Harman Family Foundation
The Harman Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2011 and based in Los Angeles, California. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic activities across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
125
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+8.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain publicly announced grant programs or formally documented funding priorities. However, based on trustee interests and giving patterns, the foundation likely supports:
- Education
- Democratic institutions and civic engagement
- Women's leadership and empowerment programs
- National security and international affairs organizations
- Policy and governance initiatives
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates primarily through trustee-directed giving rather than a public application process. No formal application procedures or request guidelines are publicly available. Grant awards are made at the discretion of the board of trustees.
Grant Range
$15,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives primarily across the United States, with particular activity in:
- California
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Washington
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023–2024:
- Total Assets: $36.3–$36.5 million
- Annual Revenue: $3.69 million (2023)
- Annual Expenses: $2.88 million (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Tax-exempt status: Since October 2011
Staffing: The foundation employs 2 people.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jane Harman — Co-Trustee Former U.S. Representative who served nine terms in Congress representing California's 36th Congressional district (elected 1992). She previously worked as an attorney, served as deputy secretary to the Cabinet in the Carter White House, and was special counsel to the Department of Defense. She began her career on Capitol Hill as chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights. A senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, she left Congress in 2011 to become President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She is a graduate of Smith College (BA) and Harvard Law School (JD).
Barbara Harman — Co-Trustee and former Executive Director Began her career as a college English professor at Wellesley College (1977–2002), where she wrote three books and taught literature and writing for 25 years. She served as Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation from 2000–2025. With foundation support, she founded the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington (now Spur Local) in 2003, which has helped raise over $70 million for community-based nonprofits.
Additional Trustees:
- Brian Frank
- Julia Cain
- Molly Small
- Grace Harman
- Rachael Quitkin
- Jacob Gabriel Harman
Staff:
- Nancy Swartz — Grants/Operations Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANE HARMAN | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| BARBARA HARMAN | TRUSTEE/EX DIRECTOR | 40 | $192,133 |
| BRIAN FRANK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JULIA CAIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| MOLLY SMALL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GRACE HARMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| RACHAEL QUITKIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JACOB GABRIEL HARMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| PAUL HARMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
- Website: harman-foundation.org
- Phone: 310-282-9936
- Address: 10573 W Pico Blvd # 168, Los Angeles, CA 90064-2333
- EIN: 45-6495102
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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