Harken Foundation
Highland Park, IL · EIN 36-3712655. Reported 370 grants totalling $1,336,432 to 205 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Harken Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $500. Half of everything it gave fell between $250 and $1,500; the smallest was $25 and the largest $113,050. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Biological Lab | Woods Hole, MA | $288,854 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Marine Biological Labatory | Woods Hole, MA | $145,950 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod | Yarmouth, MA | $127,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The 300 Committee Land Trust | Falmouth, MA | $115,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, IL | $106,500 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| The 300 Committee | Falmouth, MA | $64,333 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Gulf of Maine Institute | West Newbury, MA | $59,091 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Woods Hole Community Assoc | Woods Hole, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Doctors Without Borders | New York, NY | $22,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Alight | Minneapolis, MN | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | $20,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| The Frederick Gunn School | Washington, CT | $20,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Friends of Nobska Light | Woods Hole, MA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Ravinia | Highland Park, IL | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| H Frank Carey High School | Franklin Sq, NY | $14,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Falmouth Service Center | Falmouth, MA | $12,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Falmouth Housing Trust | Falmouth, MA | $11,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Gdmi | Abjua | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Smile Train | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| YMCA Cape Cod | Hyannis, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Misericordia Home | Chicago, IL | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Care | Atlanta, GA | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Partners in Health | Boston, MA | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Nrdc | New York, NY | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Smile Train | New York, NY | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Farmland Trust | Washington, DC | $5,824 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Buzzards Bay Coalition | New Bedford, MA | $5,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rancho Mirage High | Rancho Mirage, CA | $4,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | Cambridge, MA | $4,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Depaul University | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | New York, NY | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Feeding America | Washington, DC | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Save the Children | Fairfield, CT | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The College of Healthcare | Wheeling, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Amnesty Intl | Chicago, IL | $3,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Frank Carey High School | Franklin Sq, NY | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Special Gifts Theater | Northbrook, IL | $3,355 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Cape Abilities | Hyannis, MA | $3,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation | Hyannis, MA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Project Hope | Roxbury, MA | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth | East Falmouth, MA | $3,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wounded Warier Project | Jacksonville, FL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jdrf | New York, NY | $2,765 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| College Bound Opportunity | Riverwoods, IL | $2,573 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Finca | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 3 | 2 | 2021 |
| Keshet | Boston, MA | $2,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center | Montgomery, AL | $2,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Juf | Chicago, IL | $2,434 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Association to Preserve Cape Cod | Dennis, MA | $2,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Camp for All Kids | St Louis, MO | $2,223 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Aaas | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cape Cod Health Care | Hyannis, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Joffrey Ballet | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mercy Corps | Boone, IA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Parkinsons Foundation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| USA for Unhcr | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chabad of Palm Beach | Palm Beach, FL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Greater Boston Food Bank | Boston, MA | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Lustgarten Foundation | Woodbury, NY | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Technoserve | Arlington, VA | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Unitarian Unversal Fellowship | East Falmouth, MA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Uu Falmouth | East Falmouth, MA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Woodwell Climate Research Center | Falmouth, MA | $1,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| American Heart Assn | Waltham, MA | $1,465 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wbur | Boston, MA | $1,461 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Evan Scholars Foundation | Golf, IL | $1,250 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Highfield Hall and Gardens | Falmouth, MA | $1,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Parents Helping Parents | San Jose, CA | $1,250 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| St Judes Childrens Hospital | Memphis, TN | $1,250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Zacharins Sexual Abuse Center | Gurnee, IL | $1,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wcaipublic Radio | Woods Hole, MA | $1,096 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation | Boston, MA | $1,096 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Get Your Rear in Gear | Boston, MA | $1,063 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rolfe Foundation | Chicago, IL | $1,040 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Disabled American Veterans | Chicago, IL | $1,030 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Afmda | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| American Assn Advancement Science | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| American Red Cross | Hyannis, MA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Auditorium Theatre | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| College Bound Oppo Success Il | Riverwoods, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Fo's Feminista | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Massachusetts Audubon | Lincoln, MA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis | East Wareham, MA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Oxford America | Little Rock, AR | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Palm Springs Unified School | Palm Springs, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Spohr Gardens Charitable Trust | Falmouth, MA | $1,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Carter Center | Atlanta, GA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Samaritans of Cape Cod | Mashpee, MA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Unicef USA | Ny, NY | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hopechicagoorg | Chicago, IL | $819 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of Fairwinds | Falmouth, MA | $800 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Woods Hole Public Library | Falmouth, MA | $800 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Last Prisoner Project | Denver, CO | $787 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Aipac | Washington, DC | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Focus on the Arts | Highland Park, IL | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gosnold | Falmouth, MA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jewish United Fund | Chicago, IL | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Juf Web | Chicago, IL | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Various Small Donations | Highland Park, IL | $710 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Neighborhood Falmouth | Falmouth, MA | $650 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| World Vision | Federal Way, WA | $650 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| HALLIE225 Foundation | Highland Park, IL | $607 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cradles to Crayons | Newtonville, MA | $604 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| National Glaucoma Research | Clarksburg, MD | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Special Olympics | Marlborough, MA | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Highfield