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.
Key facts about Charles R Wood Foundation
- EIN
- 22-2237193
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,968,105
- Grants made (2024)
- 83
- Average grant
- $23,712
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (25 of 81, 2024)
- Total assets
- $45,739,061
- Primary geography
- New York (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- March 1, 2025 for spring trustee consideration
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles R Wood Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Charles R Wood Foundation's 83 itemized 2024 grants were New York (94%) and Tennessee (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Glens Falls, NY (10 grants), Saranac Lake, NY (4 grants), Queensbury, NY (4 grants) and Lake George, NY (4 grants). None of its 83 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Charles R Wood Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 25 of 81 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Charles R Wood Foundation
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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
Share of all 83 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
437 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 recipients include Albany Med Health System ($500,000), Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area ($155,000 across 2 grants), The Hyde Collection Trust ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALBANY MED HEALTH SYSTEM Glens Falls, NY | Sheridan Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion | $500,000 |
| FAMILY YMCA OF THE GLENS FALLS AREA Glens Falls, NY | Capital Project: Building A Better Future for the | $150,000 |
| THE HYDE COLLECTION TRUST Glens Falls, NY | The Hyde Center for Arts Education - Hoopes House | $150,000 |
| REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF N E NY INC Latham, NY | To support specified Adopt-a-Program funds | $145,600 |
| DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION Sevierville, TN | Imagination Library Program in the New York counties of Essex, Clinton, Franklin and Hamilton | $110,000 |
| DOUBLE H - HOLE IN THE WOODS RANCH INC Lake Luzerne, NY | Capital Campaign-Ray-Max Camp-a-Theater | $100,000 |
| CVPH FOUNDATION INC Plattsburgh, NY | CVPH Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation | $50,000 |
| LAKE PLACID ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC DRAMA & ART INC Lake Placid, NY | Renovation of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts' Education Space | $50,000 |
| PENDRAGON INC Saranac Lake, NY | Relocation of Pendragon Theatre | $50,000 |
| ADIRONDACK MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION Saranac Lake, NY | Cornerstone Campaign | $40,000 |
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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.