Posner-Wallace Foundation
The Posner-Wallace Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1957 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation operates as an independent charitable organization with a focus on supporting nonprofits working in youth development, education, and community services.
Key facts about Posner-Wallace Foundation
- EIN
- 52-6037555
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $276,760
- Grants made (2024)
- 241
- Average grant
- $1,148
- Median grant
- $400
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (27 of 234, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,613,395
- Primary geography
- New York (33% 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 Posner-Wallace Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Posner-Wallace Foundation's 241 itemized 2024 grants were New York (33%), 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). 85% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Posner-Wallace Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 27 of 234 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $644; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $400 first-time, $400 repeat.
- 82% 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 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 Posner-Wallace Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
+2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$277K
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
241
+0.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
-3.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Founded in 1957, the Posner-Wallace Foundation supports organizations focused on:
- Youth development
- Education
- Women's programs
- Food and self-sufficiency programs
- Social services
- Community development
- International crisis relief, including medical services, translation services, and public health support
The foundation also maintains a School of Public Health Scholarship Fund.
Important Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$20–$104,100
Average Grant
amount: approximately $1,000
Ready to take the next step with Posner-Wallace Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- New York
- California
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
Grantmaking reaches organizations across 33 states, with New York, Maryland, and the District of Columbia accounting for 43% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 241 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets (2024): $3,613,395
- Total assets (2023): $3,518,990
- Annual income: $789,000
- Total revenue (2023): $306,146
- Total expenses (2023): $366,323
- Giving rate: 9.5%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,613,395 | $3,518,990 | $3,579,167 |
| Revenue | $462,338 | $306,146 | $255,580 |
| Expenses | $368,333 | $366,323 | $510,126 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $329,340 | $336,287 | $472,701 |
| Net Investment Income | $431,857 | $284,175 | $243,863 |
| Distributable Amount | $200,722 | $196,355 | $216,061 |
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
1,193 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Childrens Theatre Company ($35,000 across 3 grants), I Earn Inc ($10,000), Mirror Stage ($7,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Officers and Trustees:
- Rachel C. Smith – Chair, President, Trustee
- Nicholas Posner – Trustee, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
- James R. Posner – Chair Emeritus
- Sarah Smith – Trustee, Secretary
- Diana Erbsen – Trustee
- Andrew C Smith – Trustee
- Melanie Markwell – Associate Trustee
- Stephanie Posner – Associate Trustee
- Jill Prosky – Associate Trustee
- Shelby Lynn Smith – Associate Trustee
The foundation is governed by 11 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Erbsen | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Melanie Markwell | Associate Trustee | 1 | — |
| James R Posner | Chair Emeritus | 2 | $3,333 |
| Nicholas Posner | Trustee, CFO, Treas | 3 | $3,333 |
| Stephanie Posner | Associate Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jill Prosky | Associate Trustee | 1 | — |
| Andrew C Smith | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Rachel C Smith | Chair, Pres, Trustee | 3 | $5,000 |
| Sarah Smith | Trustee, Sec | 3 | $3,333 |
| Shelby Lynn Smith | Associate Trustee | 1 | — |
| Robert P Smith II | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Robert P Smith III | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Road Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: http://fdnweb.org/posner-wallace/
IRS Information:
- EIN: 52-6037555
- IRS Ruling Year: 1958
- Organization Type: Trust
- Tax-deductible contributions: Yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Posner-Wallace Foundation fund?
Founded in 1957, the Posner-Wallace Foundation supports organizations focused on: • Youth development • Education • Women's programs • Food and self-sufficiency programs • Social services • Community development • International crisis relief, including medical services, translation services, and public health support The foundation also maintains a School of Public Health Scholarship Fund. **Important Note:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
How do I apply for a grant from Posner-Wallace Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $20–$104,100 • Average grant amount: approximately $1,000 • Median grant amount: $500–$1,000 • The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations **Recent Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $276,760 • Total giving in 2023: $336,287 • Grantmaking activity peaked in 2022 with $878,000 distributed across 520 grants • Annual distribution has ranged between $276,000 and $878,000 from 2020 to 2023 • The foundation has mad…
Where does Posner-Wallace Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York • California • District of Columbia • Maryland Grantmaking reaches organizations across 33 states, with New York, Maryland, and the District of Columbia accounting for 43% of all grants.
What size grants does Posner-Wallace Foundation award?
In 2024, Posner-Wallace Foundation awarded 241 grants totaling $277K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Posner-Wallace Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Posner-Wallace Foundation reported a distributable amount of $201K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.