The Dallas and Alta Harris Family Foundation focuses on local education and faith‑oriented community services in Idaho, with large gifts to colleges, K–12 schools, and faith‑based support organizations. Grants are often unrestricted operations or scholarship funding, and the foundation repeatedly supports a few core institutions alongside local nonprofits providing family and youth services. Its giving emphasizes Boise‑area impact, arts/music in higher education, and support for vulnerable children and families.
A single scholarship-and-operations award to Harding University dominates the recent record: Dallas and Alta Harris Family Foundation Inc gave $1,410,753 in 2025 for David Underwood scholarships and operations. That grant sits alongside a pattern of support for Christian higher education, local schools, and faith-based service organizations, showing a mix of institutional backing and direct community support. The foundation’s giving includes operating grants to Harding University, Boise State University’s band program, the College of Idaho, and a range of Boise-area nonprofits serving children, families, and people in crisis. Recent awards also reach named schools and community institutions such as Dallas Harris Elementary, Treasure Valley Classical Academy, and the Idaho Botanical Garden. The picture is not limited to education alone: the foundation funds organizations connected to child welfare, health, and family assistance, including the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Camp Rainbow Gold, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope, Love INC, and St. Luke’s Health Foundation. Across those grants, the foundation appears to favor unrestricted support or program-specific operating help rather than highly specialized project-only funding.
In Christian higher education, the foundation backed Harding University twice in the recent record, including a $200,000 operating grant in 2023 and the much larger 2025 scholarship-and-operations award. It also supported the College of Idaho with a $50,000 operations grant in 2025. Local K-12 education is another clear thread: Treasure Valley Classical Academy received $75,000 for operations in 2023, and Dallas Harris Elementary received $61,000 for operations in 2025. Faith-based and community service groups are also prominent. Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope Inc received $185,000 in 2023 for operations and another $47,500 in 2024, while Love Inc received $60,000 in 2023. The foundation also funded Boise Public Schools Foundation and Biblical Studies in 2025.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the largest award: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,500. The recent record shows a heavy skew toward operating support, with only a few large awards lifting the overall total. Recurring support is visible in multiple-year grants to Harding University, Camp Rainbow Gold, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope, Boise State Band, Idaho Botanical Garden, and the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. The foundation is a private family foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$2.3M
$0
-$39K
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $21K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$21K
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Concentrated, relatively large grants focused on a small set of repeat grantees and local institutions; many grants are unrestricted operations or scholarship support rather than project‑specific funding.
Notable grantees: Harding University, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope, Treasure Valley Classical Academy, Camp Rainbow Gold, Love INC
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly in the United States, and 84% of grants go to recipients in Idaho, which is also the headquarters state. Boise appears repeatedly, including grants to the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Camp Rainbow Gold, and Boise State University. Other Idaho cities show up as well: Idaho City, Caldwell, Nampa, and Fruitland. Outside Idaho, recent grants include Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. The top state by grant count is Tennessee, reflecting where the foundation gives most often, even though the headquarters is in Boise.
The recent record shows support for Christian higher education, K-12 schools, faith-based community service organizations, youth programs, and arts or music programs in higher education. Examples include Harding University, Treasure Valley Classical Academy, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope, Camp Rainbow Gold, and Boise State University’s band program.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is centered on relatively small awards: p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and p75 is $20,500. Larger operating and scholarship grants also appear, including a $1,410,753 award to Harding University in 2025.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including Harding University, Camp Rainbow Gold, Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope, Boise State Band, Idaho Botanical Garden, and the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. The pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time gifts.
The foundation gives most often in Tennessee by grant count, while 84% of grants go to recipients in Idaho. Boise is the most visible recipient city in the recent grants list, alongside Idaho City, Nampa, Caldwell, and Fruitland.
