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
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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 |
| SUBJECT MATTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL |
| HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| CRISIS TEXT LINE | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR SPANISH SERVICES |
| MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| DKT INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | MIFE50 STUDY |
| THE 19TH NEWS | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FILM INDEPENDENT | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FRIST ART MUSEUM | NASHVILLE, TN | $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 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW YORK, NY | $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 |
| BARUCH COLLEGE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | BARUCH ANNUAL DINNER |
| DISABILITY BELONGS FKA RESPECTABILITY | FREDERICKSBURG, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S CHURCH | HAMPTON BAYS, NY | $12,000 | 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 |
| GLOBAL IMPACT | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $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 |
| NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS) | ARLINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| RARE GENOMICS INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 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 |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| SOLOMON GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| USTA FOUNDATION | PURCHASE, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| NY PUBLIC LIBRARY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT |
| THE SHED | 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 |
| TRANS FORMATIVE SCHOOLS | NEW YORK, NY | $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 |
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
AFTERIMAGE PUBLIC MEDIA
$150,000SUPPORT FOR FILM - MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE
HIGHER HEIGHTS LEADERSHIP FUND
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
$86,200GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
BARUCH COLLEGE FUND
$75,000HARNISCH SCHOLARS
SUBJECT MATTER INC
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
CRISIS TEXT LINE
$35,000GENERAL OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR SPANISH SERVICES
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
DKT INTERNATIONAL
$25,000MIFE50 STUDY
THE 19TH NEWS
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
FILM INDEPENDENT
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
FRIST ART MUSEUM
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NATIONAL WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND 2024 INDUCTION CEREMONY
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUND
$24,000HARNISCH SCHOLARSHIP
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
BARUCH COLLEGE FUND
$15,000BARUCH ANNUAL DINNER
DISABILITY BELONGS FKA RESPECTABILITY
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
ST MARY'S CHURCH
$12,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
SOUTH FORK BAKERY FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS CORP
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT AND COCKTAILS WITH A CAUSE
GLOBAL IMPACT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TIFF
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS)
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$6,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
RARE GENOMICS INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
SOLOMON GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
USTA FOUNDATION
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
THE SHED
$2,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S VISION INTERNATIONAL INC
$1,500GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,080GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MATHEMATICS
$1,001GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NAMI - SEATTLE
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
TRANS FORMATIVE SCHOOLS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
BROOKLYN TECH ALUMNI FOUNDATION INC
$1,000CENTENNIAL FUND
LGBT CENTER INTERCULTURAL COLLECTIVE INC
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
NAMI - NYS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT
Current and upcoming funding from William F Harnisch Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Designed for girls and gender expansive kids in grades 3-8; intended for schools and partner organizations interested in bringing the curriculum to their community.
Deadline: Accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.