FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler is a private foundation located in College Station, Texas. In 2024, it reported 10 grants totaling $3.4 million to charitable organizations, all of which were in Texas according to the filing’s recipient-state breakdown.
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler at a glance
In short: FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler gave $3.4M across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $340K), mostly in Texas. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,400,000
- +21.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +42.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $340,000
- -15.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $50,173,904
- -0.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Momentum Boulevard Suite 1000, College Station, TX 77845
Phone: (979) 776-1111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was MD Anderson Cancer Center Research ($2.4M). Together the top 10 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 59 (32%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $375K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2021) to $3.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Research Houston, TX | Cancer Research | $2,400,000 |
| Blinn College Foundation Brenham, TX | Nursing Scholarships | $300,000 |
| Brazos Valey Food Bank Bryan, TX | General Fund | $200,000 |
| SOS Ministries Bryan, TX | General Fund | $150,000 |
| Aggieland Humane Society Bryan, TX | General Fund | $100,000 |
| St Paul's United Methodist Church Houston, TX | General Fund | $100,000 |
| Scotty's House Bryan, TX | General Fund | $50,000 |
| The Boys & Girls Club of the Brazos Valley Bryan, TX | New Building | $50,000 |
| Csisd Education Foundation College Station, TX | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Easter Seals of Greater Houston Houston, TX | General Fund | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $50,173,904 | $3,452,126 | $3,708,006 | $3,400,000 | 10 | $3,404,774 | $3,128,394 | $3,350,375 |
| 2023 | $50,429,784 | $6,513,268 | $3,076,130 | $2,800,000 | 7 | $2,806,000 | $6,313,462 | $2,687,506 |
| 2022 | $46,992,646 | $959,160 | $3,396,805 | $3,105,000 | 13 | $3,110,275 | $1,012,427 | $2,809,977 |
| 2021 | $49,353,074 | $2,017,978 | $2,643,063 | $2,300,000 | 16 | $2,305,627 | $1,865,426 | $2,910,284 |
| 2020 | $50,488,743 | $37,500,629 | $2,749,891 | $2,519,000 | 13 | — | $3,099,126 | $2,263,181 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for medical research, education, and other charitable organizations. For example, the Blinn College Foundation describes its work as supporting education and expanding educational opportunities, including through scholarships and educational programs. SOS Ministries says it supports the ministry of SOS Uganda through accountability and the development and sustaining of ministry partners. Aggieland Humane Society describes its mission as providing humane care and placement for animals and promoting responsible pet ownership.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $3,400,000. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $2,400,000, with a median grant of $100,000. The largest grants included $2,400,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center Research for cancer research, $300,000 to Blinn College Foundation for nursing scholarships, $200,000 to Brazos Valley Food Bank for general support, and $150,000 to SOS Ministries for general support. Other grants included $100,000 to Aggieland Humane Society and $100,000 to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, each for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Donald A. Adam as president and chairman; Louis Newman as secretary and treasurer; and Stephanie Adam Malechek, Phil Adams, and Tom Giesenschlag as directors.
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler is led by Donald A. Adam, President & Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald A. Adam
President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Adams
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Giesenschlag
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Adam Malechek
Director
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis Newman
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ron Cowe (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler
How much does FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler give each year?
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler gave $3.4M across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.8M across 7 grants.
What is FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's typical grant size?
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $340,000, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler that year got $25K on average.
Where does FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler give grants?
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bryan, TX (5 grants) and Houston, TX (3 grants).
Does FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler give general operating support?
Yes: 70% of FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's largest grantees?
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's largest 2024 grantees include MD Anderson Cancer Center Research ($2,400,000), Blinn College Foundation ($300,000) and Brazos Valey Food Bank ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler?
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler reported $50.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for medical research, education, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's EIN?
FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2568303. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fw-bert-and-mae-dean-wheeler-morg_debfb8f34c654ec6a19f38c48191dc08
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_262568303_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fw-bert-and-mae-dean-wheeler-morg_debfb8f34c654ec6a19f38c48191dc08},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from FW Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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