Wilson-Oconnor Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, and the filing says its contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered.
- If your work fits its recorded areas of historic preservation and literacy and education, the realistic route is an introduction through an existing contact rather than a written application.
- Its typical grants run from $100,000 to $695,000, with a median of $150,000, though its largest grant was $1,200,000, so a request near the median would be a sensible size if you are invited to apply.
- In its latest filing, 63% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its earlier filings, which suggests that existing relationships matter.
- Its geographic focus is not stated, so location alone should not rule your organisation out.
Overview
Wilson-Oconnor Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Reston, VA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's recorded grants span emergency assistance and humanitarian relief; literacy, structured-literacy work and educational leadership; education about protecting democracy; and the restoration of historic buildings. Recipients include universities and university foundations, literacy and dyslexia organisations, humanitarian agencies, historical societies and preservation groups, local government and community organisations. Several grants are recorded as general support, including support directed to relief work in the United States and North America. The filings say contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations, but give no wider account of eligibility or a general geographic focus.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Historic preservation
- Literacy and education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 63% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 32 grants to organisations were $150,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 18%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to organisations Wilson-Oconnor Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 26% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 20 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Fidelity Charitable · General support$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Drexel University · Structured literacy and educational leadership hub$691,7502025 tax year
- Save the Children · To support the children's emergency fund and save the children action network (scan)$600,0002025 tax year
- Catholic Relief Services · General support in north america$250,0002025 tax year
- American Red Cross · General support for u.s. relief$250,0002025 tax year
- Human Rights Watch · Immigrants' rights and border policy in the united states$250,0002025 tax year
- Protect Democracy Project · For educational work about protecting democracy$200,0002025 tax year
- Norwich Community Collaborative · Norwich grange hall historic renovation project$150,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Edward J Wilson — Director
- Barbara Wilson — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $500,910 | $150,000 | $93,968,286 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,038,704 | $4,500,000 | $93,608,137 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $5,026,735 | $4,512,840 | $92,731,457 | Filing for 2025 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 Wilson-Oconnor Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Reston, VA
Applying to Wilson-Oconnor Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Reston, VA