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Brent and Kathryn Wood Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M

Brent and Kathryn Wood Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $685,870
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $170,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Utah, Hawaii, Washington State (with emphasis on Utah County)
  • Number of Annual Grants: Approximately 16
  • Total Assets: $28.6 million

Contact Details

Foundation Administrator:
Foundation Source
501 Silverside Rd
Wilmington, DE 19809
Phone: (800) 839-1754

Note: The foundation is administered through Foundation Source, a professional foundation management company. The Wood family maintains connections to Orem, Utah.

Overview

The Brent and Kathryn Wood Foundation was established in 2009 as a Delaware private foundation (EIN: 77-0711206) by Joseph Brent Wood and his wife Kathryn Pryor Wood. The foundation emerged from the Wood family's personal experience with autism when their granddaughter Sarah was diagnosed with the disorder, which catalyzed their commitment to supporting children and families facing significant challenges.

J. Brent Wood (1940-2019) was a distinguished Utah entrepreneur who built his fortune through aerospace companies including Wencor, Kitco, and Dixie Aerospace. Named U.S. Government Contractor of the Year in the late 1980s and Utah's Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2005, Wood redirected his business success toward philanthropy after retirement. Kathryn passed away in 2018 after a battle with cancer, and Brent followed in 2019. The foundation continues their legacy of giving, guided by Brent's personal motto: "Because I have been given much, I too must give."

The foundation's grantmaking reflects the Woods' personal values and experiences, with emphasis on education (particularly autism education), support for vulnerable populations including women and children in crisis, youth development programs, and educational institutions. Since 2020, the foundation has awarded 17 grants totaling $884,000 to carefully selected organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation without formal grant programs or application cycles. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on relationships and causes aligned with the family's values.

Grant Size Range:

  • Small grants: $1,000 - $5,000 (typically for general operating support)
  • Medium grants: $25,000 - $45,000 (most common tier, often for specific programs)
  • Major grants: Up to $170,000 (rare, for significant capital projects or multi-year commitments)

Priority Areas

Based on documented giving patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

Autism and Special Education

  • Organizations providing education and services for children with autism
  • The Woods founded Clear Horizons Academy (operated by Hurst Wood Education Foundation) in 2005 after their granddaughter's autism diagnosis
  • Support for autism-related training and awareness initiatives

Higher Education

  • Strong focus on BYU-Hawaii hospitality and iWork programs
  • Support for programs that provide educational opportunities for underserved students
  • Scholarships and workforce development initiatives
  • Utah Valley University (the Woods received UVU's Legacy Award in 2016)

Women and Children in Crisis

  • Domestic violence shelters and services
  • Programs supporting at-risk women and children
  • Family support services in Utah County

Youth Development

  • Programs providing career exploration and mentorship
  • Educational enrichment for disadvantaged youth
  • Character development and service-oriented programs

Homelessness and Mental Health Services

  • Medical respite care
  • Coordinated care for individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Substance abuse recovery services

Religious and Service Organizations

  • LDS-affiliated programs and institutions
  • Faith-based service organizations
  • Humanitarian projects (the Woods supported an orphanage in Haiti)

What They Don't Fund

Based on giving patterns, the foundation does not typically support:

  • Organizations outside their established geographic areas
  • General operating appeals from organizations without personal connection to the family
  • Political causes or advocacy organizations
  • Arts and cultural institutions (though J. Brent Wood once operated an art gallery)
  • Environmental or animal welfare causes
  • Medical research (unless related to autism)
  • International relief organizations (except through personal connections)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chris Wood - Trustee
Son of J. Brent and Kathryn Wood, resident of Lindon, Utah. Chris is one of five Wood children who continue their parents' philanthropic legacy.

Note: The foundation appears to be governed by the Wood children following the deaths of both founders. The complete trustee roster includes family members but is not fully disclosed in public documents. The foundation works with Jeffrey D. Haskell for tax preparation and uses Foundation Source for administrative services.

The Wood Family

The foundation trustees include the five Wood children:

  • Foster daughter Diana Ptacek (Atlanta, Georgia)
  • Bryan Wood (Mapleton, Utah)
  • Tiffany Wood Drake (Highland, Utah)
  • Chris Wood (Lindon, Utah)
  • Kasondra Hurst (St. George, Utah)

The family collectively has 14 grandchildren, including Sarah, whose autism diagnosis inspired much of the family's charitable work.

Founder's Philosophy

From J. Brent Wood's statements about their autism philanthropy: "It's been a great thing, not a terrible thing" for the family to have a common goal in helping their granddaughter. He believed the experience taught the whole family the value of charity. His personal motto, "Because I have been given much, I too must give," guides the foundation's work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Brent and Kathryn Wood Foundation does NOT accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation operates through trustee discretion and makes grants to organizations with which the Wood family has established relationships or personal connections.

