The Wollenberg Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to organisations it has preselected, so a small charity without an existing invitation should not send a cold proposal.
- Its stated focus is education, including early childhood education, and most of its funding goes that way, so education-led work is the closest fit.
- Typical grants fall between $2,500 and $75,000, with a median of $10,000 and half of its grants at $10,000 or less, so a modest request sits comfortably within its usual pattern, though its largest grant was $450,000.
- Repeat giving is heavy: the filing shows 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so relationships with existing grantees matter a great deal.
- The filings show grants mainly in Oregon, Washington, California and Virginia, but no geographic focus is stated, so treat that as a pattern rather than a rule.
Overview
The Wollenberg Foundation is a US private foundation based in Menlo Park, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (lowercolumbia.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation states that a majority of its funding is for education, including early childhood education, and describes its aim as providing educational opportunities for all generations of community members. Its grant record includes educational institutions and education-related bodies, as well as museums, performing-arts organisations, health providers and community-service organisations. Most recorded grants are unrestricted, with a smaller restricted component, indicating that its grants include both forms of support. The filed application information says it gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so charities cannot approach it through an open application route.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Oregon, Washington, California and Virginia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% 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 237 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 9%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 19% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations The Wollenberg Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 80 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Reed College · Restricted$450,0002024 tax year
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry · Unrestricted$210,0002024 tax year
- Filoli Historic House and Garden · Unrestricted$151,0002024 tax year
- Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts · Unrestricted$125,0002024 tax year
- Smith College · Restricted$125,0002024 tax year
- Willamette University · Restricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities · Unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Lower Columbia College Head Start · Unrestricted$88,5002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Richard H Wollenberg — Trustee
- Christopher Wollenberg — Trustee
- David A Wollenberg — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,532,277 | $2,166,000 | $38,147,920 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,110,541 | $1,796,500 | $41,370,799 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,778,334 | $2,479,100 | $43,148,779 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Wollenberg Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Menlo Park, CA
Applying to The Wollenberg Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Menlo Park, CA