The William H & Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2008 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The foundation was created by William H and Mattie Wattis Harris, with subsequent growth through contributions from their daughter Ruth Harris Hite and her husband William N. Hite, whose foundation later merged into the Harris Foundation. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.0M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$426K
+2.0% YoY
Grant Count
86
+4200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-97.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F reported a distributable amount of $595K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Harris Foundation envisions making the world a better place for the well-being and safety of plants, animals, and human beings.
The foundation supports five primary areas:
- The Arts — Youth as participants and/or audiences
- Conservation — Forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and deserts
- Educational Camps — Primarily youth, with exceptions for unique camps
- Preventative Health — For humans of any age
- Wildlife and Large Animals — All wildlife including raptors, birds, horses, and other species
The foundation funds organizations that qualify for 501(c)(3) status and supports operating budgets.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains active grant-making with recent grant activity found in 2024 filings. The foundation appears possibly open to applications based on its latest tax filings.
Grant Range
$400 to $29,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, California, and Utah, with a broader focus on the western United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,908,819
- Total Revenues: $807,005
- Total Expenses: $663,923
- Investment Income and Dividends: $204,557
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $571,498
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,001,447
- Total Giving: $426,400
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and asset sales rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,001,447 | $2,908,819 | $2,764,280 |
| Revenue | $602,361 | $807,005 | $670,871 |
| Expenses | $685,842 | $663,923 | $832,064 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $542,420 | $529,169 | $705,005 |
| Net Investment Income | $419,907 | $641,713 | $544,798 |
| Distributable Amount | $595,067 | $507,430 | $530,577 |
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
55 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blue Rose Ranch ($12,000), Donkey Dreams Sanctuary ($10,000), Jazz Aspen Snowmass ($8,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANIMAL ARK SANCTUARY RENO, NV | CHARITABLE | $3,000 |
| ANIMAL WONDERS POTOMAC, MT | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| ASHER HOUSE SALEM, OR | CHARITABLE | $3,500 |
| ASPEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY ASPEN, CO | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| ASPEN SANT FE BALLET ASPEN, CO | CHARITABLE | $3,500 |
| ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN STLANTA, GA | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO ATLANTA, GA | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| BIEVENIDOS FOOD BANK DENVER, CO | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| BIG BAD PROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| BILINGUAL EDUCATION FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation operates with limited paid staffing and is governed by a board of directors:
- Dustin Hite — President
- Cody Anderson — Executive Vice President
- Broderick Anderson — Executive Vice President
- Elizabeth Rohrbach — Treasurer
- Traci Mayes — Secretary
- Sharon Lewis — Historian
- Haydn Hite — Grantee Visitor
- Cassidy Harrison — Student Advisor
- Jessica Hite — Financial Coordinator
- Darryl Lewis — Grant Management
- Marilyn Hite — Director
All board members serve on a volunteer basis with minimal hours per week and no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUSTIN HITE | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CODY ANDERSON | EX. VICE PRE | 1 | — |
| BRODERICK ANDERSON | EX. VICE PRE | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH ROHRBACH | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| TRACI MAYES | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SHARON LEWIS | HISTORIAN | 0.5 | — |
| HAYDN HITE | GRANTEE VISI | 0.5 | — |
| CASSIDY HARRISON | STUDENT ADVI | 0.5 | — |
| JESSICA HITE | FINANCIAL CO | 0.5 | — |
| DARRYL LEWIS | GRANT MGMT | 0.5 | — |
| MARILYN HITE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 6655 West Sahara Avenue, Suite B-118, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Website: harrisfoundation.us
Telephone: 702-253-1317
EIN: 26-2841027
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F fund?
The Harris Foundation envisions making the world a better place for the well-being and safety of plants, animals, and human beings. The foundation supports five primary areas: 1. **The Arts** — Youth as participants and/or audiences 2. **Conservation** — Forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and deserts 3. **Educational Camps** — Primarily youth, with exceptions for unique camps 4. **Preventative Health** — For humans of any age 5. **Wildlife and Large Animals** — All wildlife including raptors, bi…
How do I apply for a grant from Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $7,000 to $29,000 • Median grant amount: $4,000 • Grant range: $400 to $29,000 • 86 grants documented in recent filings **Recent Activity:** The foundation maintains active grant-making with recent grant activity found in 2024 filings. The foundation appears possibly open to applications based on its latest tax filings.
Where does Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Colorado, California, and Utah, with a broader focus on the western United States.
What size grants does Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F award?
In 2024, Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F awarded 86 grants totaling $426K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F reported a distributable amount of $595K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F's EIN?
Willliam H & Mattie Wattis Harris F's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2841027. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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