Lillian S Wells Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application should not be sent; the realistic route is a warm introduction through someone already connected to it.
- Its stated fields are arts, education, healthcare and human services, so work should be judged against those.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $15,000 and $500,000, and half of its 30 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, so a modest request fits its typical giving, although its largest grant was $1,000,000.
- In its latest filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so it appears to lean towards repeat grantees.
- No geographic focus is stated, and the filing shows grants mainly in Florida, District of Columbia and Illinois; treat that as a pattern in its grants rather than a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Lillian S Wells Foundation is a US private foundation based in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (giving.uff.ufl.edu, browardcenter.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its contributions as supporting the arts, education, healthcare and human services. Its recorded grants include support for performing-arts venues and campaigns, educational organisations and programmes, health institutions and research, and public-policy and civic-education work. Other recorded purposes include a professorship in paediatric otolaryngology and museum education, alongside general-purpose support. Its recipients span universities, hospitals, arts organisations, schools and education-focused organisations. Taken together, the stated fields and grant record show a broad mix of cultural, educational, health-related and community giving.
Themes
- Arts
- Education
- Healthcare
- Human services
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Florida, District of Columbia and Illinois.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% 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 30 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
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 33% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Lillian S Wells Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 10 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Florida Foundation · L.s. wells fund for brain tumor research$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Junior Achievement of South Florida · General purposes$500,0002024 tax year
- Broward Performing Arts Foundation · Campaign for parker playhouse$500,0002024 tax year
- Heritage Foundation · For health policy studies$500,0002024 tax year
- James Madison Institute · Civics educations studies$200,0002024 tax year
- Intercollegiate Studies Institute · Honors program$100,0002024 tax year
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · Lauren d. holinger, md professorship in pediatric otolaryngology$100,0002024 tax year
- Nova Southeastern University · Art master teacher and curator of education art museum$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
- Heiko Dobrikow — Director
- Michael Weymouth — Treasurer, Director
- Walter W Bell — Secretary
- James I Ulmer — Director, VP,
- Ellen Mcpherson — Director, Assit Treasurer
- Barbara S Wells — President, Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,415,253 | $3,060,000 | $37,981,367 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,237,967 | $3,040,000 | $39,301,604 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,277,972 | $2,990,000 | $39,781,014 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Lillian S Wells Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
Applying to Lillian S Wells Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Fort Lauderdale, FL