Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family
The Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1977 and based in Miami, Florida. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been a significant philanthropic force in American higher education for nearly 50 years, with a particular focus on supporting public universities and advancing charitable causes aligned with its mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$51.7M
+20.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.2M
+2401.2% YoY
Grant Count
11
+57.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.4M
+1491.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family reported a distributable amount of $9.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "Making Life on Earth Better."
Primary funding areas include:
- Higher education, particularly public universities
- Arts and culture
- Environment
- Domesticated animals
- Health
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Varies from $50,000 to $100 million+
How to Apply
** The foundation does not have a public application process.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. locations, with primary emphasis on:
- Florida (particularly significant funding to Florida higher education institutions)
- California (including UC San Diego, UC Berkeley)
- New York
Specific cities where funding has been directed include Berkeley, Bronx, Gainesville, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, San Diego, Santa Monica, and West Palm Beach.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $51,696,198
- Total Revenues: $41,699,803
- Total Expenses: $28,177,279
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $42,828,943
- Total Revenues: $966,289
- Total Expenses: $2,981,295
Annual Giving: $1,047,705 (2023)
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since January 1978 (EIN: 59-1778605)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $51,696,198 | $42,828,943 | $42,831,898 |
| Revenue | $41,699,803 | $966,289 | $5,245,016 |
| Expenses | $28,177,279 | $2,981,295 | $15,985,772 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,205,000 | $1,054,130 | $15,161,984 |
| Net Investment Income | $40,304,265 | — | $201,613 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,404,417 | $7,476,706 | $6,979,831 |
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
39 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of California Berkeley Foundation ($10,000,000), University of Florida Foundation ($10,000,000), Uc San Diego Foundation ($4,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WEST PALM BEACH, FL | TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CONFORT AND HOPE | $25,000 |
| FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION MIAMI, FL | KNOWLEDGE SHARING, DISCOVERY, AND SERVICE. | $2,000,000 |
| UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION SAN DIEGO, CA | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, FACULTY, PHYSICIANS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARD A REMARKABLE FUTURE. | $4,000,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY FOUNDATION BERKELEY, CA | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, FACULTY, PHYSICIANS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARD A REMARKABLE FUTURE. | $10,000,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION GAINESVILLE, FL | KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, DISCOVERY AND SERVICE. | $10,000,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE MIAMI, FL | TO SUPPPORT ISREAEL AND COMBAT ANTISEMITISM. | $10,000 |
| MILKEN INSTITUE SANTA MONICA, CA | TO SUPPORT GLOBAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC PROGRESS, AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CRITICAL PROBLEMS. | $100,000 |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION. | $20,000 |
| SELFLESS LOVE FOUNDATION JUPITER, FL | TO SUPPORT FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, MENTORSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE. | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS WEST PALM BEACH, FL | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY EATING DISORDERS WHILE PROMOTING PREVENTION AND AWARENESS. | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dr. Herbert A. Wertheim – President
- Nicole JD Wertheim – Vice President
- Vanessa V. Wertheim – Director (receives compensation of $175,000)
- Ray Wertheim – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR HERBERT A WERTHEIM | PRESIDENT | 20 | — |
| NICOLE JD WERTHEIM | SECRETARY | 6 | — |
| RAY WETHEIM | DIRECTOR | 12 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In December 2024, Dr. Wertheim announced a $65 million gift to Florida State University's College of Business, marking the largest philanthropic endowment gift in FSU's history.
University Of Florida Receives $100 Million Gift, The Largest ...In 2022, the Wertheim Foundation provided a lead gift of $100 million to UF Scripps, representing one of the largest donations in University of Florida's history.
WERTHEIM FOUNDATION PROVIDES LEAD GIFT OF $100 ...In 2016, Herbert and Nicole Wertheim joined The Giving Pledge, committing to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
Wertheim family pledges additional $1 million to Nicole Wertheim College\The foundation has contributed over $100 million to Florida higher education alone throughout its history.
University Of Florida Receives $100 Million Gift, The Largest ...Contact Information
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family fund?
The foundation's mission is "Making Life on Earth Better." Primary funding areas include: • Higher education, particularly public universities • Arts and culture • Environment • Domesticated animals • Health
How do I apply for a grant from Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family?
**Grant Activity:** • 2023: Made 7 grants totaling $1,047,705 • 2024: Made grants totaling approximately $24,000,000+ (including major institutional commitments) **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • University of California Berkeley Foundation: $10,000,000 • The University of Florida Foundation: $10,000,000 • UC San Diego Foundation: $4,000,000 **Recent Major Grants (2023):** • The University of Florida Foundation: $970,600 • Prostate Cancer Foundation: $25,000 • Birthright Israel Foundation: $25,…
Where does Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. locations, with primary emphasis on: • **Florida** (particularly significant funding to Florida higher education institutions) • **California** (including UC San Diego, UC Berkeley) • **New York** Specific cities where funding has been directed include Berkeley, Bronx, Gainesville, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, San Diego, Santa Monica, and West Palm Beach.
What size grants does Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family award?
In 2024, Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family awarded 11 grants totaling $26.2M — an average of about $2.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family reported a distributable amount of $9.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family's EIN?
Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-1778605. 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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