Posner-Wallace Foundation
The Posner-Wallace Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2024, it made 241 grants totaling $276,760 to preselected charitable organizations.
Posner-Wallace Foundation at a glance
In short: Posner-Wallace Foundation gave $277K across 241 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state New York. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $276,760
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 241
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,148
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $400
- Total assets
- $3,613,395
- +2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (26 of 234, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (33% 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 Posner-Wallace Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Posner-Wallace Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Childrens Theatre Company ($35K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $90K.
Grant Size Distribution
1,193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,190 grants of 1,193 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (33%), California (13%), and the District of Columbia (11%). Texas and Washington each accounted for 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 241 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Posner-Wallace Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 234 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $638; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $400 first-time, $400 repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 164% 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 $276K (2020) to $439K (2022). In 2024 it made 241 grants totaling $277K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Childrens Theatre Company New York, NY | Funds for Cash-flow support and staff to prepare for Charitable benefit performance of Louis Armstrong Musical and related events | $15,000 |
| Childrens Theatre Company New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| I Earn Inc New York, NY | TCP--Support Collaboration Center platform on Class.com | $10,000 |
| Childrens Theatre Company New York, NY | Talent and Career Pathways project | $8,000 |
| Mirror Stage Federal Way, WA | General & Unrestricted | $7,000 |
| Kesho Columbus, OH | Happiness Wambura's Lohada Schools Program | $6,500 |
| American Jewish World Service Inc Etna, NH | Funds for under-served rural communities in Latin American | $5,000 |
| Ashoka Arlington, VA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Beads for Education Inc a Non-Profit Corporation Brookfield, CT | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Building Bridges Across the River Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
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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 | $3,613,395 | $462,338 | $368,333 | $276,760 | 241 | $329,340 | $431,857 | $200,722 |
| 2023 | $3,518,990 | $306,146 | $366,323 | $283,320 | 239 | $336,287 | $284,175 | $196,355 |
| 2022 | $3,579,167 | $255,580 | $510,126 | $439,044 | 260 | $472,701 | $243,863 | $216,061 |
| 2021 | $3,833,613 | $537,124 | $431,922 | $360,965 | 229 | $406,910 | $524,357 | $242,734 |
| 2020 | $3,728,411 | $257,386 | $330,910 | $276,385 | 224 | — | $252,252 | $221,012 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Posner-Wallace Foundation reported a distributable amount of $201K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as arts and storytelling, education, health, humanitarian relief, and mobility for people with disabilities. These are descriptions of grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation. For example, Mirror Stage says it uses story and art to challenge bias and encourage reflection on current issues; Children’s Health Council says it provides services for learning differences and mental health; and Médecins Sans Frontières USA says it provides medical humanitarian aid in emergencies.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 241 grants totaling $276,760. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $15,000, with a median of $400. Notable grants included $15,000 to Children’s Theatre Company for cash-flow support and staff preparing for a charitable benefit performance and related events; $12,000 to the same organization for general and unrestricted support; $10,000 to I Earn Inc. to support its Collaboration Center platform on Class.com; and $7,000 to Mirror Stage for general and unrestricted support.
Other 2024 recipients included Kesho, which received $6,500 for the Lohada Schools Program; American Jewish World Service, Ashoka, Beads for Education, Building Bridges Across the River, Capital Sisters International, and Children’s Health Council, each of which received $5,000 for the purposes listed in the filing.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Rachel C. Smith as Chair, President, and Trustee; Nicholas Posner as Trustee, CFO, and Treasurer; James R. Posner as Chair Emeritus; and Sarah Smith as Trustee and Secretary. It also lists Diana Erbsen and Andrew C. Smith as Trustees, and Melanie Markwell, Stephanie Posner, Jill Prosky, and Shelby Lynn Smith as Associate Trustees.
Posner-Wallace Foundation is led by Rachel C Smith, Chair, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 4 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rachel C Smith
Chair, President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Nicholas Posner
Trustee, CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Robert P Smith II
Trustee
Trustee & Secretary → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Sarah Smith
Trustee & Secretary
Associate Trustee → Trustee, 2021
Trustee → Trustee & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$3K (2024)
Andrew C Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diana Erbsen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert P Smith III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James R Posner
Chair Emeritus
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Jill Prosky
Associate Trustee
Trustee → Associate Trustee & Trustee, 2022
Associate Trustee & Trustee → Associate Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelby Lynn Smith
Associate Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Posner
Associate Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Markwell
Associate Trustee
On filings since 2023
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Rachel C Smith (Chair, Pres, Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Posner-Wallace Foundation
How much does Posner-Wallace Foundation give each year?
Posner-Wallace Foundation gave $277K across 241 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $283K across 239 grants.
What is Posner-Wallace Foundation's typical grant size?
Posner-Wallace Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $400, and its average grant was $1,148, across 241 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Posner-Wallace Foundation that year got $638 on average.
Where does Posner-Wallace Foundation give grants?
Posner-Wallace Foundation's top state is New York, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (13%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (46 grants), Washington, DC (27 grants), Vancouver, WA (9 grants) and San Francisco, CA (8 grants).
Does Posner-Wallace Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Posner-Wallace Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (206 of 241) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Posner-Wallace Foundation's largest grantees?
Posner-Wallace Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Childrens Theatre Company ($35,000 across 3 grants), I Earn Inc ($10,000) and Mirror Stage ($7,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Posner-Wallace Foundation?
Posner-Wallace Foundation reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $329K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $201K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Posner-Wallace Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as arts and storytelling, education, health, humanitarian relief, and mobility for people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Posner-Wallace Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Posner-Wallace Foundation's EIN?
Posner-Wallace Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6037555. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Posner-Wallace Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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). Posner-Wallace Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/posner-wallace-foundation-morg_4ad89663b54643a2ac957fc3bbd90758
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_526037555_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Posner-Wallace Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/posner-wallace-foundation-morg_4ad89663b54643a2ac957fc3bbd90758},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Posner-Wallace 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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