B & M Wright Foundation
B & M Wright Foundation is a private foundation based in Bellevue, Washington. In filing year 2025, it reported 11 grants totaling $247,833, with listed awards supporting arts and cultural organizations and a scholarship application process for higher-education students.
B & M Wright Foundation at a glance
In short: B & M Wright Foundation gave $248K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in New York. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $247,833
- -22.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $22,530
- -15.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $18,500
- Total assets
- $5,012,116
- -2.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to B & M Wright Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Prentice Wright as the application contact and lists the materials above for scholarship applicants.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are due within 60 days of the last day of each academic year, according to the filing.
- Deadline
- Applications are due within 60 days of the last day of each academic year, according to the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Prentice Wright
Mailing address: 10900 Ne 8Th St Suite 1620, Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: (425) 625-2694
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who B & M Wright Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Seattle Art Museum ($83K). Together the top 10 received $247K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 50 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in New York (51%), Washington (36%), and Washington, DC (13%). Scholarship applicants must provide proof of residency in the New York metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is B & M Wright Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $19K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $220K (2020) to $811K (2021). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $248K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Art Museum Seattle, WA | Operating Funds | $83,333 |
| Catskill Art Society Livingston Manor, NY | Operating Funds | $36,000 |
| Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC | Operating Funds | $32,500 |
| ART21 New York, NY | Operating Funds | $25,000 |
| Catskill Mountain Keeper Woodstock, NY | Operating Funds | $24,000 |
| International Council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | Operating Funds | $18,500 |
| The Brooklyn Rail Brooklyn, NY | Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY | Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| Whatcom Museum Bellingham, WA | Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Montgomery, NY | The Fund for a Single Bite | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with B & M Wright Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,012,116 | $149,233 | $285,101 | $247,833 | 11 | $249,233 | $123,728 | $287,778 |
| 2024 | $5,147,984 | $312,491 | $367,614 | $319,434 | 12 | $320,659 | $150,818 | $267,705 |
| 2023 | $5,203,107 | $1,621,285 | $572,298 | $538,833 | 8 | $540,083 | $1,111,985 | $229,289 |
| 2022 | $4,154,120 | $678,062 | $407,014 | $374,000 | 8 | $376,050 | $83,968 | $222,853 |
| 2021 | $3,883,072 | $1,195,713 | $860,658 | $810,550 | 11 | $845,278 | $645,081 | $223,202 |
| 2020 | $3,548,017 | $515,762 | $235,979 | $219,500 | 8 | — | $106,617 | $192,618 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, B & M Wright Foundation reported a distributable amount of $288K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included operating support for arts and cultural organizations. For example, the Seattle Art Museum describes its work as connecting art to life and serving as a cultural and educational resource; the Catskill Art Society says it explores contemporary art through exhibitions, performances, classes, lectures, and screenings. The Smithsonian Institution describes its mission as increasing and diffusing knowledge, while ART21 says it expands access to contemporary art through films, resources, and public programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $247,833. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $83,333, with a median grant of $18,500. The largest grants were $83,333 to the Seattle Art Museum, $36,000 to the Catskill Art Society, $32,500 to the Smithsonian Institution, $25,000 to ART21, and $24,000 to Catskill Mountain Keeper. Each was listed for operating funds. Other recipients included the International Council of the Metropolitan Museum of Art ($18,500), The Brooklyn Rail ($10,000), The Metropolitan Museum of Art ($10,000), Whatcom Museum ($5,000), Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan ($2,500), and SUNY Sullivan Foundation ($1,000).
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. For scholarship applications, it requires a short statement of financial need, a biographical record, a description of the applicant’s goals or course of study, a completed questionnaire about disqualified-person status, proof of residency in the New York metropolitan area, transcripts for completed terms in secondary or postsecondary programs, and proof of enrollment or admission to the intended higher-education institution. Applicants must also submit one or more letters of support and at least two additional references. Scholarship recipients must provide a transcript covering all courses taken during the academic year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Prentice Wright and Margaret Wright as trustees.
B & M Wright Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Margaret Wright
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Prentice Wright
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about B & M Wright Foundation
How much does B & M Wright Foundation give each year?
B & M Wright Foundation gave $248K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $319K across 12 grants.
What is B & M Wright Foundation's typical grant size?
B & M Wright Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $18,500, and its average grant was $22,530, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from B & M Wright Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does B & M Wright Foundation give grants?
B & M Wright Foundation gives mostly in New York: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (36%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does B & M Wright Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 91% of B & M Wright Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are B & M Wright Foundation's largest grantees?
B & M Wright Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Seattle Art Museum ($83,333), Catskill Art Society ($36,000) and Smithsonian Institution ($32,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is B & M Wright Foundation?
B & M Wright Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $249K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $288K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does B & M Wright Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included operating support for arts and cultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from B & M Wright Foundation?
The filing names Prentice Wright as the application contact and lists the materials above for scholarship applicants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is B & M Wright Foundation's EIN?
B & M Wright Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3662628. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in B & M Wright Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). B & M Wright Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/b-and-m-wright-foundation-morg_d61ec91ba7ac4d47831e083480bd0df2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383662628_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{B \& M Wright Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/b-and-m-wright-foundation-morg_d61ec91ba7ac4d47831e083480bd0df2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from B & M Wright Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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