Robert & Shirley Harris Family
The Robert & Shirley Harris Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1987 and based in Santa Rosa, California. The foundation manages substantial assets and distributes grants across multiple states and communities throughout the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.2M
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-20.3% YoY
Grant Count
47
+2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
-22.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Shirley Harris Family reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's philanthropic approach is rooted in a family tradition of identifying and supporting those in need. According to family history, the foundation's spirit centers on "leveling the playing field" through strategic charitable giving.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Disaster Preparedness and Relief
- COVID-19 Relief Efforts
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations and communities across multiple states, including:
- California (primary focus)
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- New York
- Texas
- Virginia
Within California, the foundation supports major urban centers such as San Francisco as well as smaller communities including Healdsburg and Stinson Beach.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $16.7–$17.2 million (most recent filings)
Annual Giving: $2,478,000 (most recent fiscal year)
Total Expenses: $3,541,825
Total Revenue: $2,610,287
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since October 1987
EIN: 68-0121965
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,226,168 | $16,704,088 | $16,742,557 |
| Revenue | $2,673,379 | $2,610,287 | $3,916,555 |
| Expenses | $2,934,956 | $3,541,825 | $1,768,332 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,585,227 | $3,249,692 | $1,682,392 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,636,747 | $1,062,615 | $3,281,901 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,243,472 | $2,469,054 | $2,471,961 |
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
214 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Redwood Empire Food Bank ($375,000), American Red Cross ($200,000), Americares ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 Degrees Sonoma County Santa Rosa, CA | Contribution to Northern California | $70,000 |
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | General Support | $200,000 |
| Americares Stamford, CT | General Support | $150,000 |
| Audubon Canyon Ranch Stinson Beach, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
| California State Parks Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Community Foundation Sonoma County Santa Rosa, CA | Resilience Fund | $50,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Support | $150,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | General Support | $20,000 |
| Exponent Philanthropy Washington, DC | General Support | $10,000 |
| Fisher House Foundation Rockville, MD | Scholarships | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team consists of three part-time executives:
- Judith Harris Frisk – President
- James I Harris – Vice President (also serves as a trustee of the foundation)
- Kathleen Kumpula – Secretary/Treasurer
Each receives annual compensation of $12,000 for their part-time roles.
The foundation's philanthropic legacy traces back to James Harris and Virginia Torp Harris, who both attended Cal Poly Humboldt in the 1930s. James Harris worked his way from truck driver to vice president of West Coast Transportation at Standard Oil over a 33-year career, while Virginia Torp Harris was a Physical Education graduate. Their descendants continue the family's commitment to philanthropy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Kumpula | Sec'tary/Tres | 10 | $13,250 |
| Judith Harris Frisk | President | 10 | $13,250 |
| James I Harris | V President | 3 | $4,250 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated a sustained commitment to educational institutions, particularly Cal Poly Humboldt. Recent initiatives include the establishment of the Robert and Shirley Harris Family Award Endowment with a $200,000 gift to support health-care education, reflecting the foundation's multi-generational approach to supporting educational opportunity and workforce development.
Robert And Shirley Harris Family Foundation - Full FilingFrequently Asked Questions
What does Robert & Shirley Harris Family fund?
The foundation's philanthropic approach is rooted in a family tradition of identifying and supporting those in need. According to family history, the foundation's spirit centers on "leveling the playing field" through strategic charitable giving. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Disaster Preparedness and Relief • COVID-19 Relief Efforts
How do I apply for a grant from Robert & Shirley Harris Family?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $550,000. **Recent Activity:** The foundation reported total giving of $2,478,000 in its most recent fiscal year, with expenses of $3,541,825 and revenue of $2,610,287. **Application Status:** The foundation is open to new applicants. **Notable Grants:** The foundation has made significant educational commitments, including a $200,000 gift to Cal Poly Humboldt to launch the Robert and Shirley Harris Family Award Endowment, which supports ha…
Where does Robert & Shirley Harris Family make grants?
The foundation supports organizations and communities across multiple states, including: • California (primary focus) • Connecticut • District of Columbia • Georgia • Massachusetts • Maryland • Nebraska • New York • Texas • Virginia Within California, the foundation supports major urban centers such as San Francisco as well as smaller communities including Healdsburg and Stinson Beach.
What size grants does Robert & Shirley Harris Family award?
In 2024, Robert & Shirley Harris Family awarded 47 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert & Shirley Harris Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robert & Shirley Harris Family reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robert & Shirley Harris Family's EIN?
Robert & Shirley Harris Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0121965. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert & Shirley Harris Family's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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