The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc is a New York, New York–based private grant-making foundation that supports the dance art form, predominantly in New York City. Its filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc at a glance
In short: The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc gave $933K across 146 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in New York. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $933,285
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 146
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,392
- -8.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,692,096
- -11.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (41 of 134, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (97% 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 Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation says applicants may submit one request per calendar year and does not accept multiple proposals within that year. The 2025 filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. The filing’s application instructions request an emailed proposal with a cover letter stating the amount and purpose, a program or project narrative, organizational history, program or project and annual budgets, tax-exempt or fiscal-sponsorship documentation, board and key artistic personnel information, a recent financial statement, and relevant support material. The website says requests must relate to dance and that applicants and fiscal sponsors outside New York City are excluded. It also excludes endowment funds, capital projects, private schools below college level, and video, film, or book projects. Proposals should be submitted at least six months before the proposed program or project.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 1, August 1, and December 1, with proposals due by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date. As of October 2, 2026, the April 1 and August 1 deadlines have passed; December 1, 2026 is upcoming. The August deadline is for consideration at the Fall meeting and grants paid in the following calendar year; the website identifies the December deadline with the Winter meeting and the April deadline with the Spring meeting.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 1, August 1, and December 1, with proposals due by 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Grantmaking Program
Mailing address: 145 East 48Th Street Suite 26C, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 755-5540
Website: https://harknessfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc
Who The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Joyce Theater ($105K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $362K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($12,935), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
613 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 598 grants of 613 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its support as predominantly focused on New York City and excludes applicants and fiscal sponsors outside New York City. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to New York recipients; the remaining reported shares went to recipients in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, at 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 146 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 41 of 134 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 380% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $735K (2021) to $940K (2020). In 2025 it made 146 grants totaling $933K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 92nd STREET Y New York, NY | Program Grant | $100,000 |
| Joyce Theater New York, NY | Program Grant | $100,000 |
| Brooklyn Academy of Music (Bam) Brooklyn, NY | Program Grant | $75,000 |
| Works & Process New York, NY | Program Grant | $15,000 |
| Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation New York, NY | Program Grant | $10,000 |
| American Friends of Batsheva Dance Company Forest Hills, NY | Gala Donation | $10,000 |
| Ballet Hispanico Washington, DC | Program Grant | $10,000 |
| Gina Gibney Dance (Gibney) New York, NY | Program Grant | $10,000 |
| Jacob's Pillow Becket, MA | Program Grant | $10,000 |
| Jose Limon Dance Foundation New York, NY | Program Grant | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,692,096 | $864,851 | $1,333,641 | $933,285 | 146 | $1,201,544 | $758,272 | $316,274 |
| 2024 | $6,425,358 | $706,341 | $991,451 | $883,500 | 127 | $1,136,038 | $582,687 | $357,170 |
| 2023 | $6,834,552 | $488,304 | $882,230 | $822,650 | 121 | $1,069,198 | $370,929 | $365,023 |
| 2022 | $6,779,155 | $578,357 | $868,382 | $804,125 | 117 | $1,049,846 | $433,579 | $404,247 |
| 2021 | $9,454,907 | $1,295,131 | $851,137 | $735,000 | 102 | $982,244 | $1,149,176 | $480,148 |
| 2020 | $9,287,654 | $511,075 | $2,537,554 | $940,275 | 98 | — | $383,951 | $445,115 |
| 2019 | $9,449,369 | $702,296 | $1,306,513 | $925,267 | 120 | — | $571,701 | $495,069 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc reported a distributable amount of $316K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to invigorate and support dance. Its four areas of support are dance creation, dance presentation, dance education, and dance medicine or other services to the dance field. It supports dance companies, presenting organizations, dance education and service organizations, and fiscally sponsored independent choreographers. The foundation also says it stands in solidarity with social and racial justice work in dance and is committed to evaluating equity in its grantmaking.
Grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation describes its work as providing performances, training, education, and community programs, while the José Limón Dance Foundation says it preserves and presents José Limón’s works and teaches Limón principles and technique. The Misty Copeland Foundation describes a focus on community-based dance opportunities, especially for young people in under-resourced communities, and on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in ballet.
Grantmaking
The foundation offers Program Grants and Project Grants. Program Grants support either an organization’s overall activities or an ongoing core dance program; Project Grants support specific projects, including pilot and collaborative projects. The website lists awards of $1,000–$10,000 per year, with some exceptions. Its 2025 filing reports 146 grants totaling $933,285. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest 2025 grants included $100,000 each to 92nd Street Y and the Joyce Theater, and $75,000 to Brooklyn Academy of Music. Other reported grants included $15,000 to Works & Process and $10,000 each to the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, American Friends of Batsheva Dance Company, Ballet Hispanico, Gibney, Jacob’s Pillow, the José Limón Dance Foundation, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and New York City Ballet. Most of the 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in New York State.
The foundation’s website describes a separate Partner Grants commitment made in 2014: $1 million each to five organizations, distributed over the ensuing decade and culminating in 2024. The organizations were Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Joyce Theater, New York City Center, the 92nd Street Y/Harkness Dance Center, and NYU Langone Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jody Gottfried Arnhold as Director and President, Etta Brandman as Director and Vice President, and Joan Finkelstein as Executive Director, Director, Secretary, and COO. The foundation’s website identifies Finkelstein as its Executive Director.
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc is led by Joan Finkelstein, Executive Director, Director, Secretary & COO since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan Finkelstein
Executive Director, Director, Secretary & COO
Executive Director, Secretary & Treasurer → Executive Director, Secretary & COO, 2024
Executive Director, Secretary & COO → Executive Director, Director, Secretary & COO, 2025
On filings since 2019
35 hrs/week
$173K (2019) → $175K (2025)
Jody Gottfried Arnhold
Director & President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Etta Brandman
Director & Vice President
Director, Vice President & Secretary → Director & Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $175K, to Joan Finkelstein (Ex Dir, Dir, Secretary, COO).
Frequently asked questions about The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc
How much does The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc give each year?
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc gave $933K across 146 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $884K across 127 grants.
What is The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's typical grant size?
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,392, across 146 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc give grants?
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc gives mostly in New York: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (100 grants), Brooklyn, NY (30 grants) and Astoria, NY (2 grants).
Does The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 146 grants with a stated purpose on The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Grant" (108 grants) and "Project Grant" (17 grants).
Who are The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's largest grantees?
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Joyce Theater ($105,000 across 2 grants), 92nd STREET Y ($100,000) and Brooklyn Academy of Music (Bam) ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($12,935), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc?
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $316K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to invigorate and support dance. Its four areas of support are dance creation, dance presentation, dance education, and dance medicine or other services to the dance field. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc?
The foundation says applicants may submit one request per calendar year and does not accept multiple proposals within that year. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's EIN?
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1926551. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 18, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in New York
New York Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Dance Service New York City Inc
New York, NY
Dance/NYC funds dance makers, freelance dance workers, and rehearsal-space access through programs serving the New York City metropolitan area. Its Dance Advancement Fund offers annual grants of $6,000–$40,000; 2024 grants had a median of $23,000. The published application process starts with an Expression of Interest, with selected applicants invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
23
Total Given
$683K
The Howard Gilman Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Howard Gilman Foundation supports New York City-based performing arts organizations, presenters, venues, and sector service organizations, primarily with flexible general operating support and other organizational needs. In 2024, grants ranged from $250 to $750,000, with a median of $35,000.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
392
Total Given
$27.8M
Arnhold Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Arnhold Foundation supports a broad range of arts, education, health, humanitarian, and conservation organizations, with most of its 2024 grant dollars going to New York recipients. Grants ranged from $250 to $13 million, with a median of $12,800. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$426.6M
Grants
233
Total Given
$56.9M
Mid Atlantic Arts Inc
Baltimore, MD
Mid Atlantic Arts funds artists, arts organizations, presenters, and communities for artistic creation, presentation, touring, and cultural projects, including traditional arts and community-based work, primarily in the mid-Atlantic and beyond. Its 2025 grants had a median of $10,000, though awards ranged from $5,104 to $1 million; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$19.7M
Grants
129
Total Given
$3.4M
Mertz Gilmore Foundation
New York, NY
The Mertz Gilmore Foundation supports national work to strengthen democracy and protect vulnerable communities, as well as New York dance organizations and artists, with grants for U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored projects. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000; half of grant dollars went to New York. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$86.2M
Grants
285
Total Given
$7.5M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-harkness-foundation-for-dance-inc-morg_73201f05b6ed475eb382a502f73a39d9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131926551_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-harkness-foundation-for-dance-inc-morg_73201f05b6ed475eb382a502f73a39d9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc'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.
The Harkness Foundation for Dance Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?