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Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
The Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation was established in 1987 by the couple whose wealth originated in commercial banking. Richard Hemingway led...
Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
The Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation was established in 1987 by the couple whose wealth originated in commercial banking. Richard Hemingway led Commercial Security Bank, an institution later absorbed into Zions Bancorporation, and the foundation remains interwoven with a family network that includes Wasatch Global Advisors and multiple subsidiary philanthropic vehicles. The foundation provides resources to organizations in Utah and Idaho, reflecting the founders' principles and the current interests of their descendants. The foundation's investment posture spans public equities, corporate bonds, government obligations, and a private-capital allocation that includes buyout, venture, and fund-of-funds commitments. Grantmaking focuses on education, healthcare, and arts and culture within the Intermountain West. The investment portfolio is managed to sustain the granting budget, with the foundation maintaining relationships with entities such as Millburn & Company for real estate exposure. Family trustees—including Hank Hemingway and Helen Cardon—oversee both the grantmaking and the investment committee. With an estimated $20 million in assets, the foundation operates from a single office on South Temple Street in Salt Lake City. The family's philanthropic architecture extends through the Henry S. and Patrice Hemingway Foundation and the Jeffrey S. and Helen H. Cardon Foundation, creating a web of giving vehicles that sometimes co-donate. The foundation is a contributing member of PEAK Grantmaking, signaling a professionalized approach to grants management despite the absence of a dedicated investment staff. Structurally, the Hemingway Foundation functions as a steward of legacy capital rather than an active allocator competing for institutional deal flow. Its portfolio blends liquid securities with illiquid alternatives in a configuration typical of a bank-family foundation that prioritizes capital preservation and steady payout. Governance sits entirely with family trustees, a model that concentrates decision-making but eliminates the principal-agent friction found in larger institutional foundations.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1987
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Salt Lake City
Corporate office
699 E South Temple Street, Suite 201F, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Principals
Richard K. Hemingway
Founder and President
Hank Hemingway
Trustee and Immediate Past President
Helen Cardon
Trustee
Henry S. Hemingway
Trustee
Jane Mason
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who oversees investment decisions at the Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation?
Investment oversight falls to the foundation's board of trustees, which comprises family members including Richard K. Hemingway (President), Hank Hemingway (Immediate Past President), and trustees Helen Cardon, Henry S. Hemingway, and Jane Mason. The foundation does not disclose a dedicated chief investment officer or external outsourced-CIO relationship, suggesting investment decisions are made collectively by the board with possible input from the family's broader financial relationships, including ties to Wasatch Global Advisors and Zions Bancorporation.
How is the Hemingway Foundation's wealth connected to the broader Hemingway family?
The foundation's endowment originated from Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway. Richard Hemingway served as Chairman of Commercial Security Bank, a Utah-based institution that eventually merged into Zions Bancorporation. The family maintains multiple philanthropic vehicles, including the Henry S. and Patrice Hemingway Foundation and the Jeffrey S. and Helen H. Cardon Foundation. Jeffrey Cardon, Richard and Shirley's son-in-law, is the former CEO of Wasatch Global Advisors, a Utah-based asset manager, further embedding the family in the regional financial and philanthropic ecosystem.
What is the foundation's approach to private-market investing?
The foundation's private-capital strategy includes buyout, venture capital, and fund-of-funds commitments, according to its disclosed investment posture. The portfolio also holds corporate stock, corporate bonds, and government obligations, giving it a hybrid allocation model. With an estimated $20 million in assets, the foundation likely accesses private funds through manager relationships rather than direct company investments, though specific fund names have not been publicly disclosed.
Which geographies does the Hemingway Foundation prioritize for grantmaking?
Grantmaking concentrates on organizations in Utah and Idaho, consistent with the foundation's founding mission. The foundation maintains its sole office in Salt Lake City and has not disclosed international or broader national grantmaking programs. Recipient organizations typically align with the founders' values and are selected by the family trustees.
Does the Hemingway Foundation collaborate with other family philanthropic entities?
Yes. The foundation operates alongside the Henry S. and Patrice Hemingway Foundation and the Jeffrey S. and Helen H. Cardon Foundation. These entities are listed as co-donors in some philanthropic initiatives, suggesting coordinated giving among branches of the Hemingway family. Millburn & Company, a real estate investment firm, also appears as a co-donor and partner in certain charitable efforts.
How transparent is the Hemingway Foundation about its holdings?
The foundation does not publicly disclose its AUM, specific portfolio holdings, or detailed investment performance. Its Form 990-PF filings—available through public record for a private foundation of this type—provide a general breakdown of asset categories and grant recipients, but the foundation does not publish an annual report or maintain a detailed investor-relations presence. The foundation's assets are estimated at roughly $20 million based on public filings.
Is the Hemingway Foundation structured to exist in perpetuity?
The foundation appears designed as a multi-generational vehicle, with second- and third-generation family members serving as trustees alongside the founder, Richard K. Hemingway. The existence of multiple sibling foundations and the inclusion of descendants on the board suggests an intention to sustain the giving mandate across generations, though no formal perpetuity statement has been made public.
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