The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in New York, NY, dedicated to examining enduring and urgent problems of violence through research and knowledge dissemination. The foundation was established by Harry Guggenheim and has maintained tax-exempt status since June 1935.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$73.5M
+4.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+10.4% YoY
Grant Count
62
-7.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+19.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on creating and disseminating knowledge about the origins and consequences of violence in its many forms, including human aggression, crime, and war, and how best to reduce it.
The foundation supports research across multiple academic disciplines and thematic areas, including:
Disciplines: Anthropology, Biology, Criminology, Economics, History, International Relations, Law, Neuroscience, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology
Research Topics: Authoritarianism, Brain, Crime, Drugs and Alcohol, Environmental Conflict, Ethnic Conflict, Family Violence, Firearms, Gender-Based Violence, Genetics, Human Aggression, Mass and Social Media, Migration, Military, Nationalism, Policing, Political Violence, Racial Conflict, Radicalization, Religious Conflict, Repression, Terrorism, and War
The foundation prioritizes the study of neuroscience, genetics, animal behavior, and the social sciences. Beyond funding research, the foundation conducts its own scientific and policy research on violence and undertakes programmatic initiatives such as conferences for academics, journalists, and policymakers, as well as seminars to share research perspectives.
Grantmaking
The foundation supports researchers across academic disciplines through grant competitions and commissioned research.
Grant Range
$19,000
Average Grant
$19,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds research in the United States and internationally. Recent operations span multiple countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, and the United Kingdom.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $73,545,042
- Total Revenue: $3,498,184
- Total Expenses: $5,188,350
- Qualifying Distributions: $4,308,110
- Net Investment Income: $2,985,815
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $70,151,428
- Total Revenue: $3,638,140
- Total Expenses: $4,685,606
- Qualifying Distributions: $3,699,283
Staffing: The foundation employs 12 people.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $73,545,042 | $70,151,428 | $65,673,847 |
| Revenue | $3,498,184 | $3,638,140 | $1,363,091 |
| Expenses | $5,188,350 | $4,685,606 | $4,285,754 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,308,110 | $3,699,283 | $3,377,135 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,985,815 | $2,089,060 | $280,446 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Daniel F. Wilhelm — President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANDRE DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BROGANN BOWDEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CAROL LANGSTAFF | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL F WILHELM | PRESIDENT | 40 | $634,668 |
| DEIRDRE HAMILL | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $349,480 |
| DONALD C HOOD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACQUELINE JONES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEREMIAH MILBANK III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOEL WALLMAN | DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH | 40 | $340,561 |
| MATTHEW DUVENECK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA L ROSENFIELD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PETER LAWSON-JOHNSTON | CHAIRMAN EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| PETER LAWSON-JOHNSTON II | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| TANIA MCCLEERY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS L PIPER III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TINA BENNETT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TUCKER MCNEIL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM G BARDEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced its 2026 Distinguished Scholars, recognizing emerging and established researchers in the field. Recent recipients of foundation recognition include Gail Super from the University of Toronto, named a 2026 Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar.
HFG Welcomes its 2026 Distinguished ScholarsThe Emerging Scholar Awards program, which provides doctoral dissertation fellowships, continues as an active funding opportunity with application deadlines in early 2026.
CfA: Harry Frank Guggenheim Emerging Scholar Awards (Final year ...Related Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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