The Alexandra and Spencer Wells
THE ALEXANDRA AND SPENCER WELLS is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2025 filing reports 11 grants totaling $112,337 to charitable organizations.
Key facts about The Alexandra and Spencer Wells
In short: The Alexandra and Spencer Wells gave $112K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in California. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 26-1572332
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $112,337
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $10,212
- Median grant
- $1,893
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025)
- Total assets
- $215,670
- Primary geography
- California (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states on its 2023 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- N/A, as listed on the 2023 filing.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$216K
-42.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$112K
-26.4% YoY
Grant Count
11
-47.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+40.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Alexandra and Spencer Wells reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Alexandra and Spencer Wells open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 42% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in film, maternal health, education, workforce development, history, and land and water conservation. For example, SFFILM describes its mission as supporting independent voices in film through exhibition, youth education, and artist development. Every Mother Counts describes its work as advancing maternal health, while Lowcountry Land Trust says it works to protect land and water and connect conservation to community. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $112,337. Grants ranged from $240 to $51,000, with a median of $1,893. The largest grants were $51,000 to San Francisco Film Society, $30,526 to Every Mother Counts, $10,300 to Blackburn Foundation, $10,000 to Columbia University, and $5,150 to San Francisco Opera. All 11 grants listed for 2025 had an unrestricted purpose.
Review Cycle
N/A, as listed on the 2023 filing.
Ready to take the next step with The Alexandra and Spencer Wells?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 37% to recipients in New York. The remaining shares were Ohio, 2%; Massachusetts, 1%; and South Carolina, 0% as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $69K (2023) to $153K (2024). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $112K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was San Francisco Film Society ($51K). Together the top 10 received $112K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 69 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Film Society San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $51,000 |
| Every Mother Counts New York, NY | Unrestricted | $30,526 |
| Blackburn Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $10,300 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| San Francisco Opera San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $5,150 |
| Western Reserve Academy Hudson, OH | Unrestricted | $1,893 |
| Manifestworks Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $1,180 |
| Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, MA | Unrestricted | $1,033 |
| Lowcountry Land Trust Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $515 |
| Brecker-Metal Foundation Inc Suffern, NY | Unrestricted | $500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $215,670 | -$40,440 | $115,962 | $112,337 | 11 |
| 2024 | $372,854 | $48,079 | $152,662 | $152,662 | 21 |
| 2023 | $478,202 | -$72,275 | $71,428 | $68,869 | 8 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $215,670 | $372,854 | $478,202 |
| Revenue | $-40,440 | $48,079 | $-72,275 |
| Expenses | $115,962 | $152,662 | $71,428 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $114,149 | $152,662 | $70,148 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,263 | $25,358 | $27,457 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,141 | $10,955 | $13,862 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists L Spencer Wells as president and treasurer and Alexandra Wells as director.
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells is led by L. Spencer Wells, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
L. Spencer Wells
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra Wells
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: The A And S Wells Charitable Found
Mailing address: 2935 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (203) 542-4065
Email: swells4802@me.com
Frequently asked questions about The Alexandra and Spencer Wells
How much does The Alexandra and Spencer Wells give each year?
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells gave $112K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $153K across 21 grants.
What is The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's typical grant size?
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's median grant in 2025 was $1,893, and its average grant was $10,212, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Alexandra and Spencer Wells that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Alexandra and Spencer Wells give grants?
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells gives mostly in California: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (37%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Alexandra and Spencer Wells give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's largest grantees?
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's largest 2025 grantees include San Francisco Film Society ($51,000), Every Mother Counts ($30,526) and Blackburn Foundation ($10,300), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Alexandra and Spencer Wells?
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells reported $216K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $114K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Alexandra and Spencer Wells fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in film, maternal health, education, workforce development, history, and land and water conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Alexandra and Spencer Wells?
The foundation states on its 2023 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's EIN?
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1572332. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Alexandra and Spencer Wells accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Alexandra and Spencer Wells by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Alexandra and Spencer Wells's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds nonprofits addressing economic mobility, wealth gaps, and urgent community needs, with priorities including homeownership, small businesses, education, quality jobs, and investment in underinvested communities. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $26,500, though awards vary widely; grants generally benefit Chicago-region residents, and the Trust directs applicants to open opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation funds work in education, health, housing, immigration, and other community needs, primarily in Los Angeles County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, gender equity, governance, democracy, and philanthropy, with work in the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, nationally, and internationally. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, though awards ranged from $50 to more than $11 million; it often provides long-term general operating support. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through invited open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds equity-focused work, including affordable housing, homelessness, community resilience and power, and arts; its Buck Family Fund supports organizations serving Marin County, including those based elsewhere. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000 and ranged from $5,050 to $10 million; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, CA
The San Diego Foundation supports nonprofits advancing racial and social justice, equity of opportunity, and resilient communities, with grants for projects, capacity building, or general support. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $5,100 to nearly $5 million; it generally funds organizations serving San Diego County residents, though some grants reach beyond the county. Applications are made through posted funding opportunities, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,158
Total Given
$94.3M
The California Endowment
Los Angeles, CA
The California Endowment funds health and racial equity, including health care access, community health, organizing, and policy change, primarily in California. Its 2024 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
Oakland, CA
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals supports community health, health-care access, and efforts addressing health inequities, including mental and behavioral health, housing, and employment. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with most grant dollars going to California; Southern California grants focus on its 14 service areas. For Southern California regional grants, unsolicited letters of inquiry and proposals are not accepted; other application routes described include invited inquiries and open event sponsorship applications.
Assets
$87.4B
Grants
1,122
Total Given
$225.4M
Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles supports human services, health, education, Jewish life, arts and culture, and nonprofit capacity and facilities, with grants in Los Angeles, Israel, and beyond. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. General Community grants are invitation-only and do not accept unsolicited requests; all 2025 grantmaking is by invitation only.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,063
Total Given
$142.2M
Jewish Community Federation of San
San Francisco, CA
Jewish Federation Bay Area funds programs that strengthen Jewish life, combat antisemitism, respond to crises, support people in need, and advance justice and inclusion. Its work focuses on the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond; 2025 grants had a median of $22,750, though amounts varied widely. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about its process, but no current opportunities are listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Los Altos, CA
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation funds charitable organizations working on just societies, healthy families and communities, and a healthy natural world, including climate solutions, ocean conservation, and science. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, and half of grant dollars went to California recipients. It accepts unsolicited requests, but less than 1% of its grants come from them.
Assets
$8.5B
Grants
1,029
Total Given
$350.0M
More Funders in California
The Alexandra and Spencer Wells down — hundreds of funders to go?