The Irving Harris Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Irving Harris Foundation is a private foundation in Chicago, Illinois. In tax year 2024 it gave $22.2 million in 337 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $1.3 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$22.2 million
- Number of grants337
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$1.3 million
- Assets$150 million
- New grantees25%
Giving in 2024 was up from $12.0 million the year before.
25% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $12.0 million | 310 | $166 million |
| 2024 | $22.2 million | 337 | $150 million |
How to apply
The Irving Harris Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What The Irving Harris Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 29 states, the most to Illinois.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 165 | $9.2 million |
| New York | 39 | $2.9 million |
| South Carolina | 2 | $2.0 million |
| North Carolina | 5 | $1.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 27 | $1.7 million |
| California | 26 | $1.0 million |
| Massachusetts | 10 | $842,500 |
| Arizona | 5 | $343,500 |
| Colorado | 10 | $313,000 |
| Louisiana | 3 | $280,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stairway Fund | Endowment grant | $1.3 million |
| Coydog Foundation | General operating support | $1.0 million |
| Coydog Foundation | General operating support | $1.0 million |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | General operating support | $1.0 million |
| Goldman Sachs and Co LLC | General operating support | $1.0 million |
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago | General operating support | $1.0 million |
| Mako Foundation | Endowment grant | $1.0 million |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | General operating support | $750,000 |
| Harris Theater for Music and Dance | Harris theater mainstage presents sponsorship | $500,000 |
| The Barack Obama Foundation | 5-year grant for capital campaign support | $400,000 |
| University of Chicago - Harris School of Public Policy Studies | General operating support | $400,000 |
| University of Chicago - Arts Public Life | Arts + public life for the arts lawn | $333,333 |
| Start Early | General operating support and illinois policy team work | $300,000 |
| Healthconnect One | General operating support | $250,000 |
| Third Sector New England Inc (Tsne) | Early childhood funders collaborative | $250,000 |
| The Regents of the University of California - CTRP - PDN | Child trauma research program | $205,000 |
| Alliance for Early Success | General operating support | $200,000 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University Inc | National center for innovation in childrens resilience, trauma and mental health | $200,000 |
| Juilliard School | The juilliard capital campaign | $200,000 |
| Third Sector New England Inc (Tsne) | General operating support and build initiative | $200,000 |
| Zero to Three Nat'l Ctr for Infants Toddlers & Families | Leadership development institute | $200,000 |
| Start Early - First Five Years Fund | General operating support | $150,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation - PDN | Harris programs at the institute of child development | $130,000 |
| Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund - PDN | Institute of infant & early childhood mental health | $125,000 |
| Boston Medical Center Corporation - PDN | Training programs of the dept of pediatrics & div of dev & behavioral pediatrics | $125,000 |
| Erikson Institute | General operating support for the policy & leadership department | $125,000 |
| American Friends of Bar-Ilan University | The harris program at bar-ilan university | $117,000 |
| The Century Foundation Inc | General operating | $115,000 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University Inc | Infant and early childhood mental health advanced degree at afhu's paul baerwald school | $107,000 |
| Childrens Hospital & Research Center at Oakland DBA UCSF Benioff Childrens | Irving b. Harris infant mental health training program | $105,000 |
| Florida State University Foundation Inc - PDN | Harris institute for infant mental health | $105,000 |
| Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services | Jbfcs early childhood programs | $105,000 |
| LSU Health Foundation New Orleans - PDN | Harris center for infant mental health | $105,000 |
| Southwest Human Development | Harris institute | $105,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Inc - PDN | Irving harris program in child development and infant mental health | $105,000 |
| All Above All | General operating support | $100,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation | General operating support and specifically for the partnership fund | $100,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation | General operating support and the children's equity project | $100,000 |
| Chicago Abortion Fund | General operating support | $100,000 |
| Chicago Abortion Fund | General operating support | $100,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Alicia Lieberman
- Phyllis Glink
- Walter Gilliam
- Joan Harris
- Paula Wolff
- Paul Thissen
- Yavilah McCoy
- Eric Reeves
- Daniel Meyer
- George Polsky
- James Polsky
- Nancy Meyer
- David Harris
- Ben Harris
Questions people ask
Does The Irving Harris Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Irving Harris Foundation give?
$22.2 million in tax year 2024, across 337 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs The Irving Harris Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Alicia Lieberman (Chair/Director), Phyllis Glink (Secretary/Executive Director), Walter Gilliam (Treasurer) and Joan Harris (Member/Program Director) among 14 officers and trustees.
What does The Irving Harris Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, health and youth programs.