The Cricket Island Foundation
The Cricket Island Foundation is a family foundation established in 2000 and based in New York City. The foundation was created by David and Georgia Welles following the sale of Therma-Tru Corporation, a family-owned manufacturing business with roots in Toledo, Ohio. The foundation's name derives from Cricket Island, off the coast of Ontario, Canada, which has served as a long-running site of summer family gatherings. As a third-generation family foundation, it maintains a commitment to multigenerational involvement in its philanthropic work.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$44.5M
+2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
71
-2.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+5.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cricket Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To develop the capacity and commitment of young people to improve their lives, communities, and the world around them.
The foundation supports organizations that offer meaningful opportunities for young people to contribute to positive societal change. The foundation's approach is issue-agnostic—it funds organizations that empower young people to lead social change in their communities without determining which types of change should be made. The foundation has established itself as a steady funder in the youth organizing space.
Core Values:
- Connect through building and growing relationships
- Collaborate through mutual sharing and learning
- Communicate honestly and openly
- Integrate diverse perspectives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$20,000
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Ready to take the next step with The Cricket Island Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- New York
- San Francisco
- Chicago
- Louisiana
- Illinois
- California
- Texas
- Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, and Washington
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2024: $44,512,201
- 2023: $43,268,458
Annual Revenue & Expenses:
- 2024 Total Revenues: $7,317,223
- 2024 Total Expenses: $3,101,771
- 2023 Expenses: $2,952,568
- 2023 Revenue: $874,132
Giving Rate: Approximately 3.6% of assets
Staffing: 2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $44,512,201 | $43,268,458 | $40,863,809 |
| Revenue | $7,317,223 | $874,132 | $845,357 |
| Expenses | $3,101,771 | $2,952,568 | $3,007,810 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,586,683 | $2,588,474 | $2,658,807 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,892,093 | $1,059,049 | $656,991 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,062,885 | $2,061,116 | $2,110,753 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Grow Dat Youth Farm ($85,000), Families & Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children ($55,000), Bend the Arc Fbo Fcyo ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER WAY FOUNDATION FBO CTBBSU NEW HAVEN, CT | LEADERSHIP TRANSITION GRANT | $45,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP INC BOSTON, MA | LEADERSHIP TRANSITION GRANT | $45,000 |
| ASIAN PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK FBO AYPAL OAKLAND, CA | LEADERSHIP TRANSITION GRANT | $45,000 |
| ASIAN PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK FBO AYPAL OAKLAND, CA | LEADERSHIP COACHING | $10,000 |
| BEND THE ARC FBO FCYO NEW YORK, NY | FUNDERS' COLLABORATIVE ON YOUTH ORGANIZING | $50,000 |
| CAAAV ORGANIZING ASIAN COMMUNITIES NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CAAAV ORGANIZING ASIAN COMMUNITIES NEW YORK, NY | STRATEGIC PLANNING | $8,000 |
| CAAAV ORGANIZING ASIAN COMMUNITIES NEW YORK, NY | COMPLIANCE TRAINING | $5,000 |
| CHICAGO FREEDOM SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR STAFF AND YOUTH | $5,000 |
| CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION FBO SAN FRANCISCO RISING NEW YORK, NY | LEADERSHIP TRANSITION GRANT | $45,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board:
- Hope V. Welles, President (third-generation family member)
Staff:
- Elizabeth Sak, Executive Director (joined in 2008)
- Jenny Peters, Finance Manager
- T. Bakare, Communication Manager
Elizabeth Sak is the only compensated member of the leadership team, with a salary of $237,031. Board members are generally not compensated for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDRA WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREW WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BROOKE JORDAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CAMERON JORDAN MIRANDA | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH SAK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $237,031 |
| HOPIE JERNAGEN WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HUNTER WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY F WELLES | PRESIDENT EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| LUKE JERNAGAN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MAGGIE WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAUD WELLES | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| NICOLE JORDAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PETER WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TAYLOR JORDAN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| TIM WELLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VIRGINIA JORDAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to emphasize its commitment to youth-led social change and equitable grantmaking practices. Recent grant activity demonstrates ongoing support for youth-focused organizations across multiple geographic regions and issue areas, with particular attention to organizations working at the intersections of multiple community issues.
St. Croix Foundation Awards More than a Half-Million Dollars to Local OrganizationsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cricket Island Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To develop the capacity and commitment of young people to improve their lives, communities, and the world around them. The foundation supports organizations that offer meaningful opportunities for young people to contribute to positive societal change. The foundation's approach is issue-agnostic—it funds organizations that empower young people to lead social change in their communities without determining which types of change should be made. The foundation has established itself a…
How do I apply for a grant from The Cricket Island Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 76 grants in 2024 • Made 71 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2024: $1,599,777 • Total giving in 2023: $1,561,663 • Median grant size: $20,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $85,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Grantmaking Practices:** • Multi-year general operating commitments to grantee partners • Funding for organizational development, including capacity building, restorative justi…
Where does The Cricket Island Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • New York • San Francisco • Chicago • Louisiana • Illinois • California • Texas • Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, and Washington
What size grants does The Cricket Island Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cricket Island Foundation awarded 71 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cricket Island Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cricket Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cricket Island Foundation's EIN?
The Cricket Island Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1925915. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cricket Island Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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