About

The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation envisions a world where people and nature live in harmony and good health.

The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation is a private philanthropic grantmaking foundation dedicated to environmental justice; the health of the public, climate, air, water, and nature; reproductive justice; and the interdependent relationship between humans, public parks and open spaces, nature, and the environment. The Foundation primarily supports work in and around the Houston and Austin regions, as well as across Texas on issues of statewide significance.

Our priority areas have guided the Foundation since they were laid out by our founders, Jacob W. and Terese T. Hershey, at the Foundation’s inception in 1961. As owner of an inland marine transportation business and former competitive sailor, Jake Hershey was vitally interested in the health of Galveston Bay and area waterways. As a community volunteer, Terry Hershey began her activist conservation work in the early 1960s when Buffalo Bayou was threatened with channelization as a means to prevent flooding. Much as Jake and Terry did, the Foundation has remained committed to its priorities, taken on historic battles, and supported small teams with big punch with unwavering determination.

Our decision-making is rooted in the following values:

People  We value the dignity, experience and worth of every person, especially the people whose well-being is at stake.

Nature  We respect the vitality of nature, open spaces and the many species they home, especially when under threat.

Harmony  We affirm the interdependent relationship between people and nature.

Equity & Justice  We act knowing that many power structures were designed to favor some and disadvantage others. We embrace both systems change and harm repair.

Bold Action  We believe that taking risks can lead to transformative change.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeffrey Hershey

Jeffrey Hershey
President

Dr. Kimberly Baker

Dr. Kimberly Baker
Vice President

Dr. Andrew Sansom

Dr. Andrew Sansom
Treasurer

Amie Rodnick

Amie Rodnick
Secretary

 
Dr. Olive Hershey
Dr. Olive Hershey
Dr. Bakeyah Nelson
Dr. Bakeyah Nelson
Treasurer
Angelica Razo
 

STAFF

Elizabeth Love

Elizabeth Love
Chief Executive Officer

Julia Gutierrez

Julia Gutierrez
Executive Assistant and Grants Associate

 
Alan Chang
Alan Chang
Director of Finance
Deborah Mueller
Deborah Mueller
Director of Operations and Grants Management
Carolina Salmeron
Carolina Salmeron
Program Officer