William F Harnisch Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker East Quogue, NY EIN: 11-3353576

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in East Quogue, New York. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including a hospital foundation, arts and media organizations, educational institutions, and advocacy and mental-health organizations.

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: William F Harnisch Foundation Inc gave $3.0M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $53K), mostly in New York. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$2,965,471
+109.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
56
-5.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$52,955
+120.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$5,449,646
+130.8% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
17% first-time grantees (9 of 54, 2024)
Primary geography
New York (84% 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 William F Harnisch Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 366, East Quogue, NY 11942
Phone: (212) 904-0440

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who William F Harnisch Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation Aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundati: $2.0M across 2 grantsCentral Suffolk HospitalFoundation Aka Peconic Bay…$2.0M · 2 grantsAfterimage Public Media: $150KAfterimage Public Media$150KHigher Heights Leadership Fund: $100KHigher Heights Leadership Fund$100KBaruch College Fund: $90K across 2 grantsBaruch College Fund$90K · 2 grantsSundance Institute: $86KSundance Institute$86KHealthnetwork Foundation: $50KHealthnetwork Foundation$50KSubject Matter Inc: $50KSubject Matter Inc$50KCrisis Text Line: $35KCrisis Text Line$35KAmerican Museum of Natural History: $25KAmerican Museum of NaturalHistory$25KCentral Park Conservancy: $25KCentral Park Conservancy$25K

The largest 2024 recipient was Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation Aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundati ($2.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.

Grant Size Distribution

332 grants across all recorded years

269<$50K38$50–100K20$100–250K2$250–500K2$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 269 grants of 332 (81%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 6% to California, 3% to Utah, 2% to Washington, DC, and 2% to Ohio. The listed 2024 grants also included recipients in other states, including Texas and Tennessee.

Grant Distribution by State

25states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkHampton BaysWashingtonNashvilleSan FranciscoAustinLos AngelesRiverheadBrooklynRaleighArlingtonBangorBaysideBronxEast QuogueMemphisSeattleRockvilleSalt Lake CityAlbany

Is William F Harnisch Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

17%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 9 of 54 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $243K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $6K repeat.

  • 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 57% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 789% 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

$0$1M$2M$3M61 grants2020 72 grants2021 84 grants2022 59 grants2023 56 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $824K (2020) to $3.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $3.0M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation Aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundati Riverhead, NYNeuroscience Center$1,500,000
Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation Aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundati Riverhead, NYPBMC Annual Gala$500,000
Afterimage Public Media San Francisco, CASupport for film - marlee matlin: not alone anymore$150,000
Higher Heights Leadership Fund Brooklyn, NYGeneral Operations Support$100,000
Sundance Institute Park City, UTGeneral Operations Support and Sundance Film Festival$86,200
Baruch College Fund New York, NYHarnisch Scholars$75,000
Healthnetwork Foundation Pepper Pike, OHGeneral Operations Support$50,000
Subject Matter Inc New York, NYGeneral Operations Support and Tribeca Film Festival$50,000
Crisis Text Line New York, NYGeneral Operations and Support for Spanish Services$35,000
American Museum of Natural History New York, NYGeneral Operations Support$25,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with William F Harnisch Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$5,449,646$6,131,502$3,042,592$2,965,47156$3,027,423$6,128,652$383,599
2023$2,360,736$1,114,624$1,436,885$1,416,70859$1,721,835$1,106,431$425,974
2022$2,682,997$1,985,253$2,437,621$2,548,72584$2,833,271$1,977,805$437,873
2021$3,135,365$1,404,669$1,933,724$1,883,74672$2,045,057$1,403,622$460,626
2020$3,664,420$349,242$869,301$823,72061—$341,264$278,852

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William F Harnisch Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $384K for 2024 — 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 a general mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations in areas including healthcare, education, leadership, media, journalism, mental-health services, and museums.

The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. For example, AfterImage Public Media says it produces documentary and television projects and community engagement programs on matters of educational and public interest. Higher Heights Leadership Fund says it works to strengthen Black women’s political engagement and leadership. Crisis Text Line describes its work as expanding access to mental-health support and shaping policy and systems. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $2,965,471. Grant amounts ranged from $40 to $1,500,000, with a median of $10,000.

The largest 2024 award was $1,500,000 to Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation, also known as Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation, for a neuroscience center. The same organization received another $500,000 for its annual gala. Other notable grants included $150,000 to AfterImage Public Media for a film; $100,000 to Higher Heights Leadership Fund for general operations; $86,200 to Sundance Institute for general operations and the Sundance Film Festival; and $75,000 to Baruch College Fund for Harnisch Scholars. Crisis Text Line received $35,000 for general operations and Spanish services.

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists William F Harnisch as president and treasurer, and Ruth Ann Harnisch and Laura Scott as directors.

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc is led by William F. Harnisch, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William F. Harnisch

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Scott

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ruth Ann Harnisch

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Frequently asked questions about William F Harnisch Foundation Inc

How much does William F Harnisch Foundation Inc give each year?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc gave $3.0M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 59 grants.

What is William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $52,955, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William F Harnisch Foundation Inc that year got $243K on average.

Where does William F Harnisch Foundation Inc give grants?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (19 grants), Hampton Bays, NY (6 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Riverhead, NY (2 grants).

Does William F Harnisch Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 86% of William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (48 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation Aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundati ($2,000,000 across 2 grants), Afterimage Public Media ($150,000) and Higher Heights Leadership Fund ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is William F Harnisch Foundation Inc?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $384K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does William F Harnisch Foundation Inc fund?

The available information does not state a general mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations in areas including healthcare, education, leadership, media, journalism, mental-health services, and museums. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from William F Harnisch Foundation Inc?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.

What is William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's EIN?

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3353576. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does William F Harnisch Foundation Inc 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in William F Harnisch Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$12.3B

Grants

3,576

Total Given

$3.2B

The Ford Foundation

New York, NY

The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$17.5B

Grants

4,007

Total Given

$844.7M

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.1B

Grants

4,316

Total Given

$1.2B

Harnisch Family Foundation

New York, NY

The foundation supports leadership development, storytelling, and convenings, with an emphasis on gender and racial equity; recent grants also span health, reproductive rights, and film and media. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $500,000, with a median of $25,000, and were concentrated in New York, followed by California, Utah, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia. It does not accept unsolicited grant requests or inquiries.

Assets

$3.1M

Grants

74

Total Given

$3.3M

The New York Community Trust

New York, NY

The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$3.5B

Grants

2,748

Total Given

$193.8M

The Simons Foundation Inc

New York, NY

The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$4.5B

Grants

1,727

Total Given

$272.0M

More Funders in New York

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). William F Harnisch Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-f-harnisch-foundation-inc-morg_f48047f706534d4eac124c15c58daae6

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_113353576_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{William F Harnisch Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-f-harnisch-foundation-inc-morg_f48047f706534d4eac124c15c58daae6},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 William F Harnisch Foundation 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.

William F Harnisch Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?