“Love one another, for that is the whole law.”
Conrad N. Hilton
We are guided by the intent of our donors, Conrad and Barron Hilton, who gave virtually all of their personal wealth to the foundation and gave its directors a noble, global philanthropic mission. “As the funds you will expend have come from many places in the world,” Conrad Hilton counseled, “so let there be no territorial, religious, or color restrictions on your benefactions.” In our workplace and in our collaborative efforts to alleviate human suffering, we apply their values of integrity, thinking big, humility, stewardship and compassion.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation foresees a world in which improving the human condition is a shared and sustainable goal. “Love one another, for that is the whole law,” Conrad Hilton wrote in his will. The peoples of the world “deserve to be loved and encouraged—never to be abandoned to wander alone in poverty and darkness.” That is our resolve.
Conrad N. Hilton dreamed big, thought big and acted big—from building a worldwide hotel empire to leaving nearly his entire fortune to the Hilton Foundation to assist those in need. In harmony with his entrepreneurial, ethical and philanthropic spirit, we integrate the following values into our workplace culture and activities:
We are guided by a moral compass that directs us to be honest and fair in all we do.
We take inspiration from Conrad Hilton saying, “Nothing worth doing can be done without enthusiasm.” Rather than being daunted by the big challenges we face, we have the optimism and courage to seek bigger solutions.
We seek partners to achieve solutions to challenging social issues, recognizing our limitations.
We maximize resources in order to advance the mission with the goal of long-term sustainability for the programs we support. We value efficient operations, measurable outcomes and investing in staff and grantee capacity.
We approach our work with genuine respect and concern for the lives of the most disadvantaged. We are inspired by Conrad Hilton’s Last Will and Testament to “love one another” and the spiritual life he lived.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation invests in organizations tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges. We think big about solutions, working in partnership with local communities to improve lives, strengthen systems and advocate for change. Our approach is rooted in our values and inspired by the resilience of the communities with whom we work worldwide, with a special focus on Africa, South America and the United States, including our home in Los Angeles.
We are committed to the core values, mission and vision established by our founder, Conrad N. Hilton and carried forward by his son, Barron Hilton. Their decision to entrust virtually all of their personal wealth to the Foundation has charged us with a profound and enduring mandate to work towards a better world. Thanks to their incredible generosity and philanthropic principles, we are one of the foremost foundations in the United States and patron of the world’s largest annual humanitarian award—the Hilton Humanitarian Prize—which recognizes important contributions to poverty alleviation, community empowerment, and the sustainable progress of all humankind.
