The Wallace Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $61.4 million (2023 tax year)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Several months (interdisciplinary review process)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,900,000
• Average Grant: $400,000 over 2.8 years
• Geographic Focus: National (United States)

Contact Details

Website: www.wallacefoundation.org Email: info@wallacefoundation.org Phone: 212-251-9700 Address: 140 Broadway, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10005

For current opportunities, check: wallacefoundation.org/requests-proposals

Overview

The Wallace Foundation is a national philanthropy launched in December 2002 through the merger of two foundations established by DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace, founders of Reader's Digest magazine. With approximately $1.76 billion in assets (2023), the foundation distributes approximately $61 million annually in grants. Wallace's mission is to "help all communities build a more vibrant and just future by fostering advances in the arts, education leadership, and youth development." The foundation takes a distinctive research-oriented approach, partnering with organisations to develop, test, and share knowledge about effective practices. Under President Will Miller's 14-year tenure (2011-2025), Wallace emphasised equity-centred initiatives, particularly supporting organisations rooted in communities of colour. Jean S. Desravines, formerly CEO of New Leaders and co-author of "Breakthrough Principals," assumed the presidency in September 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

School Leadership Initiatives

• $50,000 - $1,900,000+ (multi-year partnerships)
• The Equity-Centred Pipeline Initiative supports eight large school districts in building principal pipelines that advance educational equity
• Focus on leadership standards, pre-service training, selective hiring, and on-the-job evaluation and support
• Average partnership duration: 2.8 years

Summer Learning & Afterschool Programmes

• $25,000 - $500,000 (typical range for community partners)
• Programmes combining academics with enrichment activities
• Recent example: $1,000,000 grant for randomised controlled trial of social-emotional learning practices in Nebraska afterschool programmes
• National Summer Learning Project developed evidence-based toolkit with 50+ resources

Arts Initiatives

• $250,000 - $1,900,000 (multi-year partnerships)
• "Advancing Well-Being in the Arts" (2021-2026): Five-year, $107 million initiative partnering with arts organisations founded by, for, and with communities of colour
• Over $14 million committed to research studies within this initiative
• Recent grants: Nearly $3 million to 11 arts and culture organisations rooted in communities of colour
• Focus areas: Arts education, audience development, cultural sustainability

Research Grants

• $100,000 - $500,000 (typical range)
• Partnerships with academic researchers and research organisations
• Social Sciences Research Council: Grant supporting fellowships for 18 early career scholars producing ethnographies in partnership with arts organisations of colour

Application method: Invitation-only with occasional open Requests for Proposals (RFPs) posted on website

Priority Areas

Education & Youth Development:

• Principal leadership training and pipeline development
• Equity-centred school leadership
• Afterschool programming (citywide systems development)
• Summer learning programmes (academic + enrichment combination)
• Social and emotional learning in schools and afterschool settings

Arts & Culture:

• Arts education access for young people during and beyond school day
• Audience development for performing arts organisations
• Support for arts organisations rooted in communities of colour
• Cultural sustainability and organisational well-being
• Market research-driven audience building strategies

Cross-Cutting Themes:

• Advancing educational equity
• Serving disadvantaged children
• Research and knowledge generation
• Policy and practice influence
• Supporting organisations led by and serving communities of colour

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited grant applications (the foundation identifies and invites prospective grantees)
• Individual scholarships or financial aid
• Single-year programme support (grants average 2.8 years)
• Projects without research or evaluation components
• Work outside their three core areas (education leadership, youth development, arts)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Mary Beth West - Board Chair (since June 2021) Retired corporate executive who joined the board in 2014. West led the search committee for the new president and oversees the foundation's strategic direction.

Executive Leadership

Jean S. Desravines - President (from September 2025) Formerly CEO of New Leaders, a national nonprofit developing transformational school leaders. Under his 14-year leadership, New Leaders expanded to support district and teacher leaders and launched partnerships with Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Bank Street Graduate School of Education. Desravines holds a BA in history from St. Francis College and an MPA from New York University. He is co-author of "Breakthrough Principals" and "The School Leadership Playbook."

Board Chair Mary Beth West said of Desravines: "Jean stood out among a broad range of exceptional candidates for his strategic vision, transformational leadership, and deep alignment with Wallace's mission and values."

Will Miller - President (2011-2025) Former chairman of Irwin Management Co., Miller led Wallace through significant strategic evolution, emphasising equity and supporting organisations rooted in communities of colour. He served on the boards of the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Yale University, and Public Radio International. Miller stepped down in 2025 after nearly 14 years of leadership.

