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.
Key facts about Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family
- EIN
- 59-1778605
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,205,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $2,382,273
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024)
- Total assets
- $51,696,198
- Primary geography
- California (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not have a public application process. Full details ↓
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 Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family's 11 itemized 2024 grants were California (54%) and Florida (46%). The most frequent recipient cities were West Palm Beach, FL (3 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants). None of its 11 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.5M; repeat grants $4M. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $3M repeat.
- 18% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1175% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 279% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family
- How to evaluate Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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.
Ready to take the next step with Dr Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family?
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
Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
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
39 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION San Diego, CA | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, FACULTY, PHYSICIANS, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING DILIGENTLY TOWARD A REMARKABLE FUTURE. | $4,000,000 |
| FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Miami, FL | KNOWLEDGE SHARING, DISCOVERY, AND SERVICE. | $2,000,000 |
| MILKEN INSTITUE Santa Monica, CA | TO SUPPORT GLOBAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC PROGRESS, AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CRITICAL PROBLEMS. | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS West Palm Beach, FL | TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CONFORT AND HOPE | $25,000 |
| OXBRIDGE ACADEMY FOUNDATION West Palm Beach, FL | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION. | $25,000 |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION Alexandria, VA | TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION. | $20,000 |
| 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 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE Miami, FL | TO SUPPPORT ISREAEL AND COMBAT ANTISEMITISM. | $10,000 |
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 2023 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS 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?
The foundation does not have a public application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.