Angels Wings Foundation
Angels Wings Foundation International Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2002 and tax-exempt since March 2003. Based in Santa Barbara, California with an office in Thailand, the organization focuses on supporting underprivileged children in Thailand through education, scholarships, and community development initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.7M
+3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$617K
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
44
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+15.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Angels Wings Foundation reported a distributable amount of $745K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Angels Wings Foundation was founded as a direct means to build and fund schools, orphanages, supply healthcare, and support various issues impacting underprivileged children in Thailand. The foundation is shaped by the vision of native Thai philanthropist Bui Simon, a former Miss Universe, Good Will Ambassador to the United Nations, and spokesperson for UNICEF and the UNFPA.
Primary program areas include:
- Education & Schools: Building and funding schools in rural Thailand
- Scholarships: The Angels Wings Thai Scholarship Initiative, launched in 2017, has granted over 100 students the opportunity to further their education through academic scholarships
- Disaster Relief: In response to the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the foundation committed to constructing 100 new homes, a fleet of boats, and building schools
- Healthcare Support: Supplying healthcare to affected communities
Grantmaking
Recent scholarship grants awarded include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in:
- California
- Washington
- Texas
- Thailand (headquarters for operations)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,666,303
- Total Revenues: $1,490,919
- Total Expenses: $951,762
- Total Giving: $617,020
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11,300,000
- Total Revenues: $2,760,000
- Total Expenses: $960,000
Funding Model: The foundation is privately funded with the exception of generating occasional events that benefit specific causes. 100% of Angels Wings proceeds benefit earmarked projects and affected children.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,666,303 | $11,304,618 | $10,522,574 |
| Revenue | $1,490,919 | $2,760,325 | $1,639,873 |
| Expenses | $951,762 | $960,024 | $835,611 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $701,837 | $739,475 | $630,182 |
| Net Investment Income | $646,766 | $606,586 | $408,165 |
| Distributable Amount | $745,442 | $584,118 | $566,249 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
227 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Teach for Thailand Foundation ($115,240), University of California Irvine ($40,000), University of California San Diego ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN PASADENA, CA | SCHOLARSHIPS, $10,000 FOR CHINANART SUKITJAVANICH, $10,000 FOR CHINAPA SOPHIE SUKITJAVANICH | $20,000 |
| BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY PROVO, UT | SCHOLARSHIP FOR MINDY LEU | $10,000 |
| CAL POLY STATE UNIVERSITY SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | SCHOLARSHIP FOR VARATTAYA WUTTIJUMNONG | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV LONG BEACH LONG BEACH, CA | SCHOLARSHIP FOR BRIANNA WONGSUPHAKPHAN | $10,000 |
| CERRITOS COLLEGE NORWALK, CA | SCHOLARSHIP FOR JAMINA PHOMMACHANH | $5,000 |
| CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY | SCHOLARSHIP FOR CHAYAKAN RASSAMEECHAROENCHAI | $3,265 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | SCHOLARSHIP FOR WILMAN VLACH | $10,000 |
| CYPRESS COLLEGE CYPRESS, CA | SCHOLARSHIP FOR VINCE VATCHARASUMPHUN | $5,000 |
| GREEN RIVER COLLEGE AUBURN, WA | SCHOLARSHIP FOR PITCHAYA NIRUNSUKSIRI | $5,000 |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY CAMBRIDGE, MA | SCHOLARSHIP FOR JESSICA SHIFLETT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Bui Simon, CEO, President & Founder
- Herb Simon, Secretary
- Mark Bernstein, Treasurer
Executive Staff:
- Lisa Fitterling, Financial Director
- Amelia Williamson, Scholarship Director–U.S.A.
- Viwan Karnasut, Director of Operations–Thailand
- Jack Ruenprapan, Scholarship Director–Thailand
- Nok Sirikakan, Outreach Director–U.S.A. & Thailand
Ambassadors:
- Matt Lansford, Media Ambassador–U.S.A.
- Christen Capobianco, AWF Alumni Ambassador–U.S.A.
- Isaac McSherry, AWF Scholarship Ambassador–U.S.A.
- Jacklyn Simon, AWF Student Ambassador–U.S.A.
- Sean Simon, AWF Student Ambassador–U.S.A.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PORNTIP BUI SIMON | PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| HERBERT SIMON | VICE PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MARK N BERNSTEIN | TREASURER / DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LISA FITTERLING | SECRETARY / DIRECTOR | 10 | $30,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Angels Wings Thai U.S. Scholarship program continues to accept applications for 2025
Attention to all high school seniors! The Angels Wings Foundation is ...In 2023, 15 Thai high school students were awarded Angels Wings Scholarships
Attention to all high school seniors! The Angels Wings Foundation is ...The foundation has distributed 50 scholarships to Thai descent youths
Angels Wings Foundation gives away 50 scholarships to Thai decent youths\Recent scholarship awards in 2024 to students at major U.S. universities including University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University, and University of Southern California
15 Thai high-school students awarded Angels Wings Scholarship 2023Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Angels Wings Foundation fund?
Angels Wings Foundation was founded as a direct means to build and fund schools, orphanages, supply healthcare, and support various issues impacting underprivileged children in Thailand. The foundation is shaped by the vision of native Thai philanthropist Bui Simon, a former Miss Universe, Good Will Ambassador to the United Nations, and spokesperson for UNICEF and the UNFPA. Primary program areas include: • **Education & Schools**: Building and funding schools in rural Thailand • **Scholarships…
How do I apply for a grant from Angels Wings Foundation?
Recent scholarship grants awarded include: | Recipient Institution | Grant Year | Amount | Details | |---|---|---|---| | Psi Chi - University of Texas at Austin | 2024 | $40,000 | Scholarships for four students: Athitiya Singhapan, Caden Koerner, Kamin Klieopatinon, Tara Suttitum ($10,000 each) | | Trustees of Purdue University | 2024 | $35,000 | Scholarships for four students: Abigail Pollpeter, Gavin Albert, Koon Klieopatinon ($10,000 each), Manica Gonzalez ($5,000) | | University of Southern…
Where does Angels Wings Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in: • California • Washington • Texas • Thailand (headquarters for operations)
What size grants does Angels Wings Foundation award?
In 2024, Angels Wings Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $617K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Angels Wings Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Angels Wings Foundation reported a distributable amount of $745K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Angels Wings Foundation's EIN?
Angels Wings Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3730022. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Angels Wings Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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