Wonderful Foundations

Private foundation · EIN 83-2252772 · since 2019wonderfulfoundations.org·Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$284k

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$8,950 to $46,500

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$16,500

Typical grant (median)

12 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

Because the foundation accepts requests by invitation only and says only schools it already partners with can apply, this is not a route for a small nonprofit that is not a partnered school; a partnered school should speak with a staff member before completing the online application.
Its stated themes are school facilities and learning equipment, so projects such as building improvements or equipment for learning and exploration fit, while general support, existing deficits, individuals and non-secular activities are excluded.
Plan for a request within the typical band of $8,950 to $46,500, since about 8 in 10 of its grants fall in that range and the median grant was $16,500; the largest grant was about $61,000, so this band is not a ceiling.
Repeat giving is strong, with 80% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing going to organisations it had also funded the year before, so a relationship-led approach appears to matter.
Successful applicants are asked to provide a short written report and pictures within six months.

Overview

Wonderful Foundations is a US private foundation based in Minneapolis, MN.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Wonderful Foundations partners with schools to create better learning environments, expand opportunities and build brighter futures for students. It acquires the buildings that house schools, offering stability and a path to ownership, and acts as a mission-aligned partner rather than a landlord. A portion of rent is reinvested through annual grants and capital improvements. Its grants fund projects from partner schools that support the mission of creating foundations for learning and uplifting children's lives, including building improvements, equipment for learning and exploration, and spaces that encourage students to receive and exchange ideas. Only schools already partnered with Wonderful Foundations are eligible to apply. Its approach combines secure facilities with improvements and resources that help students thrive.

Themes

School facilities
Learning equipment

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, California and Georgia.

What They Don't Fund

General support
Existing deficits
For individuals
Non-secular activities

How to apply

Applicants should speak with a staff member before completing the online application.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 80% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 24 grants to organisations were $16,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

Applicants are asked to agree to provide a short written report and pictures within six months.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Arizona32%

Florida31%

North Carolina21%

California9%

Georgia7%

The largest single recipient received 16% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to organisations Wonderful Foundations had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

12 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $16,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 12 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k8%

$5k–$10k0%

$10k–$25k67%

$25k–$50k8%

$50k–$100k17%

Median $16,500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Wayne Preparatory Academy Charter School · Wayne hvac replacements and elevator repairs
$60,9652024 tax year
Imagine School at Town Center · General operations
$57,8002024 tax year
Richmond Charter Academy · General operations
$35,0002024 tax year
Imagine School at Palmer Ranch · General operations
$21,0002024 tax year
Imagine Avondale Elementary · General operations
$18,5002024 tax year
Kid's Community College Charter School · General operations
$16,5002024 tax year
Imagine Prep Coolidge · General operations
$16,5002024 tax year
Imagine Coolidge Elementary · General operations
$14,5002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

John Cairns — Secretary
Michele Shapiro — President / Treasurer
Troy Snyder — Board Chair

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

2 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$22,621,265	$223,264	$177,560,482	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$17,808,998	$283,765	$205,143,801	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.