The John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Encino, California. Established in 2004, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making grants to other charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.6M
+20.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-28.1% YoY
Grant Count
42
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-28.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John and Marilyn Wells reported a distributable amount of $717K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation makes grants primarily through the sale of securities, which provides liquidity to support its grantmaking activities.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- California
- New York
- Hawaii
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $13,629,071
- Total Giving: $1,281,000
- Revenue: $3,750,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $11,335,443
- Total Revenues: $2,665,115
- Total Expenses: $1,964,210
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,629,071 | $11,335,443 | $10,702,427 |
| Revenue | $3,749,007 | $2,665,115 | $2,592,162 |
| Expenses | $1,455,379 | $1,964,210 | $2,850,772 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,281,000 | $1,780,425 | $2,713,470 |
| Net Investment Income | $635,926 | $1,645,953 | $1,526,224 |
| Distributable Amount | $717,300 | $596,970 | $568,891 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Southern California-school of Cinematic Art ($500,000), Alexandria House ($100,000), Entertainment Community Fund ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A NEW WAY OF LIFE RENTRY PROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ALEXANDRIA HOUSE LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES INC LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| BIG SUNDAY LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $7,500 |
| BRAVO VAIL VAIL, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BUTTERFLY'S HAVEN BEVERLY HILLS, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| CASA OF LOS ANGELES MONTEREY PARK, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| CHILDREN'S ACTION NETWORK LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $45,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN WELLS | CO-CHAIRMAN | 0.5 | — |
| MARILYN WELLS | CO-CHAIRMAN | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting cultural and humanitarian causes, including participation in fundraising efforts for emergency relief funds in the entertainment industry.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John and Marilyn Wells fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation makes grants primarily through the sale of securities, which provides liquidity to support its grantmaking activities.
How do I apply for a grant from John and Marilyn Wells?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 46 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $1,281,000 (2024) • Typical award range: $70–$1,000,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Motion Picture and Television Fund: $250,000 • Alexandria House: $200,000 • Sunnyside Baptist Church (Los Angeles): $75,000 • Carnegie Mellon University (noted as a grantee)
Where does John and Marilyn Wells make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • California • New York • Hawaii
What size grants does John and Marilyn Wells award?
In 2024, John and Marilyn Wells awarded 42 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John and Marilyn Wells required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John and Marilyn Wells reported a distributable amount of $717K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John and Marilyn Wells's EIN?
John and Marilyn Wells's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0526427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John and Marilyn Wells's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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