Organisational Structure

The foundation operates with three integrated units:

• Programme teams - Manage grantee relationships and initiatives
• Research teams - Design and oversee evaluation studies
• Communications teams - Disseminate findings and amplify impact

Decision-making is interdisciplinary, with high-level decisions centralised at the board level whilst programmatic decisions progress through teams representing all three units for final board approval.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Primary Method: Invitation-Only The Wallace Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Instead, they:

1. Identify nonprofits or governmental bodies that could help carry out their strategic efforts
2. Invite selected organisations to submit proposals through targeted outreach
3. Choose grantees based on thorough assessment of proposals

Occasional Open Calls: The foundation periodically issues open Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for:

• Organisations working on the ground in communities
• Academic researchers and research organisations
• Specific initiatives or research questions

All open RFPs are posted at: wallacefoundation.org/requests-proposals

Note: Applicants should monitor the website or sign up for the newsletter to learn about open RFPs.

Decision Timeline

Multi-Stage Process:

• Proposals undergo interdisciplinary review involving programme, research, and communications staff
• High-level decisions require board approval
• Timeline described as "quite long compared to grantmaking by more autonomous programme teams"
• Typical timeframe: Several months from invitation to final decision

Grant Duration:

• Average grant period: 2.8 years
• Range: Single year to 6+ years for major initiatives
• Multi-year grants are standard, not exceptional

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available and not particularly applicable given the invitation-only model. The foundation's approach focuses on strategic partnerships rather than competitive application pools.

Funding Selectivity:

• Grants range from $1,000 to approximately $1.9 million
• Majority of grants fall in the $25,000 to $250,000 range
• Average grant: $400,000 over 2.8 years (substantially larger and longer than peer foundations averaging $150,000 and 2.3 years)

Reapplication Policy

Given the invitation-only model, traditional reapplication policies don't apply. However:

• Wallace maintains ongoing relationships with grantees and may invite continued partnership
• Organisations can express interest in alignment with foundation priorities
• The foundation values learning from all partnerships, successful or challenging
• No formal restrictions on being considered for future invitations

Application Success Factors

The Wallace Approach: What Makes a Strong Partner

Research Orientation is Essential: Wallace describes itself as a "research foundation" and expects grantees to participate in formal evaluation. The foundation stated: "Wallace's grantmaking prioritises projects with a research component; the foundation is actively involved in data collection and the dissemination of findings."

Collaboration and Communication: The foundation places "a particularly high premium on regular communication and candid assessment of ongoing work." Successful grantees should expect:

• Regular data and progress reports throughout the grant period
• Participation in professional learning communities with other grantees
• Honest dialogue about challenges and course corrections
• Engagement with consultants on measurement and evaluation

Institutional Capacity Requirements: Wallace notes that their work "typically requires detailed planning, cooperation amongst many institutions, and time to unfold and be properly assessed." Strong candidates demonstrate:

• Ability to manage complex, multi-year initiatives
• Willingness to collaborate with multiple stakeholders
• Capacity for data collection and reporting
• Openness to external evaluation

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Arts & Cultural Sustainability:

• Arab American National Museum (Michigan) - Research on cultural sustainability
• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico - Organisational well-being study
• Self Help Graphics & Art (East Los Angeles) - Community impact research
• EastSide Arts Alliance & Cultural Center (Oakland, California) - Collaborative endowment building model

School Leadership:

• Eight large urban school districts in Equity-Centred Pipeline Initiative
• Six large urban school districts in Principal Pipeline Initiative (Charlotte-Mecklenburg NC, Denver CO, Gwinnett County GA, Hillsborough County FL, New York City NY, Prince George's County MD)

Youth Development:

• Nebraska afterschool programmes: $1,000,000 for randomised controlled trial of social-emotional learning
• Five urban districts in National Summer Learning Project (Boston, Dallas, Duval County FL, Pittsburgh, Rochester NY)

Language and Terminology Wallace Uses

Key Phrases in Their Materials:

• "Learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children"
• "Equity-centred leadership"
• "Organisations founded by, for, and with communities of colour"
• "Knowledge generation and dissemination"
• "Evidence-based practices"
• "Systemic change" (not just individual programme sustainability)
• "Professional learning communities"
• "Organisational well-being"

Their Focus is on:

