Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation
The Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation is a private family foundation established in May 1994 and based in Naples, Florida. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, human services, and Christian agencies and churches.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$67.1M
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
-37.3% YoY
Grant Count
43
+16.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$89K
-46.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving areas include:
- Education (including higher education and science/STEM education)
- Human Services (including family services and child welfare)
- Religion (particularly Christian agencies and churches)
- Arts and Culture
- Community and Economic Development
- Housing Development
Grantmaking
The foundation made 43 grants in 2024, totaling approximately $3.8 million to $4.7 million annually. Notable recent grants include:
Average Grant
amounts vary by year
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
Cities: Chapin, Charlotte, Gaffney, Greenville, Lenexa, Los Angeles, Naples, Nashville, San Francisco, and Simpsonville
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: Approximately $64.8 million to $76 million (varies by reporting year)
Annual Giving: $3.8 million to $4.7 million in distributions
Total Expenses: Approximately $4.1 million to $4.9 million annually
Revenue: Negative revenue of approximately $735,691 in recent years, with investment income of approximately $10.5 million reported in some years
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $67,088,861 | $68,406,129 | $64,779,336 |
| Revenue | $2,798,137 | $11,130,625 | $-735,691 |
| Expenses | $4,115,405 | $6,253,209 | $4,892,540 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,861,801 | $6,138,479 | $4,670,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,661,032 | $11,015,895 | $334,337 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,603,488 | $4,120,755 | $4,290,396 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Trevecca Nazarene University ($2,000,000), Habitat for Humanity - Greenville County ($180,333), Habitat for Humanity of Collier County ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF COLLIER COUNTY NAPLES, FL | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $60,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF GREENVILLE COUNTY GREENVILLE, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $60,000 |
| A CHILD'S HAVEN GREENVILLE, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $60,000 |
| CANCER SURVIVORS PARK GREENVILLE, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $30,000 |
| CHAPIN HIGH SCHOOL CHAPIN, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $4,000 |
| NAZARENE COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES LENEXA, KS | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $60,000 |
| DIG DEEP WATER LOS ANGELES, CA | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $30,000 |
| FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE - GREENVILLE GREENVILLE, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $100,000 |
| GATEWAY HOUSE INC GREENVILLE, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $30,000 |
| GREENVILLE FIRST CHURCH GREENVILLE, SC | TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. | $5,333 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Donald F. Waggoner – Trustee
- Zelma Waggoner – Trustee
- Reid A. Wesley – Executive Director and Trustee (compensation: $75,000)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD F WAGGONER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| REID A WESLEY | EXECDIR/TRUSTEE | 16 | $81,250 |
Contact Information
Address: 1252 Gordon River Trail, Naples, FL 34105-2773
Telephone: 239-263-2804
EIN: 65-6141632
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving areas include: • **Education** (including higher education and science/STEM education) • **Human Services** (including family services and child welfare) • **Religion** (particularly Christian agencies and churches) • **Arts and Culture** • **Community and Economic Development** • **Housing Development**
How do I apply for a grant from Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $4,000,000 • Median grant amount: approximately $73,000 • Average grant amounts vary by year **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 43 grants in 2024, totaling approximately $3.8 million to $4.7 million annually. Notable recent grants include: • $2,000,000 to Trevecca Nazarene University • $180,333 to Habitat for Humanity - Greenville County • $175,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County **Application Process:**
Where does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee **Cities:** Chapin, Charlotte, Gaffney, Greenville, Lenexa, Los Angeles, Naples, Nashville, San Francisco, and Simpsonville
What size grants does Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation award?
In 2024, Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $89K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's EIN?
Don Waggoner & Zelma Waggoner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6141632. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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