The Harlan Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy narrowly on a single Indianapolis cultural institution, providing large unrestricted support to the Indianapolis Zoo, specifically backing the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center. Its giving appears locally focused and oriented toward public science, education, and zoo operations rather than a diversified portfolio of causes. The foundation is distinctive for repeat, sizable gifts to one flagship beneficiary.
The Harlan Family Foundation is defined by sustained, concentrated support for the Indianapolis Zoo, including major backing for the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center and the zoo’s general operations. That pattern makes the foundation easy to identify: rather than spreading gifts widely, it repeatedly returns to a small set of local institutions, especially the zoo in Indianapolis. The largest recent grant in the file was $483,400 to the Indianapolis Zoo in 2023 for general support, followed by $400,000 in 2024 for the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center. It also supported the zoo’s Harlan Family Veterinary Internship Program with an $83,400 grant in 2024, showing that its relationship with the institution extends beyond operating support into education and training. Alongside the zoo, the foundation has made gifts to Indianapolis-area organizations tied to health, education, faith, public safety, and community events. The pattern is local and program-specific, with repeated support to named initiatives rather than a broad grantmaking portfolio.
At the Indianapolis Zoo, the foundation funded three distinct needs in the recent record: $400,000 for the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center, $83,400 for the Harlan Family Veterinary Internship Program, and $10,000 for general support. Those grants point to a mix of public science programming and professional training tied to the zoo’s operations. In health-related philanthropy, it gave $50,000 to St Vincent Foundation for Dr. C William Hanke and $33,335 for Dr. Eric Prystowsky, both through general support. The foundation also supported community and religious institutions, including $20,000 to St Simon the Apostle School and $10,000 to St Simon the Apostle Parish #041. Outside Indiana, it made $10,000 grants to Building Baja's Future in Cabo San Lucas Los Cabos BCS in both 2023 and 2024.
The typical grant profile is modest to mid-sized: p25 is $2,500, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent record shows a wide spread above that range, with a small number of very large gifts concentrated at the Indianapolis Zoo. Grants recur across years to the same organizations and even the same programs, including multiple awards to the zoo, St Vincent Foundation, Joy in Childhood Foundation, Building Baja's Future, and several local civic groups. The foundation is a family foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$1.2M
$8.1M
$1.7M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Harlan Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 60 | $3M | 95.2% |
| 2 | Mexico |
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large grants, repeated to a single core grantee rather than distributed across many organizations.
Notable grantees: Indianapolis Zoo
Giving is strongly centered in Indiana, which accounts for 69% of grants. Indianapolis is the main recipient city, with additional in-state recipients in Carmel, Fishers, Avon, Lawrence, and Rockville. Outside Indiana, the file shows grants in St Louis, Canton, Colorado Springs, Rush, and New York. Most grants are in the United States, with a small cross-border presence in Mexico through recipients in Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, BCS.
The recent record centers on the Indianapolis Zoo, especially general support, the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center, and the Harlan Family Veterinary Internship Program. It also supports Indianapolis-area health, education, faith, and public safety organizations, including St Vincent Foundation, St Simon the Apostle School, and local fire departments.
The distribution is centered on smaller gifts: p25 is $2,500, the median grant is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The file also includes a few much larger grants, including several six-figure awards to the Indianapolis Zoo.
Yes. The record shows repeat grants to the Indianapolis Zoo across 2023 and 2024, to St Vincent Foundation in 2023 and 2024, to Joy in Childhood Foundation in 2023 and 2024, and to Building Baja's Future in both years. Several local civic groups also appear more than once.
Indiana is the top state by grant count, with 69% of grants going to recipients in the state. Indianapolis appears most often among recipient cities, followed by other Indiana locations such as Carmel, Fishers, Avon, Lawrence, and Rockville.
