W W W Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $12,810,131 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $500 - $9,523,911
• Median Grant: $15,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, Washington, and Montana
• Total Assets: $91,407,358 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 177 E Colorado Blvd, Suite 800, Pasadena, CA 91105

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The W W W Foundation (also referenced as L L W W Foundation in some databases) is a private family foundation based in Pasadena, California, that has been operating since March 1982. With total assets of approximately $91.4 million and annual giving of $12.8 million in 2024, the foundation represents a significant grantmaking presence in the Western United States. The foundation operates as a traditional private foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation's grantmaking strategy emphasizes education, human services, animal welfare, youth programs, and environmental conservation, with a geographic focus on California, Washington, and Montana. In 2024, the foundation awarded 121 grants, demonstrating steady and active grantmaking activity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with applications. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they select.

Grant Distribution (2024):

• 121 grants awarded
• Median grant size: $15,000
• Grant range: $500 to $9,523,911

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity, the foundation supports:

• Education: Educational institutions and youth educational programs
• Human Services: General operating support for social service organizations
• Animal Welfare: Including capital campaigns for animal centers and adoption facilities
• Youth Programs: Summer programs and youth development initiatives
• Environmental Conservation: Organizations focused on environmental protection
• Women's Empowerment: International and domestic organizations supporting women
• Philanthropy and Voluntarism: Supporting the charitable sector infrastructure

Notable Recent Grants (examples from 2024):

• Greater Horizons: $9,523,911 for LAYT Total Distribution
• Helen Woodward Animal Center: $710,714 for New Adoptions Building Capital Campaign
• African Women Rising: $225,000 for General Operating Support
• Young America's Foundation: $200,000 for Summer Youth Program

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes contributions to preselected organizations, they effectively do not fund any organizations that approach them unsolicited. The foundation does not accept proposals, letters of inquiry, or grant applications from the general public.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of 11 directors. Key leadership includes:

• Sharon H. Bradford, President
• Bryce W. Rhodes, Vice President
• Winifred W. Rhodes, Vice President
• Pegine E. Grayson, Secretary/Executive Director

Notably, the foundation reports no officer compensation in its IRS filings, indicating that leadership serves in a voluntary capacity or through other administrative arrangements.

The foundation's management is supported by Whittier Trust Company, which provides administrative and accounting services. Pegine Grayson serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Whittier Trust's Philanthropic Services department, where she oversees management services for multiple private foundations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The W W W Foundation has explicitly indicated that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations that they identify and select independently.

This approach is consistent with many private family foundations that maintain a focused grantmaking strategy based on the trustees' personal knowledge of organizations and causes aligned with their philanthropic values.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded on a rolling basis as determined by the board of trustees to their preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - as the foundation does not accept initial applications, there is no reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

Since the W W W Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot directly apply for funding. However, understanding the foundation's giving patterns can provide insight into their philanthropic priorities:

Grant Characteristics:

• The foundation makes a large number of grants annually (121 in 2024), suggesting broad charitable interests
• Grant amounts vary significantly, from small grants of $500 to multi-million dollar distributions
• The median grant of $15,000 indicates that most grants are modest in size, with a few very large grants to key organizations
• General operating support appears to be a common grant purpose, suggesting the foundation values organizational sustainability

Geographic and Programmatic Focus:

• Strong emphasis on California-based organizations, with additional focus on Washington and Montana
• Diverse range of supported causes, from education and youth development to animal welfare and women's empowerment
• Both established institutions and smaller nonprofits appear in the grant portfolio

Strategic Giving Patterns:

• The foundation appears to have long-term relationships with certain organizations, as evidenced by significant multi-year or large one-time grants
• Capital campaigns receive support (e.g., Helen Woodward Animal Center building campaign)
• Both direct service organizations and capacity-building/infrastructure organizations are funded

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Organizations cannot apply for funding.
• Preselected organizations only: All grants are made to organizations selected by the board of trustees through their own research and networks.
• Substantial assets and giving: With $91.4 million in assets and $12.8 million in annual giving, this is a significant funder, but only for organizations in their existing portfolio.
• Diverse grant sizes: While the median grant is $15,000, the foundation has made grants ranging from $500 to over $9.5 million, indicating flexibility in grant sizing based on organizational needs and relationships.
• Geographic concentration: Organizations in California, Washington, and Montana are most likely to be in the foundation's giving portfolio.
• Broad interests: The foundation supports education, human services, animal welfare, youth programs, and women's empowerment, among other causes.
• Long-term relationships appear valued: The presence of large, multi-year grants suggests the foundation builds sustained partnerships with select organizations.

References

• Instrumentl 990 Report: W W W Foundation. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/www-foundation
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: W W W Foundation (EIN 95-3694741). Accessed January 20, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953694741
• Grantmakers.io Profile: W W W Foundation. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/953694741-w-w-w-foundation/
• IRS Form 990-PF filings for W W W Foundation, tax years 2023-2024, available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer