Harnish Foundation
The Harnish Foundation is a private foundation based in Tukwila, Washington. Established in 2005 by members of the Harnish family, it supports nonprofit organizations working to help people build stability, self-sufficiency, and well-being.
Harnish Foundation at a glance
In short: Harnish Foundation gave $5.0M across 62 grants in 2024 (avg $80K), mostly in Washington. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,989,750
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 62
- +51.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $80,480
- -20.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $99,155,602
- +24.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (29 of 62, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Harnish Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its grant portal closed on June 30, 2026, and it is no longer accepting new requests from organizations that have not previously worked with the foundation. Organizations with an existing relationship or prior funding may contact the foundation about ongoing opportunities.
- Review Cycle
- The grant portal closed on June 30, 2026, for new requests from organizations without a prior relationship.
- Deadline
- The grant portal closed on June 30, 2026, for new requests from organizations without a prior relationship.
- Contact
Mailing address: 17035 W Valley Hwy, Tukwila, WA 98188
Phone: (425) 251-9800
Website: https://harnishfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harnish Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Child Bridge ($280K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 65 grants of 192 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes giving back to communities that have supported the family’s business, whose reach includes Alaska and areas of Washington, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. In 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington and 18% to recipients in Montana; the remaining shares went to California (3%), Alaska (2%), and New Jersey (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harnish Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 29 of 62 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $65K; repeat grants $94K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $61K repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2022) to $5.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 62 grants totaling $5.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Child Bridge Bigfork, MT | Family Recruiter/Parent Coach/Family Recruiter/Parent Coach | $280,000 |
| Camp Korey Mount Vernon, WA | Grow invoice - raise the paddle match, general operating funds | $250,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity - Seattleking County Renton, WA | Veteran Homes | $250,000 |
| Eastside Academy Bellevue, WA | Housing Program Staff | $230,000 |
| Uplift Northwest Seattle, WA | Capital Campaign, Fall Fundraiser | $225,000 |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School Seattle, WA | Capital Campaign | $200,000 |
| Summit Community Center Mercer Isalnd, WA | Full-time vocational development instructor & dept lead/full-time pre-employment instructors | $186,500 |
| Vine Maple Place Maple Valley, WA | Children & Youth Program/Child Mental Health Specialist | $185,000 |
| Farestart Seattle, WA | Food Pathways, Job Readiness @ Echo Glen | $175,000 |
| Landon's Legacy Foundation Billings, MT | Playground | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harnish Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $99,155,602 | $18,082,348 | $5,279,092 | $4,989,750 | 62 | $4,980,589 | $3,540,970 | $4,428,986 |
| 2023 | $79,455,799 | $13,879,820 | $4,297,625 | $4,159,849 | 41 | $4,166,344 | $1,595,591 | $3,411,271 |
| 2022 | $61,104,904 | $18,398,056 | $2,134,914 | $2,020,000 | 24 | $2,028,285 | $2,431,555 | $2,613,752 |
| 2021 | $55,608,221 | $14,041,542 | $3,664,391 | $3,610,750 | 35 | $3,610,750 | $2,656,149 | $2,288,999 |
| 2020 | $34,729,050 | $6,981,827 | $3,017,374 | $3,005,000 | 30 | — | $1,841,932 | $1,700,145 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harnish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s goal is to champion nonprofit organizations that empower individuals to take responsibility and initiative for their own well-being. Its funding priorities include support for youth separated from their families, opportunity youth, schools serving children with disabilities or special needs, workforce-readiness programs, veterans, people with disabilities or serious illnesses, and housing stability.
The 2024 grants illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Child Bridge describes its work as finding and equipping families for children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and supporting foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Eastside Academy says it provides youth with high school education, counseling, recovery, housing, and life-skills programs. Uplift Northwest describes its work as employment and job-readiness services for people facing poverty and homelessness. Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County says it addresses the need for affordable housing.
The foundation says it does not fund, among other things, arts, environmental work, emergency or drop-in shelters, goods distribution, hospitals or medical research, colleges and universities, endowments, political organizations, or religious institutions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 62 grants totaling $4,989,750. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $280,000, with a median of $50,000. Its 2023 giving was $4,159,849 across 41 grants; in 2022, it was $2,020,000 across 24 grants.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $280,000 to Child Bridge; $250,000 each to Camp Korey and Habitat for Humanity–Seattle King County; $230,000 to Eastside Academy; $225,000 to Uplift Northwest; and $200,000 to Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School. Other large grants included $186,500 to Summit Community Center, $185,000 to Vine Maple Place, and $175,000 to FareStart.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation lists John J. Harnish as chairman, Jennifer Harnish as president, and Katherine Harnish as vice president. Its board members also include Brian Heeb, John W. Harnish, Troy Hickey, Ewelina Hickey, Elena Harnish, and Dean Blackford. Rebecca Schaechter is executive director.
Harnish Foundation is led by Jennifer C. Harnish, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jennifer C. Harnish
President
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John W. Harnish
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elena Harnish
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ewelina Hickey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine A. Harnish
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Troy Hickey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dean Blackford
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Heeb
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Harnish Foundation
How much does Harnish Foundation give each year?
Harnish Foundation gave $5.0M across 62 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.2M across 41 grants.
What is Harnish Foundation's typical grant size?
Harnish Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $80,480, across 62 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harnish Foundation that year got $65K on average.
Where does Harnish Foundation give grants?
Harnish Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Montana (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (25 grants), Billings, MT (6 grants), Bozeman, MT (4 grants) and Bellevue, WA (2 grants).
Does Harnish Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of Harnish Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 62) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harnish Foundation's largest grantees?
Harnish Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Child Bridge ($280,000), Camp Korey ($250,000) and Habitat for Humanity - Seattleking County ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harnish Foundation?
Harnish Foundation reported $99.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harnish Foundation fund?
The foundation’s goal is to champion nonprofit organizations that empower individuals to take responsibility and initiative for their own well-being. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harnish Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harnish Foundation's EIN?
Harnish Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3730146. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Harnish Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harnish Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harnish Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harnish-foundation-morg_d8db6c7060e648319766aa089a6ed1d6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383730146_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harnish Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harnish-foundation-morg_d8db6c7060e648319766aa089a6ed1d6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Harnish Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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