The Irving Harris Foundation
The Irving Harris Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 1946 and based in Chicago, Illinois. It funds work in Reproductive Health & Justice, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health, Early Childhood, Jewish Values, and Arts & Culture. The foundation says it plans to spend down its remaining financial assets and sunset in 2032.
The Irving Harris Foundation at a glance
In short: The Irving Harris Foundation gave $22.1M across 337 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), top state Illinois. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,113,372
- +63.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 337
- +8.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $65,618
- +50.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $143,436,773
- -13.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (52 of 257, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Irving Harris Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 225 W Wacker Drive 2150, Chicago, IL 60606-1224
Phone: (312) 621-0590
Website: https://irvingharrisfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Irving Harris Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Coydog Foundation ($2.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,558 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,027 grants of 1,558 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago. In 2024, 41% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, followed by New York (13%), South Carolina (9%), North Carolina (8%), and Washington, DC (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 337 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Irving Harris Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 52 of 257 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $107K; repeat grants $81K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 302% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $13.6M (2023) to $22.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 337 grants totaling $22.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway Fund Chicago, IL | Endowment Grant | $1,333,333 |
| Coydog Foundation Mt Pleasant, SC | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Coydog Foundation Mt Pleasant, SC | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Durham, NC | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Goldman Sachs and CO LLC New York, NY | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Mako Foundation Chicago, IL | Endowment Grant | $1,000,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Durham, NC | General Operating Support | $750,000 |
| Harris Theater for Music and Dance Chicago, IL | Harris Theater Mainstage Presents Sponsorship | $500,000 |
| The Barack Obama Foundation Chicago, IL | 5-Year Grant for Capital Campaign Support | $400,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $143,436,773 | $6,129,840 | $28,772,403 | $22,113,372 | 337 | $23,006,091 | $4,244,882 | $7,617,347 |
| 2023 | $166,263,578 | $-8,935,456 | $18,203,797 | $13,552,337 | 310 | $17,884,120 | $11,136,928 | $8,034,190 |
| 2022 | $194,771,916 | $14,618,353 | $25,844,734 | $20,603,729 | 328 | $21,836,608 | $11,543,736 | $8,846,060 |
| 2021 | $206,770,085 | $21,579,671 | $31,078,404 | $20,251,222 | 337 | $23,276,028 | $16,941,465 | $10,232,046 |
| 2020 | $212,003,611 | $10,709,064 | $26,042,438 | $20,389,643 | 246 | — | $6,841,324 | $9,603,833 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Irving Harris Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M for 2024 — 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 vision is a more just world for every baby, family, and community. Its five primary focus areas are Reproductive Health & Justice, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health, Early Childhood, Jewish Values, and Arts & Culture.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Start Early says it advances quality early learning for families with children, while HealthConnect One describes its work as advancing equitable, community-based support for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early parenting. The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago says it assists people in need, supports Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, and advances Jewish learning. The Juilliard School describes its mission as educating students in music, dance, and drama.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 337 grants totaling $22,113,372. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $1,333,333, with a median of $25,000. Among the largest reported grants were $1,333,333 to Stairway Fund for an endowment grant; two separate $1,000,000 grants to Coydog Foundation for general operating support; and $1,000,000 to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago for general operating support. Other notable grants included $500,000 to Harris Theater for Music and Dance for its Mainstage Presents sponsorship, and $400,000 to the Barack Obama Foundation for a five-year capital campaign grant.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include Alicia Lieberman, Chair/Director; Phyllis Glink, Secretary/Executive Director; Walter Gilliam, Treasurer; Joan Harris, Member/Program Director; Paula Wolff, Director; Paul Thissen, Director/Chair; Yavilah McCoy, Director; and Eric Reeves, Director. The filing also lists Daniel Meyer and George Polsky as members.
The Irving Harris Foundation is led by Phyllis Glink, Secretary & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Phyllis Glink
Secretary & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$328K (2020) → $386K (2024)
Alicia Lieberman
Chair & Director
Chair → Chair & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Thissen
Director & Chair
Director → Director & Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan Harris
Member & Program Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Paula Wolff
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Reeves
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yavilah McCoy
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Harris
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Meyer
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Harris
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Polsky
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Polsky
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Meyer
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Walter Gilliam
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Aaliyah Samuel (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Myra Jones-Taylor (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $386K, to Phyllis Glink (Secretary/Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Irving Harris Foundation
How much does The Irving Harris Foundation give each year?
The Irving Harris Foundation gave $22.1M across 337 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.6M across 310 grants.
What is The Irving Harris Foundation's typical grant size?
The Irving Harris Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $65,618, across 337 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Irving Harris Foundation that year got $107K on average.
Where does The Irving Harris Foundation give grants?
The Irving Harris Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (13%) and South Carolina (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (154 grants), New York, NY (34 grants), Washington, DC (25 grants) and San Francisco, CA (10 grants).
Does The Irving Harris Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of The Irving Harris Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (260 of 337) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Travel Grant to Attend Sistersong Conference" (3 grants).
Who are The Irving Harris Foundation's largest grantees?
The Irving Harris Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Coydog Foundation ($2,000,000 across 2 grants), Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($1,750,000 across 2 grants) and Stairway Fund ($1,333,333), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Irving Harris Foundation?
The Irving Harris Foundation reported $143.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Irving Harris Foundation fund?
The foundation’s vision is a more just world for every baby, family, and community. Its five primary focus areas are Reproductive Health & Justice, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health, Early Childhood, Jewish Values, and Arts & Culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Irving Harris Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Irving Harris Foundation's EIN?
The Irving Harris Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6055115. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Irving Harris 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Irving Harris Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Irving Harris Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-irving-harris-foundation-morg_94872488c1124d1a98a67ebf1b16137a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366055115_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Irving Harris Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-irving-harris-foundation-morg_94872488c1124d1a98a67ebf1b16137a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Irving Harris 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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