Charles R Wood Foundation
The Charles R Wood Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1978 by Charles R. Wood, founder of Storytown, USA (now Great Escape Theme Park) and co-founder of Double H Hole in the Woods Camp. The foundation is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, and supports not-for-profit organizations with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare, and the arts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.7M
+6.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-10.4% YoY
Grant Count
83
-4.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-6.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles R Wood Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To support not-for-profit organizations in the Lake George Region with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare and the arts.
The foundation was established to provide assistance to areas of special need in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. The three primary focus areas are:
Children: The foundation prioritizes programs that enhance the quality of life for children and their families, including initiatives addressing child hunger, healthcare access, family strengthening, and support for children with medical conditions. The Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch, a residential medically supervised children's camp for children with serious medical conditions, represents a cornerstone of the foundation's children's focus and has received over $10 million in funding since 1993.
Healthcare: The foundation funds local healthcare initiatives and projects aimed at promoting improved access and care in the region. A Special Healthcare initiative focuses on collaborative applications from organizations serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington counties.
Arts: The foundation supports arts initiatives and organizations in the North Country, reflecting Charles Wood's personal passion for fine art collecting.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts grant applications from IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organizations whose projects or programs assist children, healthcare, or the arts in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas.
Review Cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary focus is the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. The Special Healthcare initiative specifically targets Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington counties. The foundation supports organizations across 17+ counties in the Capital Region, North Country, and western Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $45,739,061
- Total Revenues: $5,477,409
- Total Expenses: $2,512,870
- Number of Employees: 0
Historical Giving:
- Total Financial Contributions: $25,100,000 (cumulative)
- Over the past five years: $10.3 million awarded
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,739,061 | $42,774,522 | $38,990,469 |
| Revenue | $5,477,409 | $6,443,868 | $1,149,308 |
| Expenses | $2,512,870 | $2,659,815 | $2,778,894 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,083,000 | $2,318,949 | $2,462,221 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,266,998 | $6,372,638 | $704,419 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,451,380 | $2,143,897 | $2,256,901 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Charles R Wood Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Albany Med Health System ($500,000), Family Ymca of the Glens Falls Area ($150,000), Dollywood Foundation ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK CENTER FOR WRITING INC SARANAC LAKE, NY | ACW's High School Writing Retreat | $1,000 |
| ADIRONDACK FOLK SCHOOL INCORPORATED LAKE LUZERNE, NY | AFS Building Expansion | $25,000 |
| ADIRONDACK LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS BLUE MTN LAKE, NY | Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts Purchase of Potters Resort Project (ALCAPPRP) | $25,000 |
| ADIRONDACK MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION SARANAC LAKE, NY | Cornerstone Campaign | $40,000 |
| ALBANY MED HEALTH SYSTEM GLENS FALLS, NY | Sheridan Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion | $500,000 |
| ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC ALBANY, NY | Tiny Tots Concerts | $2,500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDAC GLENS FALLS, NY | Group Mentoring | $20,000 |
| CALDWELL LAKE GEORGE LIBRARY LAKE GEORGE, NY | Children's Enrichment Programming & Materials at Caldwell-Lake George Library | $5,000 |
| CAMP ABILITIES SARATOGA INC SARATOGA SPGS, NY | Camp Abilities Saratoga, Inc. | $5,000 |
| CAROGA ARTS COLLECTIVE INC CAROGA LAKE, NY | Gloversville String Project & Arts Collaborative E | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Charlene Wood - Chair and Trustee
Trustees: Dean J Beckos, Michael Della Bella, Mark Frost
A Board of Trustees oversees the foundation with the goal of preserving the mission established by Charles R. Wood.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Behan | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Tenee Casaccio | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Reeves Courtney | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Chelsea Hoopes Silver | Trustee, VP | 1 | — |
| David Howson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jennifer Lefner | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Barbara W Wages | Pres, Trustee | 1 | — |
| C Braden Wages | Trustee, Treas | 1 | — |
| Page Wages | Trustee, Sec | 1 | — |
| Heather Ward | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Charlene Wood | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced 2025 grant application deadlines in February 2026. According to Charlene Wood, Chair and Trustee: "We are so pleased to be able to support so many worthwhile projects. From small community soup kitchens to the larger capital projects, we are committed to investing in children, healthcare and the arts in our geographical focus area."
Charles R. Wood Foundation announces grant application deadlines | News |The foundation continues to accept collaborative healthcare applications and remains committed to funding capital projects and ongoing program support across its three focus areas.
Woods Family Music & Arts Grant Awards $67,400 to Support Creative ProgramsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Charles R Wood Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** To support not-for-profit organizations in the Lake George Region with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare and the arts. The foundation was established to provide assistance to areas of special need in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. The three primary focus areas are: **Children:** The foundation prioritizes programs that enhance the quality of life for children and their families, including initiatives addressing child hunger, healthcare access…
How do I apply for a grant from Charles R Wood Foundation?
The foundation accepts grant applications from IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organizations whose projects or programs assist children, healthcare, or the arts in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. **Application Deadlines:** • March 1, 2025 for spring trustee consideration • September 1, 2025 for fall trustee consideration Applications are submitted online. **Recent Grant Activity:** • Over the past five years, the foundation has awarded over $10.3 million to charitable organizations • In 20…
Where does Charles R Wood Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary focus is the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. The Special Healthcare initiative specifically targets Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington counties. The foundation supports organizations across 17+ counties in the Capital Region, North Country, and western Vermont.
What size grants does Charles R Wood Foundation award?
In 2024, Charles R Wood Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles R Wood Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Charles R Wood Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles R Wood Foundation's EIN?
Charles R Wood Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2237193. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles R Wood 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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