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.
$3.1M
$17.9M
$3M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 4% 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.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $375,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CINCINNATI TENNIS FOUNDATION CINCINNATI TENNIS FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HAMILTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAMILTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HAMILTON, OH | $215,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CITY OF HAMILTON CITY OF HAMILTON | HAMILTON, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| A MINDFUL MOMENT A MINDFUL MOMENT | BELLEVUE, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| OHIO TASTE FOUNDATION OHIO TASTE FOUNDATION | DAYTON, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| BOONE CONSERVANCY BOONE CONSERVANCY | BURLINGTON, KY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| TIDEPOOL TIDEPOOL | PALO ALTO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| YWCA USA YWCA USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | HAMILTON, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| LAND IN COMMON LAND IN COMMON | GREEN, ME | $18,500 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE | NEW YORK, NY | $9,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| PIONEER WORKS PIONEER WORKS | BROOKLYN, NY | $8,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| TRISTAN NICHOLAS TINCHER | OXFORD, OH | $7,602 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MI BY CHELLE ORQUIDEA GARCIA | FAIRFIELD, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PERLA ADRIANA ROJAS-MARQUEZ | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MAKAYLA NICOLE PLATT | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLE FRANCIS COOMER | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ANDREW NOLAN KECK | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ZACKARY STEPHEN KRAMER | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CHARLI LYNN CLAY | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CARSON STANLEY MARTIN | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| AUDREY CLARE GRAF | HAMILTON, OH | $7,598 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CELEBRATION BARN CELEBRATION BARN | SOUTH PARIS, ME | $6,500 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| RESOURCES OF ONGOING SOCIAL CHANGE RESOURCES OF ONGOING SOCIAL CHANGE | AUGUSTA, ME | $5,500 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| MWL EDUCATION FUND MWL EDUCATION FUND | AUGUSTA, ME | $3,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF ARTS BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF ARTS | BALTIMORE, MD | $2,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| FARM AND WILDERNESS FOUNDATION FARM AND WILDERNESS FOUNDATION | PLYMOUTH, VT | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| SEA CHANGE CHORALE SEA CHANGE CHORALE | PORTLAND, ME | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| MAINE INSIDE OUT MAINE INSIDE OUT | PORTLAND, ME | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| SPACE FOUNDATION SPACE FOUNDATION | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $500 | 2025 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| HAMILTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAMILTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HAMILTON, OH | $1,125,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK | HAMILTON, OH | $867,700 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CREATIVE TIME CREATIVE TIME | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| A MINDFUL MOMENT A MINDFUL MOMENT | BELLEVUE, KY | $100,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $27,500 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE | NEW YORK, NY | $22,500 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | HAMILTON, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS THE FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS | HAMILTON, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS |
| CHASE DANIELLE MEYER | HAMILTON, OH | $6,505 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK
$402,600PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
MIAMI UNIVERSITY MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$375,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
CITY OF HAMILTON CITY OF HAMILTON
$200,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
A MINDFUL MOMENT A MINDFUL MOMENT
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
OHIO TASTE FOUNDATION OHIO TASTE FOUNDATION
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
BOONE CONSERVANCY BOONE CONSERVANCY
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
TIDEPOOL TIDEPOOL
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER
$50,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$20,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
LAND IN COMMON LAND IN COMMON
$18,500PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE
$9,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PIONEER WORKS PIONEER WORKS
$8,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
TRISTAN NICHOLAS TINCHER
$7,602EDUCATION
MI BY CHELLE ORQUIDEA GARCIA
$7,598EDUCATION
PERLA ADRIANA ROJAS-MARQUEZ
$7,598EDUCATION
MAKAYLA NICOLE PLATT
$7,598EDUCATION
COLE FRANCIS COOMER
$7,598EDUCATION
ANDREW NOLAN KECK
$7,598EDUCATION
ZACKARY STEPHEN KRAMER
$7,598EDUCATION
CHARLI LYNN CLAY
$7,598EDUCATION
CARSON STANLEY MARTIN
$7,598EDUCATION
AUDREY CLARE GRAF
$7,598EDUCATION
CELEBRATION BARN CELEBRATION BARN
$6,500PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
RESOURCES OF ONGOING SOCIAL CHANGE RESOURCES OF ONGOING SOCIAL CHANGE
$5,500PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY
$5,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
MWL EDUCATION FUND MWL EDUCATION FUND
$3,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF ARTS BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF ARTS
$2,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
FARM AND WILDERNESS FOUNDATION FARM AND WILDERNESS FOUNDATION
$1,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
SEA CHANGE CHORALE SEA CHANGE CHORALE
$1,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
MAINE INSIDE OUT MAINE INSIDE OUT
$1,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
SPACE FOUNDATION SPACE FOUNDATION
$500PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK
$867,700PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
A MINDFUL MOMENT A MINDFUL MOMENT
$100,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN TRUST FOR PUBLIC SPACE
$22,500PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA BUTLER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$15,000PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
PROVIDE OPERATING FUNDS
CHASE DANIELLE MEYER
$6,505EDUCATION