The Harris Trust
The Harris Trust is a private foundation based in Norfolk, Virginia. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
The Harris Trust at a glance
In short: The Harris Trust gave $22K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $941.957), top state Rhode Island. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,665
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- -4.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $942
- +15.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $350
- Total assets
- $126,722
- +0.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (5 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (34% 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 Harris Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1503 North Shore Road, Norfolk, VA 23505
Phone: (757) 305-1504
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Harris Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Newport Preservation Society ($7K). Together the top 10 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 119 grants of 119 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants were distributed among recipients in several states. Rhode Island accounted for 34% of grant dollars, Virginia 25%, New Hampshire 16%, Massachusetts 8%, and Iowa 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Harris Trust open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 23 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $880; repeat grants $959. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $325 repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $15K (2023) to $22K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $22K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Newport Preservation Society Newport, RI | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $7,040 |
| Food Bank of Se VA Norfolk, VA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
| The Union Mission Norfolk, VA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
| Sentara Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $1,500 |
| UVA Rowing Association Boone, IA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $1,500 |
| Kingsley Montessori School Boston, MA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $1,000 |
| New Hampshire Boat Museum Moultonborough, NH | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $1,000 |
| Friends Central School Fund Wynnewood, PA | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $750 |
| Squam Lakes Association Holderness, NH | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $750 |
| Squam Lakes Natural Science Holderness, NH | Further Donee's Charitable Purpose | $600 |
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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 | $126,722 | $25,458 | $24,732 | $21,665 | 23 | $21,665 | $22,639 | $22,559 |
| 2024 | $125,946 | $20,635 | $22,386 | $19,570 | 24 | $19,570 | $17,819 | $21,622 |
| 2023 | $128,657 | $17,736 | $18,826 | $15,333 | 26 | $15,333 | $14,243 | $18,900 |
| 2022 | $129,747 | $8,059 | $23,188 | $19,200 | 22 | $19,923 | $5,854 | $19,293 |
| 2021 | $144,876 | $40,888 | $23,710 | $21,000 | 24 | $21,600 | $39,077 | $20,091 |
| 2020 | $127,698 | $19,938 | $17,790 | $15,450 | 25 | — | $18,275 | $16,198 |
| 2019 | $125,550 | $7,950 | $19,548 | $17,300 | 22 | — | $6,362 | $17,024 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Harris Trust reported a distributable amount of $23K 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 available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including historic preservation, food assistance, homelessness services, health, education, freshwater boating heritage, and conservation. For example, The Union Mission describes its work as providing a pathway to success for homeless guests in Hampton Roads, while the New Hampshire Boat Museum describes its mission as fostering appreciation and stewardship of the state’s freshwater boating heritage. Squam Lakes Association says it works to conserve the area’s natural beauty and resources for the public benefit.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 23 grants totaling $21,665. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $7,040, with a median of $350. The largest grants included $7,040 to Newport Preservation Society; $2,000 each to Food Bank of SE VA and The Union Mission; and $1,500 each to Sentara Foundation and UVA Rowing Association. Other listed grants included $1,000 to Kingsley Montessori School and $1,000 to New Hampshire Boat Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jonathan Harris, Peter Harris, and Henry Harris III as trustees.
The Harris Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Henry Harris III
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jonathan Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Peter Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2019
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Harris Trust
How much does The Harris Trust give each year?
The Harris Trust gave $22K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 24 grants.
What is The Harris Trust's typical grant size?
The Harris Trust's median grant in 2025 was $350, and its average grant was $942, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Harris Trust that year got $880 on average.
Where does The Harris Trust give grants?
The Harris Trust's top state is Rhode Island, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (25%) and New Hampshire (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Holderness, NH (5 grants), Newport, RI (3 grants), Norfolk, VA (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Who are The Harris Trust's largest grantees?
The Harris Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Newport Preservation Society ($7,040), Food Bank of Se VA ($2,000) and The Union Mission ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Harris Trust?
The Harris Trust reported $127K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $22K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Harris Trust fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including historic preservation, food assistance, homelessness services, health, education, freshwater boating heritage, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Harris Trust?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Harris Trust's EIN?
The Harris Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-6033492. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Harris Trust 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 1, 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Harris Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from The Harris Trust'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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