Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc
The Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Established in 1975, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on strategic philanthropic giving across medical research, education, and the arts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.1M
-3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
-1.6% YoY
Grant Count
10
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$299K
-1.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving areas include:
- Medical Research: Emphasis on brain tumor research and neuroscience
- Women's Health
- Substance Abuse
- At-Risk Youth
- Education
- The Arts
The foundation also maintains a commitment to conservative policy organizations and think tanks.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates as a private family foundation without a public website or formal online application portal.
Grant Range
$10,000 to $5,000,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Florida, with particular emphasis on Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville. Additional national grants are made to conservative policy organizations. Funding activity has been documented in Illinois, Washington D.C., Delaware, Connecticut, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $31,253,505 (2023)
- $30,060,691 (2024)
Annual Giving:
- $3,040,000 (2023)
- $2,990,000 (2024)
Revenue & Expenses:
- Total revenues: $2,085,158 (2024)
- Total expenses: $3,277,972 (2024)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
The foundation's income is derived from investment activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,060,691 | $31,253,505 | $31,405,100 |
| Revenue | $2,085,158 | $3,086,372 | $2,862,009 |
| Expenses | $3,277,972 | $3,237,967 | $3,415,253 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,990,000 | $3,040,000 | $3,060,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,829,095 | $2,883,877 | $2,605,695 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,851,984 | $1,745,774 | $1,858,251 |
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
53 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Florida Foundation ($1,000,000), Broward Performing Arts Foundation ($500,000), Heritage Foundation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | LAUREN D. HOLINGER, MD PROFESSORSHIP IN PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY | $100,000 |
| BROWARD PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | CAMPAIGN FOR PARKER PLAYHOUSE | $500,000 |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | FOR HEALTH POLICY STUDIES | $500,000 |
| INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE INC WILMINGTON, DE | HONORS PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE TALLAHASSEE, FL | CIVICS EDUCATIONS STUDIES | $200,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH FLORIDA COCONUT CREEK, FL | GENERAL PURPOSES | $500,000 |
| MISS PORTER'S SCHOOL FARMINGTON, CT | GENERAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | ART MASTER TEACHER AND CURATOR OF EDUCATION ART MUSEUM | $50,000 |
| THE LATINO STUDENT FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION GAINSVILLE, FL | L.S. WELLS FUND FOR BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH | $1,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Barbara S. Wells: President and lead trustee (granddaughter of Lillian S. Wells)
- James I. Ulmer: Director
- Walter W. Bell: Contact
- Ellen McPherson: Contact
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA S WELLS | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELLEN MCPHERSON | DIRECTOR, ASSIT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JAMES I ULMER | DIRECTOR, VP, | 1 | — |
| WALTER W BELL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL WEYMOUTH | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HEIKO DOBRIKOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 600 SE 4th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2215
Phone: 754-701-8508
EIN: 23-7433827
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary giving areas include: • **Medical Research**: Emphasis on brain tumor research and neuroscience • **Women's Health** • **Substance Abuse** • **At-Risk Youth** • **Education** • **The Arts** The foundation also maintains a commitment to conservative policy organizations and think tanks.
How do I apply for a grant from Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $10,000 to $5,000,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $3 million • Number of grants: Approximately 10 per year **Recent Grants:** • $1,000,000 to The University of Florida Foundation for the L.S. Wells Fund for Brain Tumor Research (2024) • Substantial gift to Junior Achievement of South Florida, resulting in the naming of the JA World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion **Application Process:** The foundation operates as a private f…
Where does Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in Florida, with particular emphasis on Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville. Additional national grants are made to conservative policy organizations. Funding activity has been documented in Illinois, Washington D.C., Delaware, Connecticut, and other states.
What size grants does Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc awarded 10 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $299K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lillian S Wells Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7433827. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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