The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is a family foundation that supports sustainable, creative solutions to Worcester’s social challenges through program and operating grants, capital grants, and strategic grants focused on girls ages 10–14.
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation at a glance
In short: The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation gave $1.0M across 65 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Massachusetts. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,015,500
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 65
- +16.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,623
- -10.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $16,123,405
- +1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (16 of 65, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Next open deadline
- October 31, 2026 (Fred Harris Daniels Foundation: Investing In Girls Strategic Grants)
- Contact
Application contact: Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
Mailing address: 210 Park Avenue Suite 307, Worcester, MA 01609
Phone: (857) 283-3364
Email: info@danielsfoundation.org
Website: https://danielsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
Fred Harris Daniels Foundation: Capital Grants
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Fred Harris Daniels Foundation: Investing In Girls Strategic Grants
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
Amount
Up to US $40,000
Deadline
October 31, 2026
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Fred Harris Daniels Foundation: Program And Operating Grants
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Way of Central Massachusetts Inc ($160K). Together the top 10 received $579K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
285 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 260 grants of 285 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its service area as Worcester, Massachusetts, and says its philanthropy targets that area. Its 2024 filing states that awards are for qualified charitable organizations primarily in Worcester. In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 2% to New York, and 2% to New Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 65 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $852K (2022) to $1.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 65 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way of Central Massachusetts Inc Worcester, MA | General Support | $160,000 |
| Worcester State University Worcester, MA | General Support | $67,500 |
| YWCA Central Massachusetts Inc Worcester, MA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Worcester Rise for Health Worcester, MA | General Support | $51,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Worcester Worcester, MA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Community Harvest Project N Grafton, MA | Volunteer Farming Operations | $50,000 |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester Worcester, MA | General Support | $40,000 |
| Girls on the Run Worc County Whitinsville, MA | General Support | $40,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts Inc Worcester, MA | General Support | $35,000 |
| Albany Inst of History and Art Albany, NY | General Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
EIN: 04-6014333
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,123,405 | $1,526,791 | $1,299,920 | $1,015,500 | 65 | $1,045,620 | $1,307,008 | $968,310 |
| 2024 | $15,896,534 | $1,305,023 | $1,297,336 | $978,250 | 56 | $1,011,330 | $1,060,170 | $890,563 |
| 2023 | $15,888,847 | $1,231,228 | $1,240,668 | $923,250 | 56 | $954,610 | $997,642 | $850,455 |
| 2022 | $15,898,287 | $578,991 | $1,143,623 | $851,500 | 58 | $885,874 | $367,648 | $994,548 |
| 2021 | $16,462,919 | $1,737,118 | $1,308,927 | $1,010,400 | 50 | — | $1,490,981 | $1,006,577 |
| 2020 | $16,034,728 | $953,959 | $1,285,199 | $989,250 | 67 | — | $781,922 | $943,632 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation reported a distributable amount of $968K for 2025 — 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 mission is to support sustainable, creative solutions to Worcester’s most pressing social challenges by funding programs that help people become more self-reliant in their lives and communities. Its three grant areas are:
- Program and operating grants: Support ongoing organizational expenses or specific, one-time program costs.
- Capital grants: Support building construction or improvements. The foundation says payments are typically spread over three years.
- Investing in Girls Strategic Grants: Support programs for girls ages 10–14 in the Worcester service area. Applicants must be recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations, and all grant funds must be applied to that service area. Recipients must belong to the Investing in Girls Alliance and may receive no more than one such grant per year.
The organizations it supports work across different fields. For example, United Way of Central Massachusetts describes its mission as connecting people and resources to improve the community. The YWCA Central Massachusetts says it is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Community Harvest Project says it engages and educates volunteers to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for hunger relief.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 65 grants totaling $1,015,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $160,000, with a median of $7,500. The largest awards included:
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing directs organizations to its website for forms and materials and says requests should be made online no later than the first business day of February, March, August, or November. For program and operating grants, the foundation’s program information lists application deadlines on the last day of January, April, July, and October, for decisions at quarterly meetings. Investing in Girls Strategic Grant deadlines are October 31 for summer programs and January 31 for school-year programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Fred H. Daniels II as president, David A. Nicholson as vice-president, Barre Hardy as treasurer, and James T. Morse as clerk/director. The directors listed are Sarah D. Morse, William O. Pettit III, Wendy Andrews, Carlos La Hoz Daniels, Laura Rutkiewicz, and Emily Daignault-Salvaggio.
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation is led by Fred H. Daniels II, President on every filing since 2020; all 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fred H. Daniels II
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Carlos La Hoz Daniels
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $5K (2025)
James T. Morse
Clerk & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Laura Rutkiewicz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Sarah D. Morse
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $1K (2025)
Wendy Andrews
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $12K (2025)
William O. Pettit III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $1K (2025)
Emily Daignault-Salvaggio
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Ashley Gabrenas
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$3K (2024) → $4K (2025)
Dwight Cblake Jr.
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$3K (2024) → $3K (2025)
Robert Pettit
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$3K (2025)
Timothy Morse
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$4K (2025)
David A. Nicholson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Barre Hardy
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Christina N. Eaton (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Dwight Blake (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sarah Daignault (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Blake (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to Fred H Daniels II (President). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation
How much does The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation give each year?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation gave $1.0M across 65 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $978K across 56 grants.
What is The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's typical grant size?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $15,623, across 65 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation give grants?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Worcester, MA (38 grants), Newton, MA (2 grants) and Paxton, MA (2 grants).
Does The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 65) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's largest grantees?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Way of Central Massachusetts Inc ($160,000), Worcester State University ($67,500) and YWCA Central Massachusetts Inc ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation reported $16.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $968K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support sustainable, creative solutions to Worcester’s most pressing social challenges by funding programs that help people become more self-reliant in their lives and communities. Its three grant areas are: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check danielsfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's EIN?
The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6014333. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Fred Harris Daniels 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fred-harris-daniels-foundation-morg_b57a561c0c51472484f278e60cb5117e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046014333_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fred-harris-daniels-foundation-morg_b57a561c0c51472484f278e60cb5117e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 The Fred Harris Daniels 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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