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Wonderful Life Foundation

Annual Giving
$22.0M
000

Wonderful Life Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22,043,240
  • Total Assets: $24,512,964
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly (average grant: $385,973)
  • Number of Grants: 56 grants awarded in recent fiscal year
  • Geographic Focus: National (multiple states including Florida, Illinois, New York, Colorado)
  • Foundation Type: Private Independent Foundation
  • Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 777 S Flagler Drive, Suite 1500, West Palm Beach, FL 33401-6157
Phone: 561-469-5600
Tax ID: 54-1995591
Established: 2000 (in Virginia)

Note: This foundation does not have a website or public email for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Wonderful Life Foundation, established in 2000 and formerly known as the M. Jude and Lori W. Reyes Foundation, is a private independent foundation based in West Palm Beach, Florida. The foundation is managed by billionaire business leader M. Jude Reyes and his wife Lori W. Reyes, both serving as trustees without compensation. With assets totaling approximately $24.5 million and annual giving exceeding $22 million, the foundation makes substantial grants across the United States. The foundation does not have a specified focus on particular subject areas but provides funding primarily for education, health organizations, and social services. Grants have been distributed to communities ranging from major cities like New York, Chicago, and Miami to smaller communities across multiple states including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and New York. The foundation operates as a trustee-directed entity without a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wonderful Life Foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Grants are made across multiple sectors without published application cycles or deadlines.

Priority Areas

Based on available information, the foundation gives primarily to:

  • Education: Including Catholic education and higher education institutions, with notable support for the University of Notre Dame
  • Healthcare: Particularly rehabilitation medicine and children's hospitals, reflecting trustee Jude Reyes's role as chairman of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
  • Social Services: General support for community organizations and social service providers

Geographic Distribution: While based in Florida, the foundation makes grants nationally, with particular emphasis on communities in Illinois (reflecting the trustees' Chicago-area business connections through Reyes Holdings), Florida, New York, and Colorado.

Grant Size: The foundation awarded 56 grants in its most recent fiscal year with an average grant size of $385,973, indicating substantial support for selected organizations. Individual grant amounts vary significantly.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, funding decisions are made internally without published guidelines.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

M. Jude Reyes (Trustee, serves without compensation)

  • Co-chairman of Reyes Holdings, a major food and beverage distribution company (6th largest privately held company in the U.S. with $40 billion in annual revenue)
  • Chairman of the Board, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
  • Director, Children's Hospital Foundation (Washington)
  • Civic affiliations include Northwestern University, Field Museum, Pathways Foundation, and Chicago Club
  • Known for significant philanthropy to healthcare rehabilitation and Catholic educational institutions
  • Notable gifts include $4 million to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and $3 million to University of Notre Dame

Lori W. Reyes (Trustee, serves without compensation)

  • Co-trustee and wife of M. Jude Reyes
  • Resides in North Palm Beach, Florida

Foundation History

The foundation was originally established as the M. Jude and Lori W. Reyes Foundation before being renamed the Wonderful Life Foundation. It was founded in 2000 in Virginia and later relocated operations to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees M. Jude Reyes and Lori W. Reyes. The foundation operates as a private independent foundation where funding decisions are made internally without solicitation of proposals from the general public.

Organizations seeking funding cannot submit unsolicited applications. Grants appear to be awarded based on:

  • Pre-existing relationships with the trustees
  • Trustee board affiliations and personal interests
  • Strategic alignment with the trustees' philanthropic priorities in healthcare, education, and social services

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's trustee-directed model, success factors include:

Alignment with Trustee Interests:

  • Organizations in the healthcare rehabilitation field, particularly those connected to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
  • Catholic educational institutions, especially higher education
  • Children's hospitals and pediatric healthcare
  • Organizations in geographic areas where the trustees have business or personal connections (Chicago area, Florida, communities served by Reyes Holdings)

Organizational Characteristics:

  • Established organizations with proven track records
  • Institutions where trustees serve in leadership or board roles
  • Organizations that align with the trustees' known philanthropic priorities

Relationship Building:

  • Connections through Reyes Holdings business network
  • Associations with institutions where M. Jude Reyes serves as a board member or director
  • Connections to Catholic institutions and healthcare organizations in the trustees' network

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is not a foundation that accepts unsolicited proposals
  • The foundation makes substantial grants averaging nearly $400,000, indicating significant support for selected organizations
  • Trustee connections are critical - funding decisions are made by M. Jude Reyes and Lori W. Reyes based on their personal philanthropic interests
  • Healthcare and education focus - particularly rehabilitation medicine (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab), children's hospitals, and Catholic higher education
  • Geographic reach is national but concentrates on areas where trustees have business/personal ties (Illinois, Florida)
  • The foundation distributes approximately $22 million annually across 56 grants
  • Both trustees serve without compensation, indicating this is a personal philanthropic vehicle rather than a professionally staffed foundation

References

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