Isora Wells Foundation
The Isora Wells Foundation is a private foundation based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Established in 2006, it describes its work as partnering with under-resourced communities in areas including health, education, economic development, environmental action, and social justice.
Isora Wells Foundation at a glance
In short: Isora Wells Foundation gave $395K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), top state Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $395,000
- +27.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +1400.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,333
- -91.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $7,412,804
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Isora Wells Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It has no formal application; funding is primarily through invited partnerships with existing grantees. Its 2024 filing said it might consider a very limited number of new partnerships through a process initiated by the foundation, while its website says it will not consider new partnerships in 2026. The foundation requires an evaluation component and administration through a 501(c)(3) organization. It will not fund individuals, scholarships, endowments, political fundraising, projects without sufficient evaluation, or past grantees that have not submitted a required progress report.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation states that awards are made on or before June 30. The 2026 date has passed, and the website says no new partnerships will be considered in 2026.
- Deadline
- The foundation states that awards are made on or before June 30.
- Contact
Application contact: Kerrie Blevens
Mailing address: 12231 Academy Road Ne Suite 301-322, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Phone: (612) 328-9924
Email: contact@isorafoundation.org
Website: https://isorafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Isora Wells Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center ($80K). Together the top 10 received $325K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 19 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it primarily supports organizations or projects based in Minnesota or New Mexico. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (44%), New Mexico (29%), New York (23%), and Wisconsin (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How Isora Wells Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $307K (2023) to $430K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $395K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center St. Paul, MN | General Operating Support & Youth Scholarships | $80,000 |
| Community Access New York, NY | Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Initiative | $30,000 |
| Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness St. Paul, MN | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| La Plaza De Encuentro Gathering Place (Encuentro) Albuquerque, NM | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Thomas Wells Endowed Scholarship (Fund 305.3025) | $30,000 |
| New Mexico Immigrant Law Center Albuquerque, NM | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Robin Hood Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| The Face-to-Face Project Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Westlake Wells Alcohol Addiction Fund | $25,000 |
| Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Albuquerque, NM | Cultural Dance Program | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Isora Wells Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,412,804 | $678,475 | $511,032 | $395,000 | 15 | $449,706 | $629,393 | $427,256 |
| 2024 | $7,245,361 | $296,469 | $408,136 | $310,000 | 1 | $361,641 | $251,654 | $392,519 |
| 2023 | $7,357,028 | $400,662 | $420,491 | $307,350 | 1 | $365,754 | $357,995 | $384,206 |
| 2022 | $7,376,857 | $1,123,218 | $545,462 | $430,000 | 1 | $485,071 | $1,072,051 | $434,822 |
| 2021 | $6,799,101 | $840,023 | $484,250 | $371,500 | 1 | — | $793,648 | $419,826 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Isora Wells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $427K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it partners with communities to improve local conditions, with an emphasis on community-led efforts and people reflective of the communities served. Its stated priorities include sustainable economic development, environmental and social change, education, leadership development, advocacy, and using visual or performing arts and social media to empower and inform communities. It favors partnerships and culturally appropriate evaluation plans.
Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations. For example, Community Access describes its work as helping people living with mental health concerns recover from trauma and discrimination through housing, training, advocacy, and healing-focused services. The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center says it provides legal services to low-income immigrants and their families and works to improve their well-being. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center describes its mission as preserving and perpetuating Pueblo culture and advancing understanding of Pueblo history.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $395,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $80,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Its largest award was $80,000 to Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center for general operating support and youth scholarships. Other notable grants included $30,000 each to Community Access for its Young Filmmaker Initiative, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness for general operating support, La Plaza de Encuentro Gathering Place for general operating support, Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation for the Thomas Wells Endowed Scholarship, and New Mexico Immigrant Law Center for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Wendy D. Wells as president, Marika Wells as treasurer and vice president, and Alexander Moller as secretary. The foundation’s website identifies Kerrie Blevins as foundation administrator.
Isora Wells Foundation is led by Wendy D. Wells, President on every filing since 2021; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wendy D. Wells
President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexander Moller
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Marika Wells
Treasurer & Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: William King (2021–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Marika Wells (Treasurer & Vice President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Isora Wells Foundation
How much does Isora Wells Foundation give each year?
Isora Wells Foundation gave $395K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $310K across 1 grant.
What is Isora Wells Foundation's typical grant size?
Isora Wells Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,333, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Isora Wells Foundation give grants?
Isora Wells Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Mexico (29%) and New York (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Albuquerque, NM (4 grants), St. Paul, MN (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does Isora Wells Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 73% of Isora Wells Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Isora Wells Foundation's largest grantees?
Isora Wells Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center ($80,000), Community Access ($30,000) and Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Isora Wells Foundation?
Isora Wells Foundation reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $450K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $427K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Isora Wells Foundation fund?
The foundation says it partners with communities to improve local conditions, with an emphasis on community-led efforts and people reflective of the communities served. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Isora Wells Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Isora Wells Foundation's EIN?
Isora Wells Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5193741. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Isora Wells 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Isora Wells Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/isora-wells-foundation-morg_d32a8742daa04d86a5f0d9fa452dada6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205193741_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Isora Wells Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/isora-wells-foundation-morg_d32a8742daa04d86a5f0d9fa452dada6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Isora Wells 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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