This nonprofit truly lives up to its mission. I received an unsolicited donation after being awarded a micro-grant through Awesome Without Borders. We are a VERY small nonprofit with no grant history, The Harnisch Foundation opened the door for us, gave support and encouragement and every single person with whom I interacted was kind, gracious, and efficient. I thought we had fallen off the map and could never gain footing but this foundation really does address social justice and inequality. I suggest you look at their website and mission. They live up to it and more!
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- EIN
- info@thehf.org
- 212-904-0454
- 350 Park Avenue, 30th Floor New York NY 10022 USA
- http://www.thehf.org/
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Nonprofit Overview
Mission: Since 1998, The Harnisch Foundation has been a catalyst for sustainable social change, funding and implementing innovation in the fields of philanthropy, coaching and journalism. The Harnisch Foundation was founded in 1998 by Ruth Ann Harnisch. Most of The Harnisch Foundation’s early grants were awarded to nonprofits in Middle Tennessee because of the founder’s familiarity with the people, the needs, and the institutions there. (Since 1973, Ruth Ann Leach, as she was formerly known, was a media personality and community leader in the area.) Operating on the idea that “If people knew better, they’d do better,” grants were designed to help people improve their own lives. Hundreds of grants were awarded to a staggering range of nonprofits to support creative, multi-dimensional programs that addressed several facets of a challenging situation.
Results: Here are some of our less-traditional gifts: Today Show Green Room Book Guests on NBC’s TODAY sign a special keepsake album, auctioned to benefit a chosen charity. In February 2003, The Harnisch Foundation won the book with a contribution to The Boys and Girls Clubs. What did we do with the book? We immediately donated the prize to another nonprofit, which held its own contest and gave the book to still another charity for their own fundraising purposes. So: we were able to help at least three nonprofits materially, and an appearance on TODAY to receive the book was a priceless opportunity to promote philanthropy. Oprah’s Chairs The TODAY experience inspired us to bid in Oprah’s first-ever eBay auction in 2003 benefiting Oprah’s Angel Network ® . Oprah autographed two Ralph Lauren chairs that had been part of the set of her talk show for several years. Our winning bid resulted in an invitation to appear on the show, and The Harnisch Foundation sponsored an “international road tour” for the chairs. They visited schools and public libraries, where people (especially children!) were encouraged to have a seat and share the love of reading. The visits inspired several library fundraising events. The chairs now have a home with the Buffalo Broadcasters Association. The Dignitarian Dialogues/Bookcrossing.com How do you get people talking about a new idea? In 2003, author Robert Fuller’s book “Somebodies and Nobodies” introduced the concept of “rankism,” which he called “the mother of all other ‘isms’.” One of the values espoused by The Harnisch Foundation is a society in which people are treated with respect, and Fuller’s vision of a “dignitarian” society seemed like an idea worth spreading. In conjunction with the book-sharing website www.bookcrossing.com, The Harnisch Foundation purchased and distributed about 20,000 copies of Fuller’s book. This resulted in mailing thousands of copies worldwide, sparking lively discussion on the Bookcrossing site and others. The idea of a dignity movement has been discussed in recent political campaigns and on The Huffington Post, and the concept is making its way into the public consciousness. The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee/The Power of The Purse As the cultivation of women philanthropists met the need for more attention to charities benefiting women and girls, The Women’s Fund was born. Its major fundraiser and signature event is The Power of The Purse luncheon, keynoted by a female philanthropist of national renown, featuring a silent auction of designer and celebrity handbags. As a member of The Women’s Fund Advisory Board, The Harnisch Foundation president Ruth Ann Harnisch helped create this event in 1998 and provided some initial funding. The Harnisch Foundation has continued to provide support to this event, which revolutionized the “ladies’ lunch” in Middle Tennessee and inspired countless other female-centered philanthropic events.
Target demographics: We think of philanthropy as creativity in action. When you identify a cause or an organization you’d like to help, imagine that you are not allowed to write a check. How could you make a difference with your ideas, your time, your talent, your skills, or something you have that you’re not using? Or if you do write a check, how about funding something unusual occasionally? At The Harnisch Foundation, we sometimes invest in creative philanthropic expressions, designed to maximize the bang for the buck. When we say “bang,” that includes results for the cause as well as public relations impact. While The Harnisch Foundation honors its history by continuing to award grants designed to help people improve their own lives, our grantmaking is now largely concentrated on innovative projects in the areas of philanthropy itself, coaching, and journalism.
Geographic areas served: USA