $300 million in grants were paid in 2025.
In the fourth quarter, over $6.5 million was granted through the Hilton Foundation’s Early Childhood Development – U.S. initiative, focusing on parent leadership, childcare systems, service delivery and policymaker education opportunities. These funds aim to improve and increase access to coordinated and holistic ECD services, improve developmental outcomes for young children, and strengthen parent capacity in Los Angeles County and New Mexico.
Following is an overview of the board-approved grants awarded in the fourth quarter of 2025:
Catholic Sisters – Dicastery for Communication received $2.8 million over three years to support capacity building, reporting and documenting of Catholic sisters’ stories and ministries. Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life was awarded $1.7 million over three years to strengthen sisters’ capacity via the e-Studium, equip leaders to navigate diverse cultural and spiritual challenges with pastoral insight, and enhance the dicastery’s communication and digital systems. Good Shepherd Mission Development Corporation received $1.66 million over three years for the Good Shepherd International Foundation, an affiliate partner of GSMDC, to prevent and combat violence against vulnerable women and girls in Mexico by promoting their autonomy and self-determination. Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops Registered Trustees received $1.6 million over three years to support sustainable livelihood interventions among vulnerable families and respond to the needs and welfare of children in targeted communities in Zambia.
Early Childhood Development – East and Southern Africa – The African Early Childhood Network Registered Trustees received $2.2 million over three years to strengthen the institutional capacity of key constituencies in Eastern and Southern Africa, including governments and civil society organizations, to enable the delivery of quality early childhood development services to all young children and families. Amref Health Africa was awarded $1.8 million over three years to support promotion of early childhood development within primary health care systems in Kenya.
Early Childhood Development – United States – California Community Foundation was awarded $3 million to implement a city-wide early childhood development plan in Pomona that will deliver activities for children and parents, launch a referral system to increase access to services, and monitor the impact of early childhood placed-based efforts. Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation received $1.92 million over four years to strengthen parent leadership capacity and community collaboration to build a comprehensive early childhood development system across Northern New Mexico that increases access to services for families with young children.
Foster Youth – United Way of Greater Atlanta Inc. was awarded $2 million over three years to support implementation of the Youth Advocacy Initiative infrastructure aimed at transforming advocacy and support systems for youth ages 14 to 24 within Georgia’s foster care system.
Homelessness – Fountain House, Inc. received $3.225 million over three years to support mental health services for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Housing California was awarded $1.8 million over three years to strengthen, align, and activate statewide advocacy to address homelessness.
Opportunity Youth – Children’s Bureau of New Orleans was awarded $2.675 million over four years to support a peer-to-peer mental health program providing mental health support to opportunity youth at job training programs in New Orleans. Lost Angels Children’s Project Inc. received $2.3 million over three years to support job training and placement for opportunity youth in the Antelope Valley. National Skills Coalition was awarded $1.7 million over three years to conduct policy education and implementation work to improve workforce outcomes for opportunity youth. Fountain House, Inc. received $1.3 million over three years to support mental health services for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.
Safe Water – Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development received $2.5 million over three years to expand an innovative, results-based financing model to convert diesel-powered drinking water systems to solar-powered systems, improving reliability and affordability of professional drinking water services for rural communities in Ethiopia.
Other Grants
Aviation –California Science Center Foundation received $1 million over two years to support the autonomous Drone Flight Exhibit, inspiring visitors with the forces of flight and future of aviation, while preparing educator guides, including LAUSD teachers, to deliver Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics instruction.
To learn more about our program areas and philanthropic approach, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org/work/our-initiatives. For more detailed information on grantmaking, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org/grants.