The Wexner Family Charitable Fund

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $91,171,558 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
Grant Range: $4,000 - $39,721,558
Geographic Focus: Primarily Ohio, New York, and Colorado
Total Assets: $140,734,120 (2023)

Contact Details

Location: New Albany, OH
EIN: 31-1318013
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt since May 1991

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only makes grants to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Wexner Family Charitable Fund was established in 1990 by Leslie H. Wexner, founder, Chairman and CEO of Limited Brands Corporation (now L Brands), and his wife Abigail Wexner. Based in New Albany, Ohio, the foundation is a major philanthropic vehicle with over $140 million in assets. In 2023, the fund distributed approximately $91.2 million in grants across 18 awards, representing a highly selective approach compared to 27 awards in 2022 and 25 awards in 2021. The foundation focuses its grant-making on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, and Jewish causes. The fund operates exclusively through trustee discretion, making contributions only to organizations preselected by the board, with no public application process available.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wexner Family Charitable Fund does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Instead, the foundation makes discretionary grants to preselected organizations based on the trustees' priorities.

Grant Range: $4,000 - $39,721,558
Application Method: Invitation only / trustee discretion

Priority Areas

Based on tax filings and public information, the foundation's giving focuses on:

Jewish Education and Leadership: Primary focus on Jewish organizations and educational initiatives
Higher Education: Major support to institutions including Harvard University (previously granted $3 million) and The Ohio State University
Healthcare and Medical Research: Including support to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (named after a $100 million commitment from Leslie Wexner)
The Wexner Foundation: Substantial grants to the related Wexner Foundation (previously $9 million in 2020), which focuses on developing Jewish professional and volunteer leaders
Arts and Culture: Support for cultural institutions including the Wexner Center for the Arts at Ohio State
Community Development: Particularly in the New Albany, Ohio region

Geographic Focus

Primary: Ohio (particularly the Columbus/New Albany area)
Secondary: New York and Colorado

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, meaning organizations that are not already known to the trustees or within their established network are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership (as of most recent filings):

Leslie H. Wexner - President (no compensation)
Abigail Wexner - Director (no compensation)
Peg Ugland - Treasurer (no compensation)

About the Founders:

Leslie H. Wexner built his philanthropic foundation on the success of Limited Brands (now L Brands), which included Victoria's Secret and other retail brands. According to the New Albany Community Foundation, Wexner has "had an extraordinary impact in New Albany and central Ohio, both by creating jobs that provided livelihoods for thousands of people and through his philanthropy." His vision helped create "a culture of giving and caring, as well as a commitment to lifelong learning, healthy living, arts and culture and a sustainable environment."

Leslie Wexner has stated regarding his philanthropic philosophy: "Mr. Wexner has a profound interest in the development of tomorrow's leaders" through works including Harvard University's Center for Public Leadership, the Wexner Foundation, and The Ohio State University.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Wexner Family Charitable Fund only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made through trustee discretion, meaning the board of directors (Leslie Wexner, Abigail Wexner, and their advisors) proactively identify and select organizations to support based on their philanthropic priorities.

Organizations cannot apply for funding unless specifically invited to do so by the foundation's leadership.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on a discretionary basis with no formal application cycles. The board makes grant decisions throughout the year to their selected beneficiaries.

Success Rates

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation:

2023: 18 awards made
2022: 27 awards made
2021: 25 awards made

Success rates are not meaningful in the traditional sense, as organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process. Organizations that receive funding do so through established relationships with the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, the pattern of grants provides insight into what attracts the foundation's support:

Focus Areas That Receive Support:

Organizations aligned with Jewish education, leadership development, and community service
Institutions where the Wexners have deep personal connections (Ohio State University, Harvard University)
Healthcare and medical research institutions, particularly in Ohio
Arts and cultural organizations, especially in the Columbus area
Community development initiatives in New Albany and central Ohio

Characteristics of Funded Organizations:

Established institutions with strong reputations
Organizations where the Wexners or their associates have board involvement or personal connections
Initiatives that align with the Wexners' core values: leadership development, Jewish causes, education, healthcare, and community building
Projects with significant impact potential, as evidenced by the wide range of grant sizes

Strategic Considerations: The foundation appears to make both large strategic grants (up to $39.7 million) and smaller tactical grants (as low as $4,000), suggesting flexibility based on the specific opportunity and relationship.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Do not submit an application unless specifically invited.
Relationship-Driven: All funding flows through established relationships with the Wexner family and their trustees. The foundation supports organizations where they have personal connections or governance involvement.
Focus on Jewish Causes: The foundation gives primarily to Jewish organizations with emphasis on Jewish education and leadership development, though not exclusively.
Geographic Concentration: Strong preference for Ohio-based organizations, particularly in the Columbus/New Albany area, with secondary focus on New York and Colorado.
Major Institutional Giving: The foundation makes substantial grants to major institutions like Harvard University, The Ohio State University, and the related Wexner Foundation, alongside smaller community grants.
Strategic Approach: With only 18 grants made in 2023 from over $91 million in giving, this is a highly focused, strategic funder rather than a broad-based community foundation.
Long-Term Relationships: The pattern of giving suggests the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with core beneficiaries rather than constantly seeking new grantees.

References

Information accessed December 2025