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Helen And Will Webster Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.3M
Grant Range
$35K - $6.0M

Helen And Will Webster Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,327,866 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $226,600,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $35,000 - $6,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California
  • Number of Grants: 52 awards (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 41 E. Foothill Blvd., Suite 201, Arcadia, CA 91006-2361

Phone: 626-794-3785

Website: Not available

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for funding.

Overview

The Helen And Will Webster Foundation was established in 1997 by Wilton "Will" W. Webster Jr. and his wife Helen E. Webster. Will Webster was the founder of Webster Laboratories (later Biosense Webster, now part of Johnson & Johnson), a company that pioneered cardiac catheter technology and medical devices. The foundation, which held $226.6 million in assets as of 2024, is dedicated to the advancement of young people with a focus on equitable access to health, education, and welfare. The foundation is now directed by the Webster's sons, Richard (Rich) and Alec Webster, who continue their parents' legacy of supporting technological innovation in medicine and education. Helen Webster died in 2017, and Will Webster passed away in 2018 at age 90.

The foundation's approach reflects Will Webster's background as a medical device innovator, with a particular emphasis on investments in technological innovation that advance medicine and improve lives, especially in pediatric cardiac care.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants through trustee discretion rather than formal application programs. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project:

  • Major Capital Gifts: $5,000,000 - $6,000,000 (transformational projects at major institutions)
  • Institutional Support: Variable amounts for endowed chairs, facilities, and innovation labs
  • Program Support: Range not publicly disclosed

Priority Areas

Healthcare (Primary Focus):

  • Pediatric cardiac care and cardiothoracic surgery
  • Children's hospitals and medical innovation
  • Medical technology and 3D innovations in healthcare
  • Addressing health disparities and social determinants of health

Education (Primary Focus):

  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Supplemental educational programs
  • Higher education institutions
  • Cultural programs including arts, museum visits, and field trips

Community Support:

  • Food assistance programs
  • Mentoring programs for young people
  • Economic equity initiatives

Geographic Preference: Primarily California, with emphasis on Southern California institutions

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Unsolicited grant applications from organizations they have not previously identified
  • Organizations outside their pre-identified focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team:

  • Alec J. Webster, President - Compensation: $324,000 (2024)
  • Richard B. Webster, Secretary and Treasurer - Compensation: $324,000 (2024)
  • Theodore M. Joyce, Board Member

Both Alec and Richard Webster are the sons of founders Will and Helen Webster and have continued the family's philanthropic legacy since their parents' deaths. Alec Webster also serves as a trustee of the UC Santa Cruz Foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Helen And Will Webster Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, with funding decisions made by the Webster family leadership. Organizations are identified and selected by the foundation's board rather than through an open application process.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has made significant, long-term commitments to specific institutions, suggesting they build deep relationships with select organizations rather than spreading funding broadly. Their giving pattern shows:

  • Long-term institutional partnerships: UC Santa Cruz has received multiple gifts over many years, including five endowed presidential chairs, facility renovations, and college endowment
  • Strategic focus on cardiac care innovation: Recent major gifts to Rady Children's Hospital ($5 million in 2024, plus previous $1 million in 2019) demonstrate sustained commitment to institutions advancing pediatric cardiology
  • Mission alignment with founder's legacy: Organizations advancing medical technology, particularly cardiac care for children, and educational innovation for young people align with Will Webster's background as a cardiac catheter pioneer

Organizations that have successfully partnered with the foundation typically demonstrate:

  • Clear connection to children's health or education
  • Commitment to technological innovation
  • Southern California presence (though not exclusively)
  • Capacity for transformational projects that create lasting impact

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature of grants, decisions likely occur on the foundation board's schedule rather than fixed application cycles.

Recent Major Grants

Examples of significant recent grants include:

  • American Heart Association (September 2023): $6,000,000 to the Los Angeles Social Impact Fund (renamed the Helen and Will Webster Fund) to address health disparities including food insecurity, economic inequity, and healthcare access
  • Rady Children's Hospital (February 2024): $5,000,000 pledge to support the Heart Institute and 3D Innovations Lab, creating two endowed positions and an innovation fund
  • University of California, Santa Cruz: $60,000 (plus historic major gifts including five presidential chairs, Hay Barn renovation, and Rachel Carson College endowment)

Historical grants have also supported the University of Oklahoma, Caltech (chemistry building), Huntington Hospital in Pasadena (trauma wing), and various educational and cultural organizations including A Noise Within theatre company.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of their funding patterns reveals what attracts the foundation's support:

Alignment with Founder's Legacy: The foundation strongly favors causes that reflect Will Webster's life work in cardiac catheter innovation and his commitment to children's health and education. Organizations advancing pediatric cardiac care, medical technology innovation, and educational opportunities for young people are most likely to receive support.

Transformational Impact: The foundation makes significant gifts designed to create lasting change. Their grants often:

  • Create endowed positions (e.g., Helen and Will Webster Foundation Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery Chair at Rady Children's)
  • Establish innovation labs and facilities (e.g., 3D Innovations Lab)
  • Build institutional capacity through endowments and capital projects

Technological Innovation: Given Will Webster's background as a medical device inventor, the foundation shows particular interest in projects that advance medicine through technology. The Webster 3D Innovations Lab at Rady Children's Hospital exemplifies this priority.

Focus on Young People: All funding priorities center on "helping to provide for the needs of children and young adults" with emphasis on "equitable access to health, education, and welfare."

Long-term Partnership Model: Rather than one-time grants, the foundation appears to develop sustained relationships with select institutions (as evidenced by multiple gifts to UC Santa Cruz and Rady Children's Hospital over many years).

Geographic Connection: While not exclusively limited to Southern California, the foundation shows strong preference for California-based organizations, particularly in the Los Angeles and San Diego regions where the Webster family has deep roots.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application methods. They identify and select grantees themselves.

  • Invitation-only funding model: Organizations receive funding through established relationships with the Webster family leadership, not through competitive application processes.

  • Strategic focus areas are clear: Despite not accepting applications, their priorities are well-documented—pediatric healthcare (especially cardiac care), education for young people, technological innovation in medicine, and addressing health disparities.

  • Major gift orientation: With 52 grants totaling over $13 million in 2023, average grant size exceeds $256,000, indicating preference for significant, transformational gifts rather than small grants.

  • Family foundation with focused mission: Led by the founders' sons who continue their parents' legacy, the foundation maintains strong connection to Will Webster's pioneering work in cardiac catheters and commitment to children's health and education.

  • Track record matters: Organizations that have received multiple gifts from the foundation (UC Santa Cruz, Rady Children's Hospital) demonstrate the foundation's preference for building long-term partnerships with institutions they trust.

  • Geographic focus: While occasional grants go outside California, the strong majority of funding supports California organizations, particularly in Southern California.

References

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