Phyllis C Wattis Foundation
The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. It supports local working artists and organizations that promote and sustain their artistic practice in the Bay Area.
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation at a glance
In short: Phyllis C Wattis Foundation gave $484K across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in California. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $484,000
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,524
- -6.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,250
- Total assets
- $9,330,331
- +2.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (7 of 39, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 Phyllis C Wattis Foundation
- How to Apply
-
New Works applications are accepted through the grants portal during an open application period. The 2026 cycle is open to eligible applicants from July 6–17, 2026; applicants can review the application overview and guidelines. Legacy Grants are invite-only. New Works requests must be for a brand-new work; organizational budgets must not exceed $1.5 million, project budgets must be $100,000 or less, and requests must be between $15,000 and $35,000 and no more than 35% of the project budget. Projects must be completed within one year of receiving funds. Current Legacy grantees cannot apply for New Works grants, though artists and organizations fiscally sponsored by Legacy grantees may apply. The foundation does not fund capital expansion, endowments, seed grants, scholarships, direct individual awards, research and planning, or literary arts programs. Arts festival requests are considered case by case.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 New Works application period is July 6–17, 2026.
- Deadline
- The 2026 New Works application period is July 6–17, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Tiffany Wood
Mailing address: 1660 Bush St-Ste 300, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 561-6540
Email: twood@pfs-llc.net
Website: https://phylliscwattisfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Phyllis C Wattis Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dancers' Group ($32K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $179K.
Grant Size Distribution
302 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 300 grants of 302 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic focus is Alameda, Marin, and San Francisco counties. All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to California recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Phyllis C Wattis Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 39 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 133% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $484K (2024) to $1.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $484K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SOMArts San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $15,000 |
| Factsf San Francisco, CA | Manchapravesh (entering the stage), by Ishami Dance Company | $15,000 |
| Anne Bluethenthal San Francisco, CA | Calling Us In | $15,000 |
| Canyon Cinema Foundation San Francisco, CA | Print Generations | $15,000 |
| Circuit Network San Francisco, CA | Cyclonauts | $15,000 |
| CounterPulse San Francisco, CA | Dance House, by The Major S | $15,000 |
| Dancers' Group San Francisco, CA | PIT, by Concept o4 | $15,000 |
| Del Sol Performing Arts Organizatio San Francisco, CA | Songs of the Diaspora | $15,000 |
| Kulintang Arts Inc San Francisco, CA | Burden of Proof | $15,000 |
| Left Coast Chamber Ensemble San Francisco, CA | Interrogations, by composer David Dominique and the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,330,331 | $614,953 | $622,342 | $484,000 | 42 | $601,227 | $600,138 | $452,809 |
| 2023 | $9,070,676 | $393,497 | $661,949 | $531,000 | 43 | $648,048 | $379,671 | $429,965 |
| 2022 | $8,598,357 | $211,377 | $987,898 | $859,500 | 50 | $962,909 | $202,112 | $467,990 |
| 2021 | $11,222,591 | $708,244 | $1,182,496 | $1,051,025 | 58 | $1,149,507 | $685,850 | $549,434 |
| 2020 | $11,131,645 | $531,821 | $1,143,687 | $1,026,000 | 109 | — | $515,166 | $507,549 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phyllis C Wattis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $453K for 2024 — 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’s mission is to honor its founder’s legacy by celebrating the Bay Area’s creative spirit and supporting local working artists and the organizations that help promote and sustain their artistic practice.
Its grants support visual arts, theater (including opera), music, and dance. Legacy Grants provide general operating support to organizations offering comprehensive services to artists. New Works Grants support projects creating new and emergent works. The foundation’s stated general eligibility includes organizations and artists working in Alameda, Marin, and/or San Francisco counties; applicants must be public charities with 501(c)(3) status or fiscally sponsored by one.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Dancers’ Group says it promotes dance and serves artists, the dance community, and audiences through collaborative programs and services. Magic Theatre describes its work as developing new plays with emerging and established playwrights. Kulintang Arts says it supports Pilipino American artists and preserves Pilipino art forms. Canyon Cinema Foundation focuses on educating the public about independent and experimental moving images. CounterPulse describes its work as an exchange of art and ideas, while SOMArts says it uses multidisciplinary events and exhibitions to support artists and social change.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $484,000. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $15,000, with a median of $12,250. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California.
Among the 2024 awards, SOMArts, FACTSF, Anne Bluethenthal, Canyon Cinema Foundation, Circuit Network, CounterPulse, Dancers’ Group, Del Sol Performing Arts Organization, Kulintang Arts, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Magic Theatre, and The Playwrights Foundation each received $15,000. Listed project purposes included *Manchapravesh (entering the stage)* by Ishami Dance Company, *Calling Us In*, *Print Generations*, *Cyclonauts*, *Dance House* by The Major S, and *Songs of the Diaspora*.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carlie Wilmans as President and Executive Director and Carol Casey as Secretary and Treasurer. The foundation’s website identifies Tatiana Gordon as Grants Manager.
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation is led by Carlie Wilmans, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carlie Wilmans
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Casey
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about Phyllis C Wattis Foundation
How much does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation give each year?
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation gave $484K across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $531K across 43 grants.
What is Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's typical grant size?
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,250, and its average grant was $11,524, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Phyllis C Wattis Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation give grants?
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (36 grants), Berkeley, CA (4 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's largest grantees?
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Dancers' Group ($31,500 across 3 grants), CounterPulse ($27,500 across 2 grants) and SOMArts ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Phyllis C Wattis Foundation?
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $601K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $453K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to honor its founder’s legacy by celebrating the Bay Area’s creative spirit and supporting local working artists and the organizations that help promote and sustain their artistic practice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Phyllis C Wattis Foundation?
New Works applications are accepted through the grants portal during an open application period. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's EIN?
Phyllis C Wattis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0653262. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Phyllis C Wattis Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/phyllis-c-wattis-foundation-morg_cd3c75d4b0644007855208d2355a102b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_900653262_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Phyllis C Wattis Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/phyllis-c-wattis-foundation-morg_cd3c75d4b0644007855208d2355a102b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Phyllis C Wattis 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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