Recipients include a zoo, a foundation tied to physicians, a school, a parish, community coalitions, fire departments, a youth-oriented sports organization, and a medical research-related foundation. The grantee list shows a mix of cultural, educational, religious, public safety, and health-related organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 3 |
| $30K |
4.8% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension St Vincent Foundation | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $700,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Indianapolis Zoo | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Ascension St Vincent Foundation | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Joy in Childhood Foundation | CANTON, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Lubavitch of Indiana | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Cathedral High School | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Avon Public Safety Foundation | AVON, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Geist Lake Coalition | FISHERS, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Simon The Apostle School | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Simon The Apostle School | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Geist Lake Coalition | FISHERS, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Dane County Humane Society | MADISON, WI | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| American Cancer Society | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Indiana Masonic Home Foundation | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Indianapolis Zoo | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $410,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Indiana University Foundation | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Joy in Childhood Foundation | CANTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Simon the Apostle School | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Building Baja's Future | CABO SAN LUCAS, LO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Geist Lake Coalition | FISHERS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Lubavitch of Indiana | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Avon Public Safety Foundation | AVON, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Pike Township Fire Department | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The Damien Center | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,378 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Oaklandon Youth Organization | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JDRF | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Indianapolis Zoo | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - HARLAN/SHRIVER FAMILIES COGNITION CENTER |
| Indianapolis Zoo | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $83,400 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - HARLAN FAMILY VETERINARY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| St Vincent Foundation | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - DR. C WILLAIM HANKE |
| St Vincent Foundation | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $33,335 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - DR. ERIC PRYSTOWSKY |
| Joy in Childhood Foundation | CANTON, MA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Simon the Apostle School | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Building Baja's Future | CABO SAN LUCAS LOS CABOS BCS | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| St Simon the Apostle Parish #041 | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOO | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Indianapolis Ballet Conservatory | CARMEL, IN | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Lawrence Township Fire Department | LAWRENCE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Lubavitch of Indiana | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Pike Township Fire Department | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Avon Public Safety Foundation | AVON, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Rockville-Adams Fire Department | ROCKVILLE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST SIMON THE APOSTLE SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - ROYAL EXTRAVAGANZA |
| GEIST LAKE COALITION | FISHERS, IN | $4,400 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE DAMIEN CENTER | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - DINING OUT FOR LIFE |
| JDRF | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST SIMON THE APOSTLE SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - ROYAL FUN RUN |
| LUBAVITCH OF INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $750 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT - ANNUAL RAFFLE |
| OAKLANDON YOUTH ORGANIZATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOO | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $483,400 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST VINCENT FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $33,333 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
Indianapolis Zoo
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Joy in Childhood Foundation
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Lubavitch of Indiana
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Cathedral High School
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Avon Public Safety Foundation
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Geist Lake Coalition
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
St Simon The Apostle School
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
St Simon The Apostle School
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Geist Lake Coalition
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
American Cancer Society
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
Indiana Masonic Home Foundation
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
Indianapolis Zoo
$410,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Joy in Childhood Foundation
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
St Simon the Apostle School
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Building Baja's Future
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Geist Lake Coalition
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Lubavitch of Indiana
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Avon Public Safety Foundation
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Pike Township Fire Department
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
The Damien Center
$1,378GENERAL SUPPORT
Oaklandon Youth Organization
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT - HARLAN/SHRIVER FAMILIES COGNITION CENTER
GENERAL SUPPORT - HARLAN FAMILY VETERINARY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
St Vincent Foundation
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT - DR. C WILLAIM HANKE
St Vincent Foundation
$33,335GENERAL SUPPORT - DR. ERIC PRYSTOWSKY
Joy in Childhood Foundation
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
St Simon the Apostle School
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Building Baja's Future
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
St Simon the Apostle Parish #041
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Indianapolis Ballet Conservatory
$7,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Lawrence Township Fire Department
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Lubavitch of Indiana
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Pike Township Fire Department
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Avon Public Safety Foundation
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Rockville-Adams Fire Department
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST SIMON THE APOSTLE SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT - ROYAL EXTRAVAGANZA
GEIST LAKE COALITION
$4,400GENERAL SUPPORT
THE DAMIEN CENTER
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT - DINING OUT FOR LIFE
ST SIMON THE APOSTLE SCHOOL
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT - ROYAL FUN RUN
LUBAVITCH OF INDIANA
$750GENERAL SUPPORT - ANNUAL RAFFLE
OAKLANDON YOUTH ORGANIZATION
$500GENERAL SUPPORT