Claude And Betty Harris Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $40,827,545 (2022)
• Total Assets: $5,845,416
• Grant Range: Varies widely (average grant: ~$400,000)
• Number of Grants: 75 awards (2022), 48 awards (2024)
• Geographic Focus: National - multiple cities across the United States
• Application Process: No public application process - pre-selected organizations only
• EIN: 61-1400416

Contact Details

Address: 295 N Hubbards Lane, Suite 203, Louisville, KY 40207-8206

Phone: 502-893-0300

Website: No public website identified

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Claude And Betty Harris Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2002 in Louisville, Kentucky. Funded primarily by Claude Harris and the Harris Charitable Lead Trust, the foundation has grown to become a significant grantmaker, distributing over $40 million in grants in 2022 alone. The foundation focuses on health, community and economic development, religion, human services, and special population support across various U.S. cities. The foundation is managed by a board of directors consisting entirely of Harris family members, with Theresa Jean Harris Moore serving as Chairperson and Don Harris as Vice-Chairperson. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation, selecting grant recipients based on trustee discretion rather than through a formal public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal named grant programs. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to pre-selected organizations. Grant amounts vary significantly, with an average grant size of approximately $400,000, though individual grants have ranged from the low $20,000s to much larger amounts.

Historical examples from 2007 filings include:

• Interfaith Health Clinic: $53,000
• Love Kitchen: $22,100

In 2022, the foundation made 75 grants totaling $40,827,545. In 2024, 48 grants totaling $19,239,298 were awarded.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations in the following areas:

Healthcare

• Health care clinics and centers
• Community health initiatives

Food & Hunger Relief

• Food banks
• Nutrition programs
• Food aid organizations

Housing & Shelter

• Housing/shelter development
• Homeless centers and shelters
• Emergency housing assistance

Women's Services

• Women's centers and support services

Children & Youth

• Children and youth services programs

Faith-Based Organizations

• Christian agencies and churches
• Religious organizations

Family Services

• General human services
• Family support programs

Community Development

• Community and economic development initiatives
• Special population support

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, given their focus areas and the fact that they only fund pre-selected organizations, they implicitly do not fund:

• Unsolicited applications from organizations unknown to the trustees
• Organizations outside their established focus areas

Governance and Leadership

The Claude And Betty Harris Foundation is governed by a board of directors composed entirely of Harris family members. All board members serve without compensation.

Current Leadership (as of most recent filings):

• Theresa Jean Harris Moore - Chairperson
• Don Harris (DH) - Vice-Chairperson
• Paula Harris Stansell (PHS) - Secretary
• David Harris - Director
• Gary Harris (GH) - Director
• Gayla Harris - Director
• Timothy Harris (TH/TJHM) - Director

The foundation lists 24 total leadership and staff members on file, indicating a well-structured family governance model.

Funding Source

The foundation receives its funding from:

• Claude Harris (founder)
• Harris Charitable Lead Trust

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Claude And Betty Harris Foundation explicitly states that it "contributes only to pre-selected organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations that the Harris family has identified and selected.

Organizations cannot submit formal grant applications, and the foundation does not maintain an application portal, accept letters of inquiry, or respond to funding requests from organizations with which they do not already have an established relationship.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, based on their funding patterns, the following observations can be made:

Organizations the foundation has historically supported:

• Are aligned with the family's values in healthcare, hunger relief, housing, women's services, children/youth, and Christian faith-based work
• Operate in multiple cities across the United States (not limited to Louisville/Kentucky)
• Range from smaller community organizations to larger established nonprofits
• Often focus on direct service delivery (clinics, food banks, shelters, family services)

The foundation's giving philosophy appears to emphasize:

• Faith-based and Christian organizations
• Organizations providing essential services to vulnerable populations
• Direct service providers rather than advocacy or research organizations
• Community-based solutions to health, hunger, and housing challenges

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Do not contact them with funding requests unless you have an established relationship.

2. Family Foundation Structure: All decision-making rests with Harris family trustees who select organizations based on their own philanthropic interests and values.

3. Significant Grantmaker: With over $40 million distributed in 2022, this is a substantial private foundation, but access is limited to pre-selected organizations.

4. Broad Geographic Reach: Despite being based in Louisville, KY, the foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. cities and states.

5. Focus on Direct Services: Priority areas include healthcare clinics, food banks, homeless shelters, women's services, and Christian organizations - all providing direct services to people in need.

6. Large Average Grant Size: With an average grant of approximately $400,000, this foundation makes substantial investments in the organizations it selects.

7. Faith-Based Connection: The foundation's support for Christian agencies and churches suggests that faith-based organizations aligned with Christian values may be particularly well-positioned if they can establish a connection to the family.

References

1. GuideStar Profile - Claude and Betty Harris Foundation Inc
   https://www.guidestar.org/profile/61-1400416
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

2. Cause IQ - Claude and Betty Harris Foundation
   https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claude-and-betty-harris-foundation,611400416/
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Claude And Betty Harris Foundation Inc
   https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/611400416
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

4. Instrumentl 990 Report - Claude And Betty Harris Foundation Inc
   https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/claude-and-betty-harris-foundation-inc
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

5. Grantmakers.io Profile - Claude And Betty Harris Foundation Inc
   https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/611400416-claude-and-betty-harris-foundation-inc/
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

6. Candid Foundation Directory - The Claude and Betty Harris Foundation Inc
   https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=HARR273
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

7. NPFunds Directory - Claude And Betty Harris Foundation Inc
   https://npfunds.com/directory/claude-and-betty-harris-foundation-inc-the/
   Accessed: March 9, 2026

8. Kentucky Attorney General - Private Foundations List
   https://www.ag.ky.gov/Resources/Consumer-Resources/charity/Documents/privatefoundations.pdf
   Accessed: March 9, 2026