Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Wellspring Philanthropic Fund works by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit cannot simply send in a proposal; grants go to preselected organisations.
- Its focus is human rights, social and economic justice, and building power among marginalised communities, so fit against these themes matters before any approach is considered.
- Geographically its priority is the U.S. and the globe.
- A typical grant falls between $70,000 and $500,000, with about eight in ten of its 2,098 grants to organisations in that range and a median grant of $200,000, so a request of this order is realistic if an invitation arises.
- The foundation looks relationship-led rather than open to competition: 84% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded the year before, so most of its funding flows to existing relationships, and prospective applicants should understand that invitations, not unsolicited applications, drive its giving.
Overview
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund supported the realisation of human rights and social and economic justice for all people. Its grantmaking was rooted in respect for the dignity and worth of every human being and a commitment to human rights, economic justice, and building power among marginalised communities. It supported organisations working to strengthen communities in the U.S. and across the globe, and supported social justice movements that use means consistent with their ideals. Its approach gives agency to the people whose interests those movements seek to advance. It has supported thousands of organisations in this work.
Themes
- Human rights
- Social and economic justice
- Building power
Geographic Focus
Priority: U.S.; the globe.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 2,098 grants to organisations were $200,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It values social justice movements that use means consistent with their ideals and give agency to the people whose interests they seek to advance.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 34%
- The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations Wellspring Philanthropic Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- 24% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania).
- 26% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 1,101 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $200k (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Jewish World Service · Programmatic and institutional support$9,750,0002023 tax year
- Neo Philanthropy · Advancing civic engagement$6,500,0002023 tax year
- Human Rights Watch · Advancing human rights$4,875,0002023 tax year
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People · Advancing civic engagement$3,000,0002023 tax year
- Windward Fund · Advancing civic engagement and expanding economic opportunity$2,950,0002023 tax year
- Fund for Global Human Rights · General operations, latin america justice, children's rights program and civic futures$2,740,0002023 tax year
- American Civil Liberties Union Foundation · General operating support and program support for voting, lgbt, and women's rights$2,550,0002023 tax year
- Agency Fund · General operating support$2,500,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michael Hirschhorn — Foreign Grants Officer
- Raymond Eng — Treasurer / Director Of Finance
- W Myles Taylor — Trustee
- John R Taylor — President / Trustee
- C Fred Taylor — Trustee
- Kristen Gurdin — General Counsel & Secretary
- Jennifer Reynoso — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $319,823,556 | $276,012,426 | $180,009,489 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $372,107,738 | $326,037,199 | $134,402,548 | Filing for 2023 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 Wellspring Philanthropic Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
- wpfund.org
Applying to Wellspring Philanthropic Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
- wpfund.org