The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation concentrates its giving on regional cultural and civic institutions in the Cincinnati–Hamilton County area, favoring large operating grants that sustain organizations' core work. Its grants strongly support arts institutions (museums, symphony, opera), community philanthropy via a regional community foundation, and select higher-education and local recreational initiatives. The foundation makes a small number of substantial, often repeat, awards rather than many small grants.
Concentrated, high-dollar operating grants to a small slate of repeat grantees; emphasis on sustaining regional arts and civic institutions rather than broad, many small grants.
The Harry T Wilks Family Foundation shows a clear preference for sustaining a small set of regional institutions with large operating grants. In the recent record, Hamilton Community Foundation received awards of $1,525,000 in 2023 and $1,125,000 in 2024, while the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra received $1,000,000 in 2025 for operating funds. That pattern points to a funder that backs core organizational capacity rather than one-off projects. Arts and civic life sit at the center of the portfolio. Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park appears repeatedly with seven-figure and high six-figure support, and other grants go to Cincinnati Opera, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. The foundation also supports educational and community organizations, including Miami University, A Mindful Moment, and Boone Conservancy. The recurring structure of the giving suggests long-term relationships with grantees, especially in the Cincinnati-Hamilton County area. Most awards are described as operating funds, and several recipients appear in multiple years, indicating continuity rather than experimentation. The foundation’s identity is tied to institutions that serve the region’s cultural, civic, and educational infrastructure.
Arts organizations make up a major part of the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $1,000,000 to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2025 for operating funds, and also gave $250,000 to Cincinnati Opera in 2023 for the same purpose. The Contemporary Arts Center received $50,000 in 2025 as operating support. Civic and community infrastructure is another visible theme. Hamilton Community Foundation received $1,525,000 in 2023 and $1,125,000 in 2024 to provide operating funds, and the City of Hamilton received $200,000 in 2025 for operating funds. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber also received $15,000 in 2025. The foundation also funds education and recreation-related work. Miami University received $375,000 in 2025, while the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation received $250,000 in 2025, both as operating support. Smaller grants also reached University of Pennsylvania and YWCA USA.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards: the 25th percentile is $4,664, the median is $6,505, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent record nonetheless includes many larger operating grants, indicating a split between a broad base of smaller awards and a handful of major commitments. Recipients often reappear across years, which points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated grants. The foundation is a family foundation, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Grants are distributed nationally, though the profile is heavily centered on repeat operating support.
$3.4M
$21.5M
$7.1M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in OH.
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Notable grantees: Hamilton Community Foundation, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Miami University, Cincinnati Opera
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 116 grants in the United States. Ohio is the top state by grant count, and many recipient cities are in the Cincinnati-Hamilton County orbit: Hamilton, Cincinnati, and Oxford appear repeatedly in the recent grants list. Kentucky recipients also appear, including Bellevue and Burlington, but the state accounts for only 4% of grants. Outside the region, the foundation has also supported organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, DC, and Maine.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on operating support for arts, civic, and educational institutions. Examples include the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Community Foundation, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Miami University, and the Cincinnati Opera, all funded for core organizational work.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Hamilton Community Foundation in 2023 and 2024, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Butler Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small at the center of the portfolio: the 25th percentile is $4,664, the median is $6,505, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. At the same time, the recent record includes much larger operating grants to a small number of institutions.
Ohio is the top state by grant count. The recent grants list is concentrated in Ohio cities such as Hamilton, Cincinnati, and Oxford, with additional grants in Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, DC, and Maine.
The foundation is a family foundation. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant record is dominated by operating support, including general and unrestricted operating funds.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK | HAMILTON, OH | $1,076,915 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,020,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HAMILTON, OH | $321,750 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $280,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| A MINDFUL MOMENT | CINCINNATI, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BLUE HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BLUE HILL, NE | $60,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GREAT MIAMI ROWING CENTER | HAMILTON, OH | $55,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TIDE POOL INC | HAMILTON, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| YWCA | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BUTLER COUNTY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | HAMILTON, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ARTS WAVE | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| INSPIRATION STUDIES | HAMILTON, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $17,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| JETT HARRISON PHILLIPS | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ASHLIN GRACE BLEVENS | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| JERRY MAXWELL SNELLGROVE | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CAMILA KRYSTAL OLIVA | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| OLIVIA LEIGH KLEFEKER | FAIRFIELD, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DANITY AMEERA SIMS | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| GRACE DIANE BENNING | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| TYLER MORGAN STEPHAN FRIEDEL | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MADELINE MARIE WAGONFIELD | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CONNOR MICHAEL WOOD | HAMILTON, OH | $16,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE FITTON CENTRE | HAMILTON, OH | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WAVE POOL | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CINCINNATI OPERA COMPANY | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ARTWORKS | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CINCINNATI CHAMBER ORCHESTRA | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LAND IN COMMON | GREENE, ME | $8,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PROJECT SHEET VET | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $8,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RAINFOREST TRUST | WARRENTON, VA | $8,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NORTHEAST WILDERNESS TRUST | MONTPELIER, VT | $8,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $7,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RESOURCES FOR ORGANIZING & SOCIAL CHANGE | AUGUSTA, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY | ITHACA, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BLUE HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | BLUE HILL, ME | $4,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MAINE FAMILY PLANNING | AUGUSTA, ME | $3,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON URBAN GARDEN SYSTEMS | HAMILTON, OH | $3,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BLUE HILL HERITAGE TRUST | BLUE HILL, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RANGELEY LAKES HERITAGE TRUST | RANGELEY, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BALTIMORE SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE STEEL YARD | PROVIDENCE, RI | $1,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MAINE HUTS AND TRAILS | KINGFIELD, ME | $1,500 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK | HAMILTON, OH | $402,600 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK
$1,076,915PROGRAM SUPPORT
A MINDFUL MOMENT
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BLUE HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
PROGRAM SUPPORT
GREAT MIAMI ROWING CENTER
$55,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
TIDE POOL INC
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
YWCA
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BUTLER COUNTY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
INSPIRATION STUDIES
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION
$17,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
JETT HARRISON PHILLIPS
$16,030EDUCATION
ASHLIN GRACE BLEVENS
$16,030EDUCATION
JERRY MAXWELL SNELLGROVE
$16,030EDUCATION
CAMILA KRYSTAL OLIVA
$16,030EDUCATION
OLIVIA LEIGH KLEFEKER
$16,030EDUCATION
DANITY AMEERA SIMS
$16,030EDUCATION
GRACE DIANE BENNING
$16,030EDUCATION
TYLER MORGAN STEPHAN FRIEDEL
$16,030EDUCATION
MADELINE MARIE WAGONFIELD
$16,030EDUCATION
CONNOR MICHAEL WOOD
$16,030EDUCATION
THE FITTON CENTRE
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CINCINNATI OPERA COMPANY
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
LAND IN COMMON
$8,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
PROJECT SHEET VET
$8,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY
$5,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BLUE HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
$4,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HAMILTON URBAN GARDEN SYSTEMS
$3,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE STEEL YARD
$1,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
MAINE HUTS AND TRAILS
$1,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK
$402,600PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS