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Wyncote Foundation

Annual Giving
$25.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $3.8M

Wyncote Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25,021,830 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $581,268,608
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $3,754,031
  • Average Grant: Approximately $75,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Seattle/Pacific Northwest
  • Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Main Office (Philadelphia):

Key Staff:

  • Kristin Ross, Executive Director
  • Feather Houstoun, Senior Advisor for Public Media & Journalism
  • Kate Holdsworth, Northwest Grants & Operations Manager
  • Sara Schreffler, Operations Manager
  • Hazel Eaton, Operations Assistant

Overview

The Wyncote Foundation was established in 2009 using funds from the Otto and Phoebe Haas Charitable Trusts, at the direction of John C. Haas. Named after the Pennsylvania town where founder John C. Haas and his wife Chara raised their family, the foundation now holds assets of approximately $581 million and distributed over $25 million in grants in 2023 across 153 awards. The foundation's mission is "to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community, and the natural environment." Following John Haas's death in 2011, his four sons—Leonard, David, Duncan, and Frederick Haas—comprise the board and continue the family's philanthropic legacy. The foundation takes a distinctive approach, focusing on three primary areas: arts and culture, environment, and journalism, with geographic priorities in greater Philadelphia and Seattle, where it maintains a secondary office.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wyncote Foundation focuses on several specialized funding areas:

Public Media & Journalism - The foundation's journalism grantmaking totaled $5.6 million combined in 2022-2023, with annual allocations ranging from $2.6-2.9 million. This represents a cornerstone of their strategy to support accountability journalism and strengthen civic discourse.

Historic Organ Preservation - Grants ranging from tens of thousands to over $1 million support cultural institutions in enhancing musical programming and encouraging pipe organ recognition through carefully paired partnerships.

Performance Arts Fund - Supports developing organizations that inspire and energize audiences in Pennsylvania, with grants to institutions like FringeArts, People's Light & Theatre Company, and Wilma Theater.

Northwest Program - Operates through The Seattle Foundation, focusing on environment, low-income housing, and health & human services in the Pacific Northwest region.

Conservation & Environment - National and regional grants supporting ecological sustainability, with recent recipients including Environmental Defense Fund, Rails to Trails Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and EarthJustice.

Arts & Culture - The foundation's largest grantmaking area in recent years, supporting a wide range of cultural institutions across Pennsylvania and beyond.

Priority Areas

  • Accountability journalism in the Philadelphia region and nationally
  • Legacy public broadcasting evolution and digital-first news enterprises
  • Independent documentary production and diverse media voices
  • Historic cultural preservation, particularly pipe organs
  • Performing arts organizations that energize communities
  • Environmental conservation in Pennsylvania and Washington state
  • Affordable housing and community development in the Pacific Northwest
  • Civic institutions that strengthen democratic engagement

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation operates with a director-driven model, supporting a focused set of initiatives identified by the board within their stated interest areas rather than responding to broad application requests.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Leonard Haas (Chair)
  • David Haas (Vice Chair) - Also serves on the Lenfest Institute for Journalism board of managers
  • Duncan Haas
  • Frederick Haas

The four brothers inherited their father John C. Haas's commitment to Philadelphia-region philanthropy and have expanded the foundation's reach nationally while maintaining strong local ties. David Haas has articulated the foundation's approach, stating they "take an ecosystem approach, combining a strong commitment to accountability journalism with support for a range of community information needs and resources, creative storytelling, and independent media."

Regarding their support for independent filmmakers and diverse voices in public media, the board has emphasized: "These innovative filmmakers truly exemplify the broad range of diverse and compelling voices that public media brings to local communities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Wyncote Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, but rather initiates grants in its interest areas. According to their website and public guidance, the foundation identifies and approaches potential grantees rather than responding to applications.

Individual grants are earmarked for specific purposes: programs, capital improvements, and endowments. The foundation works proactively to identify organizations aligned with their strategic priorities in journalism, arts and culture, environment, and community development.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following funder-specific intelligence may be helpful:

Sector Networks: The foundation is deeply embedded in the public media and journalism ecosystem. Feather Houstoun, Senior Advisor for Public Media & Journalism, is an active voice in the field and has led philanthropic investments across legacy media, public broadcasting, and digital startups. Organizations making an impact in these sectors may come to the foundation's attention through sector networks and collaborative funder groups.

Lenfest Institute Connection: Board Vice Chair David Haas serves on the Lenfest Institute for Journalism board of managers. Organizations working in Philadelphia-area journalism may gain visibility through this connection and the Lenfest ecosystem.

The Seattle Foundation Partnership: For Pacific Northwest organizations, the foundation works "through The Seattle Foundation" to identify and support grant recipients in environment, housing, and human services. Building relationships with The Seattle Foundation may provide pathways to Wyncote's attention.

Demonstrated Impact: The foundation emphasizes supporting organizations that demonstrate innovative approaches to public media evolution and journalism that serves communities with essential information and analysis. Building a strong track record in these areas within their geographic focus regions (Philadelphia and Seattle) appears key to consideration.

Contact for General Inquiries: While not accepting proposals, general inquiries may be directed to info@wyncotefoundation.org or 215.557.9577.

Decision Timeline

Because the foundation initiates grants rather than responding to applications, there is no standard application-to-decision timeline. Grants appear to be board-driven and awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year based on the foundation's strategic priorities.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications to be approved or rejected. In 2023, they made 153 grants totaling approximately $25 million.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Since the Wyncote Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their grantmaking patterns reveals what the foundation values:

Ecosystem Approach: David Haas has articulated that the foundation "takes an ecosystem approach" to its work, particularly in journalism. They look beyond individual organizations to consider how grantees fit into broader systems and support interconnections between actors in a field.

Systems-Level Thinking: According to their public media and journalism strategy materials, Wyncote "takes a systems approach—often with others—to encourage innovation and adaptation in legacy institutions, and for experimentation and scaling of actors offering new approaches." This suggests they value organizations that can articulate their role in larger systems change.

Collaboration with Other Funders: The foundation "typically partners with colleague funders rather than working alone" and balances "learning and idea-sharing equally with funding activities." Organizations that are already supported by other credible funders or that participate in collaborative funding initiatives may be more visible to Wyncote.

Support for Both Legacy and Innovation: The foundation funds both established institutions adapting to change and newer organizations experimenting with innovative models. Their grantmaking spans "legacy media, public broadcasting and digital startups," showing openness to different organizational profiles.

Geographic Alignment: With explicit priorities in greater Philadelphia and Seattle/Pacific Northwest, organizations based in or serving these regions have clearer pathways to support.

Recent Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Natural Lands: $3.6 million (conservation)
  • Philadelphia Foundation: $2.7 million
  • Low-Income Housing Institute (Seattle): $2 million
  • People's Light and Theater Company (Philadelphia): $1.3 million
  • Opera Philadelphia: $1 million for Wanamaker Organ preservation
  • Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Association of Independents in Radio, Chalkbeat, WGBH Education Foundation, Resolve Philadelphia (journalism)

Public Media Values: Feather Houstoun has emphasized the importance of entrepreneurial approaches in nonprofit journalism, suggesting the foundation looks for organizations with innovation capacity, not just mission alignment.

Civic Infrastructure Perspective: The foundation views public media as essential civic infrastructure, "comparable to parks, libraries, colleges, and cultural institutions," seeking organizations that strengthen the "public commons" and facilitate community dialogue.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot apply directly - The Wyncote Foundation initiates all grants and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Focus on building a strong organizational reputation rather than crafting an application.

  • Geographic focus matters significantly - Greater Philadelphia and Seattle/Pacific Northwest are explicit priorities. Organizations in these regions working in journalism, arts, environment, or housing have the strongest alignment.

  • Think ecosystem, not just organization - The foundation values systems-level change and often works collaboratively with other funders. Position your work within broader sector transformation.

  • Both legacy and innovation are valued - You don't need to be a startup or a legacy institution exclusively; the foundation supports established organizations adapting to change and newer organizations experimenting with innovative models.

  • Get connected to their networks - For journalism organizations, engagement with the Lenfest Institute, Media Impact Funders, or public media networks may increase visibility. For Northwest organizations, connect with The Seattle Foundation.

  • Large, multi-year grants are common - With an average grant of $75,000 but recent grants ranging into the millions, this foundation makes substantial, strategic investments in organizations aligned with their priorities.

  • Staff expertise is deep - Senior Advisor Feather Houstoun is a recognized expert in public media and journalism philanthropy. The foundation values sophisticated understanding of sector challenges and opportunities.

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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