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Personal relationships with family members or trustees
  • Causes aligned with the family's direct experiences (particularly autism)
  • Organizations the family has supported historically
  • Trustee-initiated research and identification of beneficiaries
  • Referrals from trusted advisors and community partners

There is no application form, online portal, or formal submission process available to the general public.

Getting on Their Radar

Given that the foundation has specific, documented connections to certain causes and geographic areas, organizations might position themselves for consideration through these funder-specific approaches:

Utah County Connection:
The Woods were deeply rooted in Orem and Utah County. Organizations serving this community that work in the foundation's priority areas (autism education, services for women and children in crisis, youth development) may benefit from:

  • Building relationships with Clear Horizons Academy and Hurst Wood Education Foundation staff, as these are the family's flagship charitable projects
  • Connecting with Utah Valley University's development office, where the Woods were Legacy Award recipients
  • Participating in autism advocacy and service networks in Utah County where the family is known

BYU-Hawaii Connection:
The foundation has made multiple substantial grants to BYU-Hawaii's hospitality and iWork programs. Organizations connected to BYU-Hawaii or serving similar populations (Pacific Islander students, hospitality workforce development) should:

  • Work through BYU-Hawaii's development office to potentially be included in funding proposals to the foundation
  • Focus on programs that align with the foundation's documented interests: hospitality education and workforce preparation for underserved students

Autism and Special Needs Community:
Given the family's deep personal commitment to autism services:

  • Organizations should focus on building visibility within Utah's autism service community where the Woods' Clear Horizons Academy is well-known
  • J. Brent Wood publicly shared his family's story (see Madison House Autism Foundation's "Words From Brent Wood: A Grandfather's Wisdom"), indicating openness to dialogue about autism services

Important Note: These are observations based on the foundation's documented giving patterns, not official guidance from the foundation. There is no guarantee that outreach will result in funding consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at trustee discretion without a formal timeline or notification process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications, so there is no application-to-award ratio.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no formal application or reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Brent and Kathryn Wood Foundation does not accept applications, the traditional concept of "success factors" does not apply. However, analysis of their documented giving patterns reveals what matters to this family foundation:

Personal Connection is Paramount The Woods' giving emerged directly from their granddaughter Sarah's autism diagnosis. J. Brent Wood stated that helping Sarah became "a great thing, not a terrible thing" for their family. Every major recipient appears connected to either:

  • The family's direct experience (autism, education)
  • Geographic communities where they lived and worked (Orem, Utah County)
  • Institutions meaningful to the family (BYU-Hawaii, UVU)
  • Causes they personally witnessed (homelessness, domestic violence)

Alignment with Founder's Values J. Brent Wood's personal motto was "Because I have been given much, I too must give." The foundation continues this legacy of supporting organizations that serve those with significant needs.

Evidence of Impact and Sustainability The Woods were successful entrepreneurs who understood organizational effectiveness. They value well-run organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact and long-term sustainability.

Program-Specific Grants Most documented grants are for specific programs rather than general operating support:

  • BYU-Hawaii: Hospitality program for 2023-2024 school year
  • BYU-Hawaii: iWork program
  • Center for Women and Children in Crisis: Capital campaign for new building/land
  • ClimbHI: Sponsorship fund for 30 Kahuku High School students

Multi-Year Relationships Several organizations (particularly BYU-Hawaii) have received multiple grants, suggesting the foundation values ongoing partnerships with proven organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT an appropriate funder for unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes grants through trustee discretion and personal relationships only.

  • The foundation reflects a family's personal values and experiences. All giving patterns trace back to the Woods' life experiences: J. Brent's success in aerospace, their deep Utah roots, their granddaughter's autism diagnosis, and their LDS faith.

  • Geographic focus is highly specific. Unless your organization serves Utah County (especially Orem), has connections to BYU-Hawaii, or operates in a community where the Wood family has documented ties, this foundation is unlikely to be relevant.

  • Autism services in Utah are a core focus. The Woods founded Clear Horizons Academy and remained deeply committed to this cause. Organizations serving children with autism in Utah have the strongest connection to the foundation's mission.

  • The foundation continues after both founders' deaths. The foundation remains active under the leadership of their five children, suggesting commitment to continuing their parents' legacy.

  • Education is consistently supported. From BYU-Hawaii's hospitality program to Clear Horizons Academy to UVU, the Woods believed in education as a pathway to opportunity.

  • Foundation administration is professional. The use of Foundation Source suggests the family takes their philanthropic responsibilities seriously and maintains appropriate governance standards.

References

Primary Sources:

Supporting Sources:

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