John and Marilyn Wells
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.
Key facts about John and Marilyn Wells
- EIN
- 68-0526427
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,281,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- Average grant
- $30,500
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (7 of 42, 2024)
- Total assets
- $13,629,071
- Primary geography
- California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who John and Marilyn Wells funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for John and Marilyn Wells's 42 itemized 2024 grants were California (95%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (22 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is John and Marilyn Wells open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 42 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 179% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with John and Marilyn Wells
- How to evaluate John and Marilyn Wells as a funder
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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
Share of all 42 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients include University of Southern California-School of Cinematic Art ($500,000), Alexandria House ($100,000), Entertainment Community Fund ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-SCHOOL OF CINEMATIC ART Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $500,000 |
| ALEXANDRIA HOUSE Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| LOS ANGELES ROOM & BOARD Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND Woodland Hills, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| SUNNYSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $45,000 |
| NATIONAL FOSTER YOUTH INSTITUTE Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS Los Angeles, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.