Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This Tampa, FL-based foundation funds STEM education, post-secondary education and broader community initiatives, so nonprofits working in those areas are the best fit.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 136 grants fall between $2,800 and $75,000, and half of its 136 grants were $10,000 or less, with a median grant of $10,000, though one grant reached about $1,150,000, so a request in the lower range is realistic for most applicants.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its filings show grants mainly going to organisations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Florida.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through STEM donation-request forms, with requests reviewed monthly, so there is no fixed deadline to work around.
- Its annual giving has risen each year, suggesting a foundation that is still growing its grantmaking, and students pursuing automation, engineering, information technology, manufacturing or design may also look at its scholarship, which offers up to $5,000.
Overview
Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tampa, FL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its giving as support for STEM education and other community initiatives. Its education initiatives aim to inspire students to pursue STEM careers through a K-12 pipeline focused on continuous learning and skill development. It offers an annual scholarship opportunity for students pursuing degrees in automation, engineering, information technology, manufacturing, design and other dynamic fields. Its STEM donation-request page provides routes for schools, post-secondary education and 501c3 nonprofits; requests can be made at any time and are reviewed monthly. The foundation describes its community work as charitable donations that empower communities. Its stated approach combines education-focused support with broader community initiatives, developing students' STEM learning and career pathways.
Themes
- STEM education
- Post-secondary education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Florida.
How to apply
The website lists STEM donation-request forms for applicants; requests can be made at any time and are reviewed monthly.
Application success factors
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 136 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 67 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lutheran High School Association · General fund$1,139,1792023 tax year
- The STEM Academy · General fund$1,138,7602023 tax year
- Whitehall School District · General fund$1,019,6802023 tax year
- City of Arcadia · General fund$254,9262023 tax year
- Florida Atlantic University Foundation · General fund$115,8542023 tax year
- Trempealeau County Agricultural Society · General fund$100,0002023 tax year
- City of Altura · General fund$100,0002023 tax year
- Bethel Lutheran Church · General fund$75,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kati S Wanek-Forsythe — Director
- Shari S Wagner — Director
- Todd R Wanek — Director
- Joyce A Wanek — Director
- Ronald G Wanek — Director / President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,939,462 | $2,069,014 | $72,911,215 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,186,424 | $4,832,456 | $115,036,400 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,567,001 | $10,183,022 | $114,800,985 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation?
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Applying to Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required