• Building pipelines, not one-time interventions
• Capturing and sharing lessons for broad impact
• Dual learning goals: helping grantees learn AND sharing knowledge with the field
• Long-term policy and practice changes

What to Emphasise

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Given the invitation-only model, organisations most likely to receive invitations demonstrate:

• Strong track record in Wallace's focus areas
• Capacity to contribute to knowledge generation
• Willingness to be transparent about both successes and challenges
• Ability to scale or influence beyond their immediate work
• Connection to equity and serving disadvantaged communities

Current Strategic Emphases (based on recent grants and initiatives):

• Equity in education leadership
• Supporting organisations rooted in communities of colour
• Social-emotional learning
• Arts access and cultural sustainability
• Research on effective practices

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model means relationship-building is key: Whilst you can't submit unsolicited applications, you can build the foundation's awareness of your work through conferences, publications, and sector leadership. Monitor their website for occasional open RFPs in your area.

• Research partnership, not just funding: Wallace grants come with significant expectations for data collection, evaluation participation, and knowledge sharing. Only pursue if your organisation has capacity for rigorous assessment and is comfortable with external evaluation.

• Think multi-year and systems-level: Single-year programme grants are not Wallace's model. They seek partners working on systemic change, policy influence, or replicable models—not just maintaining individual programmes after funding ends.

• Equity focus is central: Recent initiatives heavily emphasise supporting organisations led by and serving communities of colour and advancing equity in education. Applications should clearly articulate equity commitments and outcomes.

• Expect substantial engagement: Grants average $400,000 over 2.8 years, substantially larger than most foundations, but come with expectations for regular communication, participation in learning communities, and collaboration with foundation staff and researchers.

• The investment includes more than money: Grantees receive guidance from consultants, access to professional learning communities, communications support for disseminating findings, and active partnership with foundation staff.

References

1. The Wallace Foundation official website - www.wallacefoundation.org (Accessed January 2025)

2. "Funding Guidelines | Our Grant Process" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/our-grant-process (Accessed January 2025)

3. "The Wallace Foundation Announces Jean S. Desravines as New President" - Wallace Foundation, April 24, 2025, https://wallacefoundation.org/wallace-foundation-announces-jean-s-desravines-new-president (Accessed January 2025)

4. "Wallace Foundation President Will Miller to Step Down Next Year" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/wallace-foundation-president-will-miller-step-down-next-year (Accessed January 2025)

5. "Our History" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/our-history (Accessed January 2025)

6. "The Emergence of The Wallace Foundation" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/resource/articles/emergence-wallace-foundation (Accessed January 2025)

7. The Wallace Foundation Form 990-PF (2023) - Filed November 14, 2024, https://wallacefoundation.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/wallace-990pf-2023.pdf (Accessed January 2025)

8. "Financials" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/financials (Accessed January 2025)

9. The Wallace Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer, ProPublica, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136183757 (Accessed January 2025)

10. "The Wallace Foundation Awards 8 New Research Grants to Arts and Culture Organizations" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/wallace-foundation-awards-8-new-research-grants-arts-and-culture-organizations-and-social-science (Accessed January 2025)

11. "Wallace Foundation" - Inside Philanthropy, https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-w/wallace-foundation (Accessed January 2025)

12. "Philanthropy Framework Profile: The Wallace Foundation" - Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, https://www.rockpa.org/profile-the-wallace-foundation-2/ (Accessed January 2025)

13. "School Leadership" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/topics/school-leadership (Accessed January 2025)

14. "Summer Learning" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/topics/summer-learning (Accessed January 2025)

15. "Arts" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/focus-areas-and-initiatives/arts (Accessed January 2025)

16. "Board of Directors" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/board-of-directors (Accessed January 2025)

17. "People | Our Team" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/our-team (Accessed January 2025)

18. Wallace Foundation - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Foundation (Accessed January 2025)

19. Wallace Foundation - InfluenceWatch, https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/wallace-foundation/ (Accessed January 2025)

20. "Principal Pipeline Initiative" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/focus-areas-and-initiatives/school-leadership/principal-pipeline-initiative (Accessed January 2025)

21. "Equity-Centred Pipeline Initiative" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/focus-areas-and-initiatives/school-leadership/equity-centered-pipeline-initiative (Accessed January 2025)

22. "Advancing Well-Being in the Arts" - Wallace Foundation, https://wallacefoundation.org/focus-areas-and-initiatives/arts/advancing-well-being-arts (Accessed January 2025)