The Wright Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation focuses on neighbourhood revitalisation, jobs and career support, and education, and it also considers requests for social needs, so work in those areas that serves Schenectady County fits best.
- Applicants must be tax-exempt organisations located in the county, or show that their programme primarily benefits county residents, and the foundation does not fund religious organisations (outreach projects within its focus areas may be considered), charitable or political contributions, or sponsorships of any kind, so those organisations and requests should not apply.
- Half of its grants to organisations across its recent filings were $20,000 or less, so a modest request is realistic, and 51% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, so returning grantees form a large share of its giving.
- Applications are rolling and begin with creating an account in Blackbaud, and any grantee must submit a Grant Report Form on project completion before it can be considered for further funding.
Overview
The Wright Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Schenectady, NY.
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 Wright Family Foundation supports organisations and programmes that seek long-term, sustainable impact, with grants for capital projects and programme support. Its primary focus areas are neighbourhood revitalisation, jobs and career support, and education. It backs work that transforms distressed areas into neighbourhoods of opportunity, builds job skills for sustainable careers, and supports educational and empowerment programmes for urban young people. It also supports non-profits serving the social needs of communities in Schenectady County and collaborates with public, private and community resources. Applicants must be tax-exempt organisations located in the county, or show that their programme primarily benefits county residents, and seek work within the Foundation’s stated focus.
Themes
- Neighborhood revitalization
- Jobs and career support
- Education
- Social needs
Geographic Focus
Schenectady County, New York.
What They Don't Fund
- Religious organizations; however, outreach projects and programs sponsored by religious organizations may be considered if they fall within the parameters of the foundation's main focus areas
- Charitable contributions
- Political contributions
- Sponsorships of any kind
How to apply
Applicants first create an account in Blackbaud to submit a grant request.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 51% 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 75 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Requests must fall within its main focus areas; funding requests supporting social needs are also considered.
- Organisations outside Schenectady County must substantiate their programme’s primary impact on county residents.
- A grant recipient must submit a Grant Report Form on project completion before it can be considered for further funding.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 51% of grant dollars went to organisations The Wright Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 25 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Glens Falls Hospital · Capital Improvements$300,0002024 tax year
- Schenectady Day Nursery · Preschool Expansion Project$150,0002024 tax year
- Rise High · Rise High Program Safety and Support$149,4202024 tax year
- Boys Girls Club of Schenectady · Camp Lovejoy Swimming Pool$97,0002024 tax year
- Albany Barn · Support of Electric City Barn & Artistry Studios$79,5002024 tax year
- 518 Elevated · Youth Pre-Employment & Exploration Exposure$50,0002024 tax year
- Empire State Youth Orchestra · Music Education$50,0002024 tax year
- Center for Disability Services · Infrastructure Improvements$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Meghan Frazier — Vice President
- Linda Nizolek — Secretary
- Heather M Ward — President
- Ashley G Palm — Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,743,515 | $726,758 | $19,311,748 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,241,010 | $1,983,059 | $22,046,199 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,367,921 | $1,366,919 | $23,691,458 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Wright Family Foundation?
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Applying to The Wright Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required