Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation
The Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1983 (incorporated in Pennsylvania) and currently based in Amherst, New York. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation with a focus on startup funding for new programs across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.0M
+4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$262K
-3.9% YoY
Grant Count
15
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides startup funding for new programs in the following areas:
- Education
- Human Services
- Community Development
- Health Care
- Cultural Arts
Grantmaking
The foundation made 18 grants in the most recent reporting period.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Pennsylvania and Texas, with a notable presence in the Capital Region area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (as of May 2024):
- Total Assets: $5,714,890
- Total Revenues: $306,841
- Total Expenses: $341,542
- Number of Employees: 0
Contact Information:
- Address: PO Box 1504, Buffalo, NY 14240-1504
- Telephone: 712-255-2174
- EIN: 22-2541749
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,979,331 | $5,714,890 | $5,751,313 |
| Revenue | $581,234 | $306,841 | $1,703,005 |
| Expenses | $316,479 | $341,542 | $272,232 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $284,747 | $292,852 | $235,780 |
| Net Investment Income | $553,579 | $280,086 | $1,668,568 |
| Distributable Amount | $318,702 | $301,272 | $266,305 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Salvation Army ($50,000), New Hope Ministries ($25,000), Penn State University Harrisburg ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF THE CAPITAL REGION Enola, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| MESSIAH UNIVERSITY Mechanicsburg, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| BETHESDA MISSION Harrisburg, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| HOSPICE OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| NEW HOPE MINISTRIES MECHANICSBURG, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY Harrisburg, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| UNITED DISABILITIES SERVICES FOUNDATION LANCASTER, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| JOSHUA GROUP Harrisburg, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| MIDWEST FOOD BANK PENNSYLVANIA Middletown, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| WILDHEART INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES Harrisburg, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Joseph A MacRi – Executive Director
- M T Trust Company – Senior Vice President
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported literacy initiatives and pediatric patient development programs, demonstrating active engagement in education and health care sectors aligned with its stated funding priorities.
Wells Foundation gift promotes literacy, enhances development for pediatricFrequently Asked Questions
What does Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation fund?
The foundation provides startup funding for new programs in the following areas: • Education • Human Services • Community Development • Health Care • Cultural Arts
How do I apply for a grant from Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Patterns:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $50,000 • Recent grants have included awards of $37,500, $27,375, and $20,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Trine University ($37,500) • The Capital Region Literacy Council ($27,375) • United Way of the Capital Region ($20,000) The foundation made 18 grants in the most recent reporting period.
Where does Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Pennsylvania and Texas, with a notable presence in the Capital Region area.
What size grants does Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation award?
In 2025, Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $262K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation's EIN?
Franklin H and Ruth L Wells Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2541749. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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