Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation
The Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2026 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including community, educational, arts, health, and civic organizations.
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation at a glance
In short: Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation gave $250K across 8 grants in 2026 (avg $31K), top state Colorado. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $250,000
- -25.4% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 8
- -33.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $31,250
- +11.9% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $3,466,607
- -1.4% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Colorado (40% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 711 Louisiana Suite 1660, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 650-3330
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Telluride Foundation ($100K). Together the top 8 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 66 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Houston, Texas. In 2026, 40% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado, 22% to Massachusetts, 14% to Texas, 10% to New York, and 10% to California. The listed grants also included a $10,000 award to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation gives
- Giving grew 39% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $180K (2023) to $335K (2025). In 2026 it made 8 grants totaling $250K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Telluride Foundation Telluride, CO | General Fund | $100,000 |
| Hampshire College Amherst, MA | Hampshire Fund | $50,000 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art New York, NY | General Fund | $25,000 |
| The Menil Collection Houston, TX | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Giffords Law Center San Francisco, CA | General Fund | $25,000 |
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC | General Fund | $10,000 |
| School Year Abroad North Andover, MA | General Fund | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $3,466,607 | $228,585 | $277,244 | $250,000 | 8 | $250,000 | $208,675 | $255,743 |
| 2025 | $3,515,266 | $341,361 | $368,767 | $335,000 | 12 | $335,000 | $307,594 | $239,349 |
| 2024 | $3,542,672 | $543,754 | $342,647 | $302,000 | 6 | $302,000 | $510,107 | $200,281 |
| 2023 | $3,341,565 | $156,998 | $191,383 | $179,500 | 10 | $179,500 | $145,115 | $225,163 |
| 2022 | $3,375,950 | $109,325 | $337,512 | $321,776 | 30 | $321,776 | $105,864 | $229,492 |
| 2021 | $3,604,137 | $48,900 | $276,598 | $259,200 | 30 | — | $95,354 | $232,240 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The foundation’s 2026 grants show support for organizations in several fields. The Telluride Foundation, which received the largest grant, says it works to enrich quality of life in the Telluride region by strengthening community groups and supporting community activities. The Whitney Museum of American Art describes its work as presenting and collecting U.S. art and fostering creativity and dialogue. The Smithsonian Institution states that its mission is to increase and diffuse knowledge. School Year Abroad says it provides high school students with opportunities to study in Spain, Italy, or France while earning U.S. graduation credits.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 8 grants totaling $250,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards were $100,000 to the Telluride Foundation, $50,000 to Hampshire College, and $25,000 each to the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Menil Collection, and Giffords Law Center. Other 2026 recipients were The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ($10,000), the Smithsonian Institution ($10,000), and School Year Abroad ($5,000). Reported purposes included general funds and, for Hampshire College, the Hampshire Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Mathew Wolf as president and Lisa Pollock as secretary.
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation is led by Mathew Wolf, President since 2026 (on filings since 2021); none of the 2 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Mathew Wolf
President
Trustee & Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → President, 2026
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Pollock
Secretary
Secretary → President, 2024
President → Secretary, 2026
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Joyce Wolf (2021–2023) — Trustee, President & Vice President
- Former: M. Daniel Wolf (2021) — Trustee & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation
How much does Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation give each year?
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation gave $250K across 8 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $335K across 12 grants.
What is Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's typical grant size?
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $25,000, and its average grant was $31,250, across 8 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation give grants?
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (22%) and Texas (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (2 grants).
Does Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's largest grantees?
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Telluride Foundation ($100,000), Hampshire College ($50,000) and Whitney Museum of American Art ($25,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation?
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $250K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $256K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The foundation’s 2026 grants show support for organizations in several fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's EIN?
Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4504334. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does Erving & Joyce Wolf Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 20, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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