The William F Harnisch Foundation concentrates its giving on a very small number of high-impact gifts, primarily supporting local healthcare infrastructure and a targeted national media project about Deafness. The foundation gave a large, repeat grant to the region’s hospital/medical center to fund a neuroscience center and separately supported a film project spotlighting Marlee Matlin and issues facing the Deaf community, indicating interest in health and disability-related awareness through both capital medical support and cultural media.
The William F Harnisch Foundation Inc puts most of its recent giving behind a single place-based health commitment: a $1.5 million grant to Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation for a neuroscience center. That same recipient also received $500,000 for the hospital’s annual gala, showing sustained support for the institution beyond a one-time capital gift. The foundation’s other largest recent award points to a different lane of interest, with $150,000 to Afterimage Public Media for the film project "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore," linking the funder to disability awareness and cultural storytelling. Across the recent grants list, the foundation also supports scholarship programs, public-interest media, arts institutions, and organizations serving people with disabilities. Awards include funding for Harnisch Scholars at Baruch College Fund, operating support for Higher Heights Leadership Fund, and grants to groups such as Crisis Text Line, Sundance Institute, and Disability Belongs fka RespectAbility. The pattern suggests a small number of high-value grants alongside a broader set of smaller awards tied to education, health, film, and community support.
Health and medical infrastructure sit at the center of the foundation’s largest commitments. It gave $1.5 million to Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation for a neuroscience center, then added $500,000 for the hospital’s annual gala. Education appears through scholarship support, including $75,000 to Baruch College Fund for Harnisch Scholars and $24,000 to Queensborough Community College Fund for a Harnisch scholarship. The foundation also backs media and public-facing projects. It awarded $150,000 to Afterimage Public Media for "Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore," $86,200 to Sundance Institute for general operations support and the Sundance Film Festival, and $25,000 to Film Independent for general operations support. Disability-related and social-service work also shows up in smaller grants, including $35,000 to Crisis Text Line for general operations and support for Spanish services and $15,000 to Disability Belongs fka RespectAbility for general operations support.
$3M
$5.4M
$6.1M
$3M
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Very concentrated giving: few, large grants with repeat funding to a local hospital foundation and select one-off support for thematic media projects rather than broad diversified grantmaking.
Notable grantees: Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation (Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation), Afterimage Public Media, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (film project)
Grant sizes are sharply tiered. Among the recent grants, the upper end includes $1.5 million and $500,000 awards, followed by a $150,000 gift and a $100,000 grant, while many others cluster at $25,000 or below. The foundation is a private foundation and a regular funder, and it also makes program-related investments. The recent record shows repeat support to the same hospital-related grantee in the same year, which points to relationship-based giving rather than isolated one-off awards. Funding appears to be mostly unrestricted in smaller grants, with frequent general operations support and event support.
Giving is entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants list, with 56 grants to U.S. recipients. New York receives the most awards, and the recipient cities include Riverhead, New York City, Brooklyn, Bayside, Seneca Falls, Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, and the Bronx. Outside New York, recent grants reach San Francisco, Park City, Austin, Los Angeles, Nashville, Pepper Pike, Washington, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Sarasota, and Woodland Hills. The pattern is local-first, but not limited to a single city.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on local health care and neuroscience, especially the Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation neuroscience center. The foundation also supports disability-related media and organizations, scholarship programs, and general operating support for arts, public-interest media, and community nonprofits.
Yes. Recent grants include $75,000 to Baruch College Fund for Harnisch Scholars and $24,000 to Queensborough Community College Fund for a Harnisch scholarship. Those awards show direct support for named scholarship programs.
Very concentrated. The recent grant list is anchored by a $1.5 million award to Central Suffolk Hospital Foundation aka Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation, and the same recipient also received $500,000 in the same year. Many other grants are much smaller, often at $25,000 or below.
Recent grants are entirely U.S.-based, with 56 grants to U.S. recipients. New York is the main recipient state, and the recipient cities range from Riverhead and New York City to Brooklyn, Bayside, Sag Harbor, and the Bronx.
The foundation funds film and media groups, scholarship programs, disability-focused nonprofits, and general operating support for cultural institutions. Recent recipients include Afterimage Public Media for a film project, Sundance Institute for festival-related support, and Crisis Text Line for general operations and Spanish services.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL SUFFOLK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION AKA PECONIC BAY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATI | RIVERHEAD, NY | $1,500,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE CENTER |
| CENTRAL SUFFOLK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION AKA PECONIC BAY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATI | RIVERHEAD, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | PBMC ANNUAL GALA |
| AFTERIMAGE PUBLIC MEDIA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR FILM - MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE |
| HIGHER HEIGHTS LEADERSHIP FUND | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PARK CITY, UT | $86,200 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL |
| BARUCH COLLEGE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | HARNISCH SCHOLARS |
| HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| SUBJECT MATTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL |
| CRISIS TEXT LINE | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR SPANISH SERVICES |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FRIST ART MUSEUM | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| THE 19TH NEWS | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| DKT INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | MIFE50 STUDY |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME | SENECA FALLS, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND 2024 INDUCTION CEREMONY |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FILM INDEPENDENT | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUND | BAYSIDE, NY | $24,000 | 2025 | HARNISCH SCHOLARSHIP |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| DISABILITY BELONGS FKA RESPECTABILITY | FREDERICKSBURG, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| BARUCH COLLEGE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | BARUCH ANNUAL DINNER |
| ST MARY'S CHURCH | HAMPTON BAYS, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS) | ARLINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL IMPACT | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| SOUTH FORK BAKERY FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS CORP | SAG HARBOR, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND COCKTAILS WITH A CAUSE |
| PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TIFF | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| SOLOMON GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| RARE GENOMICS INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| USTA FOUNDATION | PURCHASE, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| THE SHED | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NY PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S VISION INTERNATIONAL INC | BANGOR, WI | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,080 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MATHEMATICS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,001 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NAMI - SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| BROOKLYN TECH ALUMNI FOUNDATION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | CENTENNIAL FUND |
| LGBT CENTER INTERCULTURAL COLLECTIVE INC | JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NAMI - NYS | MENANDS, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| TRANS FORMATIVE SCHOOLS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
CENTRAL SUFFOLK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION AKA PECONIC BAY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATI
$1,500,000NEUROSCIENCE CENTER
CENTRAL SUFFOLK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION AKA PECONIC BAY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATI
$500,000PBMC ANNUAL GALA
SUPPORT FOR FILM - MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE
SUBJECT MATTER INC
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND 2024 INDUCTION CEREMONY
QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUND
$24,000HARNISCH SCHOLARSHIP
ST MARY'S CHURCH
$12,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
GLOBAL IMPACT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
SOUTH FORK BAKERY FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS CORP
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND COCKTAILS WITH A CAUSE
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TIFF
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$6,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
SOLOMON GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
RARE GENOMICS INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
THE SHED
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S VISION INTERNATIONAL INC
$1,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,080GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NAMI - NYS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
TRANS FORMATIVE SCHOOLS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT