Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related education, youth, social services, arts and culture and health.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which restricts transparency about its grantmaking priorities and activities. However, it appears to be approachable and accepts letters of introduction by mail. With broad interests and no geographic limitations to its giving, this funder may be worth your while.
PROFILE: Established in 1966, the Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation was launched by the late Roland and Gladys Harriman. Roland was a co-founder of the banking firm Harriman Brothers, which merged with Brown Brothers & Co. to form Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. The foundation is now steered by next generation family members. The foundation does not maintain a website, limiting information available on its grantmaking. According to tax filings, the Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related education, youth and social service agencies, arts and cultural organizations, and health agencies and hospitals.
Grants for Education
The Harriman Foundation’s education funding works broadly to support K-12 and higher, with grants mainly supporting schools in the Northeast. Recent grants have supported Bates College, Colgate University, New York City’s Christo Rey High School, Dartmouth College and the Holderness School in New Hampshire. The foundation has also demonstrated a strong interest in supporting youth development organizations and has given to organizations like the Boys Club of New York, Lake Delaware Boys Camp and the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York.
Grants for Arts and Culture
Arts and culture organizations receive a sizable portion of this funder’s grantmaking each year, although the Harriman Foundation does not name specific areas of interest for its arts and culture giving. In a recent year, the foundation made grants to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Connecticut’s Lyman Allyn Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of the City of New York and the Orange County Historical Society in Arden, New York.
Grants for Public Health and Mental Health
Harriman’s grantmaking for health appears to prioritize hospitals and health systems in the New York City area, with grants going to places like Mt. Sinai Hospital in Queens, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Weill Cornell Medicine. The foundation has also provided ongoing support to the American National Red Cross and American Red Cross in Greater New York. Gladys Harriman was active in the Red Cross beginning in 1920, and during World War II held several executive posts, including chairman of volunteer services for the New York branch.
The Harriman Foundation also makes grants to organizations that provide mental health services. Recent recipients in this area include the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Family and Children’s Center of Mineola, New York and New York City’s Covenant House, which serves young people in crisis.
Important Grant Details
The foundation made about $8.2 million in grants in a recent year. Grants mainly ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with an average grant size of about $20,000. While organizations in New York receive a significant portion of funding, this funder works nationally and supports organizations of all sizes. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s past tax filings.
The foundation keeps a low profile, but accepts a written summary in letter form with a brief description of the organization and funding requirements. Applications should also include a copy of IRS Determination Letter. Requests much be received by October 1st.
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CONTACT:
Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation
c/o BBH & Co.
140 Broadway, 4th Fl.
New York, NY 10005
212-493-8185
