The chief investment strategist for the equity hedge fund Peconic Partners, William Harnisch carries out philanthropic work through his charitable foundation. Since 1998, William Harnisch and his wife Ruth Ann have supported a myriad of organizations around the world through the efforts of the Harnisch Foundation.

In addition to its history of funding nonprofits that promote inclusivity and diverse representation, the Harnisch Foundation has backed filmmakers who use media to provide a platform for underrepresented stories and perspectives. The Harnisch Foundation granted financial support to the standout 2016 documentary The Eagle Huntress for its portrayal of the aspirations of a young Kazakh girl living in northern Mongolia. Directed by British filmmaker Otto Bell, The Eagle Huntress tells the story of a girl who dreams of becoming an accomplished eagle hunter, a role that is usually passed along patrilineal lines.

With training from her father and support from the rest of her family, the girl develops her skills. Eventually, she gets the chance to demonstrate her ability as the first female huntress to compete in the traditional Golden Eagle Festival. The film debuted at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and received wide critical acclaim.