Wurwand Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation prioritises LA County and funds work across entrepreneurship, skill-set training, young people and problem solving, so check that your programme fits one of these themes.
- Most of its grants are made by invitation through trusted referrals and long relationships, but its annual grants challenge is posted publicly, and any nonprofit working in the challenge area can apply, with full proposals requested by invitation.
- Its typical grant falls between $1,000 and $100,000, and half of its grants to organisations are $5,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic starting point.
- Repeat funding is strong, with 89% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, and it favours unrestricted, patient, trust-based giving.
- The filing gives no deadline, so check the challenge posting directly before you write.
Overview
Wurwand Foundation is a US private foundation based in Encino, CA.
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 concentrates its work in LA County across entrepreneurship, skill-set training, young people and problem solving. Its entrepreneurship work supports local entrepreneurs who have been overlooked and underfunded, particularly those from underserved communities. It also funds nonprofits that equip young Angelenos with practical skills linked to living-wage careers. It backs organisations alongside young people through difficult transitions, with particular attention to foster and LGBTQ youth. Its annual grants challenge supports organisations addressing Los Angeles's pressing problems, with an intention to fund people closest to the problem. Across its partnerships, it favours patient, trust-based giving and unrestricted funding where possible, carefully selecting partners before stepping back. Most grants are made by invitation through trusted referrals and long relationships; nonprofits working in the challenge area may apply, with full proposals requested by invitation.
Themes
- Entrepreneurship
- Skill-set training
- Young people
- Problem solving
Geographic Focus
Priority: LA County.
How to apply
The grants challenge is posted publicly; any nonprofit working in the area can apply, and full proposals are requested by invitation.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 89% 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 189 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It selects partners carefully, then steps back, trusting on-the-ground nonprofits to understand their communities.
- It favours unrestricted funding where possible and lets people closest to the problem lead.
- It invites organisations through trusted referrals and long relationships with partners already doing the work.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to organisations Wurwand Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 54% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 66 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $4,025 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Jewish Community Foundation · Donor advised fund to be used to contribute to charitable organizations.$1,200,0002024 tax year
- TMC Community Capital · To further the agenda of the organization.$125,1032024 tax year
- Women's Economic Ventures · To further the agenda of the organization.$120,0002024 tax year
- Grid110 · To further the agenda of the organization.$100,0002024 tax year
- Princes Trust USA · To further the agenda of the organization.$100,0002024 tax year
- RightWay Foundation · To further the agenda of the organization.$100,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Center for Justice · To further the agenda of the organization.$85,0002024 tax year
- Saint Joseph Center · To further the agenda of the organization.$75,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Marsha Olson — Director of Community Part
- Jane D Wurwand — Secretary
- Raymond L Wurwand — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,590,445 | $3,041,170 | $62,732,420 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,563,411 | $2,759,475 | $65,104,827 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,356,413 | $2,485,253 | $74,028,673 | 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
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to Wurwand Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required