Hall | Falmouth, MA | $550 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Clear Air Task Force | Boston, MA | $525 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Red Cross | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brain Health Center | Englewood, NJ | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Friends of Notre Dame De Paris Inc | Etna, NH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gbfb | High Point, NC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gofundmecom | Redwood City, CA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Help Hope Love | Randor, PA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Illinois Holocaust Museum | Skokie, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Keshet | Northbrook, IL | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic | Highland Park, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Pine Street Inn | Boston, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood | Hyannis, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rosie's Place | Boston, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Art Center Highland Park | Highland Park, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trust for Public Lands | Washington, DC | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United Negro College Fund | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| United States Holocaust Museum | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Woodwell Climate Reseach Center | Falmouth, MA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| World Food Program | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| World Wildlife Fund | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Yellowstone Forever | Bozeman, MT | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Yosemite Conservation | San Francisco, CA | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Falmouth Water Stewards | Falmouth, MA | $450 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo | Chicago, IL | $450 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Adlorg | Chicago, IL | $440 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| American Brain Tumor Assoc | Chicago, IL | $418 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cradles to Crayons | Chicago, IL | $400 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Jazz 24 | Seattle, WA | $366 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wcai | Woods Hole, MA | $366 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Falmouth Commodores | Falmouth, MA | $350 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Trustees | Boston, MA | $350 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Amyloidosis Research | Newton, MA | $265 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Protect Our Winters | Boulder, CO | $265 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cary Institute for Ecosystems Federation | Millbrook, NY | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cerf Legacy Fund | Seattle, WA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Davis Thomas Foundation for Adoption | Dublin, OH | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grant Canyon Conservancy | Grand Canyon, AZ | $250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hubbard Brook Research Foundation | North Woodstock, NH | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Park Foundations | Washington, DC | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New England Acquarium | Boston, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New England Aquarium | Boston, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Parks Foundation Highland Park | Highland Park, IL | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Population Connection | Washington, DC | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Project Lyme | New York, NY | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Prostate Cancer Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Start Early | Chicago, IL | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| UNCF | Washington, DC | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Uusc | Cambridge, MA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Women for Women Intl | Washington, DC | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Yosemite Conservancy | El Portal, CA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| American Friends Service Committee | Philadelphia, PA | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cancer Wellness | Chicago, IL | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Charity Navigator | Saddle Brook, NJ | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Leuk & Lymphoma Society | Rye Brook, NY | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwell Health Foundation | New Hyde Park, NY | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Scleroderma Foundation | Danvers, MA | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wbezchicago Public Media | Chicago, IL | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| West Falmouth Library | West Falmouth, MA | $200 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Nfgaspen Community | Highland Park, IL | $185 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Soulshine Inc | Atlanta, GA | $180 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gratitude Generation | Deerfield, IL | $161 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Elyssa S Mission | Northbrook, IL | $155 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| CASA De Paz | Aurora, CO | $154 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Project Lyme Https Project | New York, NY | $150 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer | Chicago, IL | $118 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Lauri Bauer Grief Center | Deerfield, IL | $107 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gildasclubchicagoorg | Chicago, IL | $105 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lungevity | Chicago, IL | $104 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Roatan Rescue Inc | Altomi, MI | $104 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Giordano Dance Chicago | Chicago, IL | $103 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ldcrf Donation | Falls Church, VA | $103 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nfg Children First Fun | Chicago, IL | $103 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| ACLU | Chicago, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Adr Foundation | Carrollton, TX | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Als Assoc Il | Chicago, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alumni Assn of University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Falmouth Commadores | Falmouth, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Feilding Foundation | Raleigh, NC | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Good Neighbor Energy Trust | Boston, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Humane Society | Washington, DC | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Humble Designs | Chicago, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| International Rescue Committee | New York, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| La Food Bank | Los Angeles, CA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Macular Degeneration Research | Northampton, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Msaa | Hagerstown, MD | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Npca | Washington, DC | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Nssra Foundation | Highland Park, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Oyster Pond Environmental Trustees | Woods Hole, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army | Hyannis, MA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Alzeimers Assoc | Chicago, IL | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Be the Match Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge Inc | Mashpee, MA | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pef Israel | New York, NY | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Salvation Army | Ny, NY | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Volunteer Pool of Highland Park | Highland Park, IL | $25 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
80 of 205 (39%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 44%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Marine Biological Lab
RESTORATION & RECOVERY OF THE LITTLE POND ECOSYSTEM - Lake Forest College
3RD PLANET SUSTAINING FUND - The 300 Committee Land Trust
1ST INSTALLMENT OF 2 YR H2 PLEDGE - Frank Carey High School
WILSON & EMILY GIBLIN SCHOLARSHIP
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 154 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 71 | $273,937 | $500 |
| 2021 | 84 | $295,101 | $682 |
| 2022 | 53 | $273,511 | $550 |
| 2023 | 82 | $243,803 | $500 |
| 2024 | 80 | $250,080 | $500 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
71% of its giving went to organizations in Massachusetts. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Massachusetts.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Harken Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 332 Skokie Valley Road 223, Highland Park, IL, 60035. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 36-3712655 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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