The J Ira & Nicki Harris Family Foundation concentrates sizable, general-purpose gifts to a small number of high-profile educational institutions and a prominent Israel-support organization. Their giving emphasizes elite education — both secondary (boarding prep) and higher education (business and medical schools) — alongside support for Israel’s defense-related philanthropy. Grants appear unrestricted or general operating in nature and are directed to established national organizations rather than grassroots groups.
A $300,000 general grant to Suffield Academy is the clearest signal in the latest filing: J Ira & Nicki Harris Family Foundation Inc. backs a small set of established institutions with large, unrestricted gifts. The 2023 grants list shows a pattern of support for elite independent schools, graduate professional education, and Israel-related philanthropy, with several awards at the $250,000 level and many others in five- and six-figure ranges. The foundation’s giving reaches beyond education to cultural, health, and Jewish communal organizations, but the largest commitments cluster around institutions with long-standing profiles. Among the standout recipients are New York University School of Medicine and The University of Michigan - Ross School of Business, each receiving $250,000 in 2023. Those grants sit alongside support for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, and other established nonprofits. The foundation’s recent pattern suggests a preference for general-purpose funding rather than project-specific awards, directed toward organizations with broad institutional missions rather than startup or grassroots programs. It gave across 2023 only to U.S.-based recipients.
Education is a core theme. The foundation gave $300,000 to Suffield Academy for general support, and $25,000 to The Fessenden School, both of which point to interest in elite independent secondary education. At the university level, it supported medical training and research through a $250,000 general grant to New York University School of Medicine and a $25,000 grant to NYU Langone Health. Business education also appears in the 2023 record. The University of Michigan - Ross School of Business received $250,000 for general support, while The University of Michigan received $62,400. Beyond education, the foundation backed Israel-related philanthropy with a $204,000 grant to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and a $12,500 grant to Israel Policy Forum. It also made gifts to Jewish and civic institutions such as Central Synagogue, American Society for Yad Vashem, and the Museum at Eldridge Street.
Typical grant size is concentrated in the middle range, with p25 at $2,375, median at $10,000, and p75 at $25,000. The 2023 record also includes several much larger awards, indicating a mix of routine gifts and a few major commitments. The pattern is consistent with concentrated, general-purpose support rather than many small awards. Recipients include repeat categories—schools, universities, and Jewish communal organizations—rather than a broad array of one-time program grantees. The foundation funds institutions rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2.1M
$0
$744K
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $2K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 38% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a very small number of recipients—few, large general-purpose grants to established institutions rather than many small awards; appears to fund national, high-profile organizations and may make occasional single-year major gifts.
Notable grantees: Suffield Academy, NYU School of Medicine, University of Michigan - Ross School of Business, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Giving is national, with all recorded 2023 grants going to U.S. recipients. Florida is the top state by grant count, and 38% of grants went to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Within Florida, recipients include West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Deerfield Beach organizations. Outside Florida, grantmaking also landed in New York City, Ann Arbor, New Haven, Hanover, and Suffield, showing a mix of local, regional, and out-of-state institutional support.
Its recent grants center on elite independent schools, university professional schools, Israel-related philanthropy, and Jewish communal or cultural institutions. Examples from 2023 include Suffield Academy, New York University School of Medicine, The University of Michigan - Ross School of Business, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
The grant-size profile is centered on mid-range awards: p25 is $2,375, median grant size is $10,000, and p75 is $25,000. The 2023 record also includes larger gifts such as $300,000 and $250,000 awards.
Florida is the top state by grant count, with 38% of grants going to recipients in Florida. Recent Florida recipients include organizations in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Deerfield Beach.
No. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments.
The recent grants are labeled general, and the pattern points to general-purpose support. Examples in 2023 include general grants to Suffield Academy, NYU School of Medicine, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY-KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT | EVANSTON, IL | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SUFFIELD ACADEMY | SUFFIELD, CT | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | ANN ARBOR, MI | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (NYU) SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | ANN ARBOR, MI | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $208,700 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $204,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $62,400 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| YOUNG ADULT INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $61,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $57,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $55,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - MICHIGAN MEDICINE | ANN ARBOR, MI | $52,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $52,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ROBINHOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SOLOMON R GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $44,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SOLOMON R GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $31,250 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $27,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM | NEW YORK, NY | $26,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY | PALM BEACH, FL | $26,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $26,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE PROMISE FUND OF FLORIDA | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SUNRISE ASSOCIATION | OCEANSIDE, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NYU LANGONE HEALTH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CITY PARKS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE PROMISE FUND OF FLORIDA | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE FESSENDEN SCHOOL | WEST NEWTON, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR YAD VASHEM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF RECREATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE JCC KRAKOW | SUFFERN, NY | $17,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PALM BEACH SYNAGOGUE | PALM BEACH, FL | $12,750 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ISRAEL POLICY FORUM | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ISRAEL TENNIS CENTERS FOUNDATION | DEERFIELD BEACH, FL | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PALM BEACH CIVIC ASSOCIATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| MORSELIFE FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| MORSELIFE FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,250 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF PALM BEACH | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS | PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CITY MEALS-ON-WHEELS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY-KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
$1,000,000GENERAL
SUFFIELD ACADEMY
$300,000GENERAL
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$250,000GENERAL
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (NYU) SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
$250,000GENERAL
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$250,000GENERAL
GENERAL
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$62,400GENERAL
YOUNG ADULT INSTITUTE INC
$61,000GENERAL
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - MICHIGAN MEDICINE
$52,500GENERAL
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$50,000GENERAL
SOLOMON R GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION
$44,500GENERAL
SOLOMON R GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL
AMHERST COLLEGE
$30,000GENERAL
CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE
$27,500GENERAL
CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE
$26,000GENERAL
NYU LANGONE HEALTH
$25,000GENERAL
FRIENDS OF RECREATION
$25,000GENERAL
PALM BEACH SYNAGOGUE
$12,750GENERAL
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
$12,500GENERAL