Phyllis C Wattis Foundation
The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2011, the foundation honors the legacy of its founder, Phyllis Cannon Wattis, by supporting the arts community in the Bay Area. The foundation focuses specifically on supporting local working artists and the organizations that help promote and sustain their artistic practice.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.3M
+2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$484K
-8.9% YoY
Grant Count
42
-2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-6.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation is to honor the legacy of its founder in celebrating the inimitable creative spirit of the Bay Area by supporting local working artists and the organizations that help to promote and sustain their artistic practice.
Funding Priorities: The foundation operates two main grant programs:
Legacy Grants: General operational support for organizations with a demonstrated commitment to providing comprehensive services for artists by helping them advance artistically and professionally. These grants are reviewed on an invite-only basis.
New Works Grants: Project support for new and emergent works created by small and mid-sized arts organizations.
Supported Art Forms:
- Visual Arts (including painting and sculpture exhibitions)
- Theater (including opera)
- Music
- Dance
- Arts festivals (considered on a case-by-case basis)
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $5,000–$50,000.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations and artists working in:
- Alameda County
- Marin County
- San Francisco County
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $9,330,331 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $484,000 (2024)
Total Revenues: $614,953 (2024)
Total Expenses: $622,342 (2024)
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since September 2011
EIN: 90-0653262
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,330,331 | $9,070,676 | $8,598,357 |
| Revenue | $614,953 | $393,497 | $211,377 |
| Expenses | $622,342 | $661,949 | $987,898 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $601,227 | $648,048 | $962,909 |
| Net Investment Income | $600,138 | $379,671 | $202,112 |
| Distributable Amount | $452,809 | $429,965 | $467,990 |
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
235 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include SOMArts ($15,000), Factsf ($15,000), Anne Bluethenthal ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AXIS Dance Company Berkeley, CA | General Operating Support | $13,500 |
| Brava for Women in the Arts SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General Operating Support | $12,000 |
| Circo Zero SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| CounterPulse SAN FRANCISCO, CA | general operating support | $12,500 |
| Dancers' Group SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General Operating Support | $10,500 |
| Fresh Meat Productions San Francisco, CA | general operating support | $12,500 |
| InterMusic SF SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General Operating Support | $7,000 |
| Intersection for the Arts San Francisco, CA | SF Bay Area Contemporary Spotlight Series, by Moth Belly Gallery | $10,000 |
| Jess CurtisGravity Inc SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General Operating Support | $7,000 |
| Joe Goode Performance Group Inc SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General Operating Support | $9,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Carlie Wilmans: President and Executive Director
- Tatiana Gordon: Grants Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARLIE WILMANS | Pres/Exec Dir | 2 | — |
| CAROL CASEY | SECY/TREAS | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to actively support Bay Area arts organizations and artists through its two grant programs, with grant cycles operating twice annually. The foundation maintains its commitment to funding smaller, independent arts organizations presenting challenging and cutting-edge works, consistent with Phyllis Wattis's vision of supporting daring and innovative artistic endeavors in the Bay Area.
CCA Wattis Institute awarded $20000 NEA grant for exhibition ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation is to honor the legacy of its founder in celebrating the inimitable creative spirit of the Bay Area by supporting local working artists and the organizations that help to promote and sustain their artistic practice. **Funding Priorities:** The foundation operates two main grant programs: • **Legacy Grants:** General operational support for organizations with a demonstrated commitment to providing comprehensive services for a…
How do I apply for a grant from Phyllis C Wattis Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $5,000–$50,000. **Application Process:** The foundation awards grants twice per year. New Works grant applications follow a specific annual timeline, with detailed application dates published for each cycle. **Funding Restrictions:** The foundation will not fund: • New Works grants to organizations with overall budgets greater than $1.5 million • Capital expansion • Endowment funds • Seed grants • Scholarships • Direct individual awards • Research an…
Where does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations and artists working in: • Alameda County • Marin County • San Francisco County
What size grants does Phyllis C Wattis Foundation award?
In 2024, Phyllis C Wattis Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $484K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Phyllis C Wattis Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Phyllis C Wattis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $453K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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