Recent grants frequently label support as operations, with some named purpose grants such as David Underwood scholarships and operations at Harding University, BSU Band at Boise State University, and oncology support at St. Luke’s Health Foundation. The pattern points to operating support and scholarship funding rather than a single narrow project type.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HARDING UNIVERSITY - SEE ADDENDUM FOR ADD'L INFORMATION | SEARCY, AK | $1,410,753 | 2025 | DAVID UNDERWOOD SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE | BOISE, ID | $86,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CAMP RAINBOW GOLD | BOISE, ID | $70,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY | BOISE, ID | $70,000 | 2025 | BSU BAND |
| DALLAS HARRIS ELEMENTARY | BOISE, ID | $61,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| IDAHO CITY HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | IDAHO CITY, ID | $60,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| COLLEGE OF IDAHO | CALDWELL, ID | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CARING HEARTS AND HANDS OF HOPE | BOISE, ID | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| ST LUKES HEALTH FOUNDATION | BOISE, ID | $45,000 | 2025 | ONCOLOGY |
| IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN | BOISE, ID | $45,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BIBICAL STUDIES | BOISE, ID | $35,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | BOISE, ID | $34,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| FACES OF HOPE FOUNDATION | BOISE, ID | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| GLOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS | BOISE, ID | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | HURRICAN MILTON RELIEF |
| ISAIAH FOUNDATION | IDAHO CITY, ID | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| IDAHO CITY CHRISTIAN CENTER | IDAHO CITY, ID | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE BASIN SENIOR CENTER | IDAHO CITY, ID | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| RISEN CHRIST CHURCH | BOISE, ID | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CAMP IVYDALE | BOISE, ID | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE | BOISE, ID | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| IDAHO HUMANE SOCIETY | BOISE, ID | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| THE CLOSET INC | BOISE, ID | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| JEMFRIENDS | BOISE, ID | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| ANIMALS IN DISTRESS ASSOCIATION | BOISE, ID | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BOISE, ID | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| TREASURY VALLEY YMCA | BOISE, ID | $7,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP | NAMPA, ID | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE RESCUE MISSION | BOISE, ID | $2,250 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| MAKE A WISH | BOISE, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| WYAKIN FOUNDATION | BOISE, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| HANDS OF HOPE NORTHWEST | NAMPA, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| VALLEY WOMEN & CHILDREN SHELTER | NAMPA, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE AQUARIUM | BOISE, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| STANTON HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES | MERIDIAN, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF BOISE | BOISE, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| GENESIS COMMUNITY HEALTH | GARDEN, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| THE GIDEON INTERNATIONAL | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CITY OF LIGHT HOME FOR WOMEN | BOISE, ID | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| TREASURE VALLEY HABITAT OF HUMANITY | BOISE, ID | $1,250 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE BICYCLE PROJECT | BOISE, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| LOVE INC | BOISE, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| GIRAFFE LAUGH EARLY LEARNING CENTER | BOISE, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| ZOO BOISE | BOISE, ID | $500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CARING HEARTS AND HANDS OF HOPE INC | BOISE, ID | $47,500 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| BOISE STATE BAND | BOISE, ID | $40,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| CAMP RAINBOW GOLD | BOISE, ID | $40,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE | BOISE, ID | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN | BOISE, ID | $23,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| LOVE INC | NAMPA, ID | $20,500 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
HARDING UNIVERSITY - SEE ADDENDUM FOR ADD'L INFORMATION
$1,410,753DAVID UNDERWOOD SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
$70,000BSU BAND
DALLAS HARRIS ELEMENTARY
$61,000OPERATIONS
IDAHO CITY HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
$60,000OPERATIONS
COLLEGE OF IDAHO
$50,000OPERATIONS
CARING HEARTS AND HANDS OF HOPE
$50,000OPERATIONS
IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN
$45,000OPERATIONS
BIBICAL STUDIES
$35,000OPERATIONS
BOISE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$34,000OPERATIONS
FACES OF HOPE FOUNDATION
$30,000OPERATIONS
GLOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$25,000OPERATIONS
ISAIAH FOUNDATION
$25,000OPERATIONS
IDAHO CITY CHRISTIAN CENTER
$25,000OPERATIONS
BOISE BASIN SENIOR CENTER
$25,000OPERATIONS
RISEN CHRIST CHURCH
$25,000OPERATIONS
CAMP IVYDALE
$25,000OPERATIONS
THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
$16,000OPERATIONS
THE CLOSET INC
$16,000OPERATIONS
JEMFRIENDS
$16,000OPERATIONS
ANIMALS IN DISTRESS ASSOCIATION
$16,000OPERATIONS
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
$5,000OPERATIONS
BOISE RESCUE MISSION
$2,250OPERATIONS
WYAKIN FOUNDATION
$1,500OPERATIONS
HANDS OF HOPE NORTHWEST
$1,500OPERATIONS
VALLEY WOMEN & CHILDREN SHELTER
$1,500OPERATIONS
BOISE AQUARIUM
$1,500OPERATIONS
STANTON HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES
$1,500OPERATIONS
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF BOISE
$1,500OPERATIONS
THE GIDEON INTERNATIONAL
$1,500OPERATIONS
CITY OF LIGHT HOME FOR WOMEN
$1,500OPERATIONS
TREASURE VALLEY HABITAT OF HUMANITY
$1,250OPERATIONS
LOVE INC
$1,000OPERATIONS
GIRAFFE LAUGH EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$1,000OPERATIONS
ZOO BOISE
$500OPERATIONS
BOISE STATE BAND
$40,000OPERATIONS
LOVE INC
$20,500OPERATIONS