The Harley-Davidson Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to get a hearing; the practical route is to build a relationship that could lead to an invitation.
- Its stated priority is the Near West Side of Milwaukee, and its themes are youth STEAM programmes and employee volunteering, so work in those areas, particularly in that neighbourhood, is the closest fit.
- The typical grant band runs from $500 to $110,000, half of its 104 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, and the median was $5,000, so a request near that level is the most realistic size, though its largest grant was $500,000.
- Repeat funding is strong: 66% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so existing relationships count for more than new ones.
Overview
The Harley-Davidson Foundation is a US private foundation based in Milwaukee, WI.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Harley-Davidson Foundation describes its community impact as collaborative partnerships in its home neighbourhood, the Near West Side of Milwaukee, alongside investments in youth programmes that foster STEAM innovation. It works with local schools and community organisations to give students opportunities to explore STEAM concepts in the classroom and at H-D, connect with employees and explore careers in STEAM fields. It also presents employee volunteering as a way to empower staff to make an impact in their local communities. Its stated approach is partnership-led, combining a neighbourhood focus with youth learning and employee community engagement.
Themes
- Near West Side partnerships
- Youth STEAM programmes
- Employee volunteering
Geographic Focus
Priority: Near West Side of Milwaukee.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 66% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 104 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 39% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to organisations The Harley-Davidson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 41 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $2,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee · Grant$500,0002024 tax year
- Children's Wisconsin · Grant$250,0002024 tax year
- Milwaukee Parks Foundation · Grant$118,8002024 tax year
- Near West Side Partners · Grant$110,0002024 tax year
- Clever Sauce Creative · Grant$104,0002024 tax year
- United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County · Grant$76,2522024 tax year
- American Red Cross · Grant$50,0002024 tax year
- Scholarship America · Grant$17,1002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Amber Christopher — Director
- George Prassas — Director
- Theo Keetell — Director
- Chris Nelson — Director
- Joyce Koker — Director
- Adraea Brown — Secretary
- Lynda Johnson — Treasurer
- April Gaineselli — Vice President
- Tori Termaat — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,242,950 | $1,328,962 | $52,958,244 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,494,569 | $1,153,551 | $64,806,040 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,358,303 | $1,331,452 | $63,460,864 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
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Applying to The Harley-Davidson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required