Helen and Will Webster Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Arcadia, CA EIN: 95-4624483

The Helen and Will Webster Foundation is a private foundation based in Arcadia, California. In 2024, it reported significant grants for medical research and support, primarily for children’s health and heart-related programs, as well as environmental-related causes.

Helen and Will Webster Foundation at a glance

In short: Helen and Will Webster Foundation gave $16.6M across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $307K), mostly in California. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$16,559,183
+24.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
54
+3.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$306,652
+19.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$82,500
Total assets
$226,628,301
+1.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
9% first-time grantees (5 of 54, 2024)
Primary geography
California (69% 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 Helen and Will Webster Foundation

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: 41 E Foothill Blvd 201, Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone: (626) 794-3785

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Helen and Will Webster Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

University of Oklahoma Foundation: $3.9MUniversity of OklahomaFoundation$3.9MUc Santa Cruz Foundation: $2.2MUc Santa Cruz Foundation$2.2MElkhorn Slough Foundation: $1.5MElkhorn Slough Foundation$1.5MAmerican Heart Association: $1.0MAmerican Heart Association$1.0MHuntington Memorial Hospital: $1.0MHuntington Memorial Hospital$1.0MRady Children's Hospital Foundation: $1.0MRady Children's HospitalFoundation$1.0MUc Santa Barbara Foundation: $733KUc Santa Barbara Foundation$733KPasadena Conservatory of Music: $575KPasadena Conservatory of Music$575KAlliance College-Ready PSF: $500KAlliance College-Ready PSF$500KFocusing Philanthropy: $375KFocusing Philanthropy$375K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of Oklahoma Foundation ($3.9M). Together the top 10 received $12.8M.

Grant Size Distribution

265 grants across all recorded years

120<$50K39$50–100K57$100–250K20$250–500K11$500K–1M16$1–5M2$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 265 (45%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, California recipients received 69% of grant dollars and Oklahoma recipients received 24%. Texas accounted for 6%, New York for 1%, and Tennessee for 0%.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.

Cities

PasadenaSanta CruzLos AngelesAltadenaWatsonvilleNew York CityPaso RoblesSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta BarbaraAzusaChula VistaLos AlamitosMoss LandingNormanPrincetonSan Luis ObispoColfaxDallasMemphis

Is Helen and Will Webster Foundation open to new grantees?

9%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 54 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $120K; repeat grants $326K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.

  • 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 146% 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

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M47 grants2020 50 grants2021 62 grants2022 52 grants2023 54 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10.6M (2022) to $16.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $16.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Oklahoma Foundation Norman, OKEducation$3,920,000
Uc Santa Cruz Foundation Santa Cruz, CAEducation$2,239,000
Elkhorn Slough Foundation Moss Landing, CAWildlife Preservation$1,505,000
American Heart Association Dallas, TXHealth Care$1,000,000
Huntington Memorial Hospital Pasadena, CAMedical$1,000,000
Rady Children's Hospital Foundation San Diego, CAHealth Care$1,000,000
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara, CAEducation$732,646
Pasadena Conservatory of Music Pasadena, CAConservancyconservatoryconservatory$575,000
Alliance College-Ready PSF Los Angeles, CAEducation$500,000
Focusing Philanthropy Los Angeles, CAEducation$375,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$226,628,301$20,914,316$18,471,337$16,559,18354$17,086,417$19,784,470$11,732,447
2023$224,485,668$7,743,121$15,173,653$13,327,86652$13,787,866$7,412,808$11,320,186
2022$233,313,242$5,552,315$12,752,315$10,589,06962$11,049,069$4,486,285$11,977,555
2021$240,695,845$9,736,121$15,701,648$14,388,96250$14,796,962$8,906,615$12,305,569
2020$246,814,534$-487,130$13,082,574$11,406,21047—$1,752,310$12,266,633

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen and Will Webster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing describes funding for medical research and support, primarily for children’s health and heart-related programs, and for environmental-related causes. Its 2024 grants also included education, health care, and medical support.

The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The University of Oklahoma Foundation says it manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma, while the UC Santa Cruz Foundation says it benefits the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Elkhorn Slough Foundation describes its mission as conserving and restoring Elkhorn Slough and its watershed. The American Heart Association says its mission is to promote longer, healthier lives. In Pasadena, the Conservatory of Music describes its work as music education, advocacy, performances, and community sharing; the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena says it helps children and youth reach their full potential; and the Pasadena Educational Foundation says it works toward excellence and equity in Pasadena Unified School District schools.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 54 grants totaling $16,559,183. Grants ranged from $2,527 to $3,920,000, with a median of $82,500.

The largest awards included $3,920,000 to the University of Oklahoma Foundation for education, $2,239,000 to the UC Santa Cruz Foundation for education, and $1,505,000 to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for wildlife preservation. Other large grants included $1,000,000 each to the American Heart Association for health care, Huntington Memorial Hospital for medical support, and Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation for health care. The foundation also awarded $732,646 to the UC Santa Barbara Foundation for education and $575,000 to the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Alec J. Webster as President, Richard B. Webster as Secretary and Treasurer, and Theodore M. Joyce as a board member.

Helen and Will Webster Foundation is led by Alec J. Webster, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Alec J. Webster

    President

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $275K (2020) → $324K (2024)

  • Richard B. Webster

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $275K (2020) → $324K (2024)

  • Theodore M. Joyce

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    15 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Richard B Webster — Secretary and Treasurer: $324KRichard B WebsterSecretary and Treasurer$324KAlec J Webster — President: $324KAlec J WebsterPresident$324K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $324K, to Richard B Webster (Secretary and Treasurer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Helen and Will Webster Foundation

How much does Helen and Will Webster Foundation give each year?

Helen and Will Webster Foundation gave $16.6M across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.3M across 52 grants.

What is Helen and Will Webster Foundation's typical grant size?

Helen and Will Webster Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $82,500, and its average grant was $306,652, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Helen and Will Webster Foundation that year got $120K on average.

Where does Helen and Will Webster Foundation give grants?

Helen and Will Webster Foundation gives mostly in California: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oklahoma (24%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Cruz, CA (12 grants), Pasadena, CA (11 grants), Los Angeles, CA (6 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).

Does Helen and Will Webster Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 54 grants with a stated purpose on Helen and Will Webster Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (21 grants), "Library" (3 grants) and "Environment" (3 grants).

Who are Helen and Will Webster Foundation's largest grantees?

Helen and Will Webster Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Oklahoma Foundation ($3,920,000), Uc Santa Cruz Foundation ($2,239,000) and Elkhorn Slough Foundation ($1,505,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Helen and Will Webster Foundation?

Helen and Will Webster Foundation reported $226.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Helen and Will Webster Foundation fund?

The foundation’s filing describes funding for medical research and support, primarily for children’s health and heart-related programs, and for environmental-related causes. Its 2024 grants also included education, health care, and medical support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Helen and Will Webster Foundation?

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 Helen and Will Webster Foundation's EIN?

Helen and Will Webster Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4624483. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Helen and Will Webster 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 October 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Helen and Will Webster Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helen-and-will-webster-foundation-morg_70ecea0401de4cb79a499ff2be075872

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954624483_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Helen and Will Webster Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/helen-and-will-webster-foundation-morg_70ecea0401de4cb79a499ff2be075872},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Helen and Will Webster Foundation'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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