The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation

• The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation supports tax-exempt religious, charitable, educational and scientific organisations in the Western New York region, and says it has no single focus, so a range of 501(c)(3) work there may fit.
• A realistic request would sit around the median grant of about $48,000, though grants typically range from $10,000 to $210,000 and the largest was about $780,000.
• Applications go through an online portal where you create a profile and upload materials, and are reviewed at quarterly trustee meetings, with applications due one month before each of the four meetings, so timing your submission to these deadlines matters.
• Only 4% of grant dollars to organisations went to previously funded organisations, suggesting the foundation is open to new applicants rather than being driven mainly by repeat relationships, though proposals with strong individual merit and relevance may be held for a personal interview.
• Individuals, including those seeking scholarship assistance, should not apply.

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

• Buffalo Seminary · Available upon request
  $779,3062024 tax year
• Roswell Park Foundation · Available upon request
  $300,0002024 tax year
• Kleinhans Music Hall Foundation · Available upon request
  $150,0002024 tax year
• One Symphony Circle · Available upon request
  $125,0002024 tax year
• Genesis Center · Available upon request
  $100,0002024 tax year
• Read to Succeed · Available upon request
  $100,0002024 tax year
• Burchfield Penney Art Center · Available upon request
  $100,0002024 tax year
• Tool Library · Available upon request
  $78,7502024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

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.