The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation
THE ESTHER & MORTON WOHLGEMUTH is a private foundation based in Brooklyn, New York. It gave 143 grants totaling $201,205 in 2024 to charitable organizations working in areas that include education, conservation, civil rights, health, and humanitarian relief, as reflected in grantees’ own descriptions of their work. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 140 grants totaling $199,182.
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation at a glance
In short: The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation gave $199K across 140 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), top state New York. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $199,182
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 140
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,423
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,378,274
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (12 of 140, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Melissa Wohlgemuth 447 7Th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 499-0104
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nature Conservatory ($11K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Grant Size Distribution
701 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 701 grants of 701 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (34%), New Mexico (15%), California (8%), Washington, DC (8%), and Oregon (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 140 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 140 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $512; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $208 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $188K (2022) to $201K (2024). In 2025 it made 140 grants totaling $199K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Conservatory Santa Fe, NM | General Purpose | $11,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Worchester, MA | General Purpose | $11,000 |
| ACLU Foundation New York, NY | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Pacific Forest Trust San Francisco, CA | General Purpose | $8,500 |
| Catlin Gabel School Portland, OR | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| Yale University New Haven, NH | General Purpose | $7,000 |
| American Cancer Society New York, NY | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| International Rescue Committee Albertlea, MN | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| NAACP Baltimore, MD | General Purpose | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,378,274 | $230,617 | $225,333 | $199,182 | 140 | $201,915 | $208,999 | $235,790 |
| 2024 | $2,372,990 | $205,476 | $259,758 | $201,205 | 143 | $220,310 | $169,128 | $217,378 |
| 2023 | $2,427,275 | $170,564 | $222,566 | $196,315 | 139 | $201,143 | $149,141 | $202,240 |
| 2022 | $2,479,277 | $194,332 | $223,050 | $187,807 | 132 | $195,492 | $169,774 | $214,295 |
| 2021 | $2,507,995 | $276,316 | $234,062 | $194,435 | 147 | $200,575 | $254,646 | $211,761 |
| 2020 | $2,465,741 | $215,238 | $231,750 | $197,643 | 138 | — | $192,845 | $196,565 |
| 2019 | $2,482,253 | $187,740 | $230,810 | $196,592 | 136 | — | $163,053 | $202,894 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2025 — 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 grants included organizations whose stated missions span several areas. Catlin Gabel School says it fosters compassionate, curious citizens by inspiring a love of learning and responsible action. World Wildlife Fund says its mission is to conserve nature and reduce threats to the diversity of life on Earth. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes its work as advancing racial justice and human rights, while World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Other 2024 recipients include Sarah Lawrence College, which describes a mission of graduating diverse citizens of the world who take intellectual and creative risks; Cascade Forest Conservancy, which says it protects and sustains forests, streams, wildlife, and communities; and Growing Gardens, which says it cultivates healthy, equitable communities through food-growing experiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 143 grants totaling $201,205. Grants ranged from $100 to $12,000, with a median of $900. Among the largest were $12,000 to Catlin Gabel School, $11,000 each to Nature Conservatory and Planned Parenthood, and $10,000 each to ACLU Foundation and Pacific Forest Trust. Other recipients included American Cancer Society and Doctors Without Borders, each receiving $5,000, and World Wildlife Fund, which received $5,000. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 140 grants totaling $199,182.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Melissa Wohlgemuth as president; Sara Wohlgemuth and Karen Wohlgemuth as trustees; Erik Wohlgemuth as treasurer; and Jessica Cintron as secretary.
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation is led by Melissa Wohlgemuth, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa Wohlgemuth
President
Vice President → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Sara Wohlgemuth
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Karen Wohlgemuth
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Erik Wohlgemuth
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jessica Cintron
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Wohlgemuth (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Melissa Wohlgemuth (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation
How much does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation give each year?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation gave $199K across 140 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $201K across 143 grants.
What is The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's typical grant size?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,423, across 140 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation that year got $512 on average.
Where does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation give grants?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's top state is New York, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Mexico (15%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (43 grants), Brooklyn, NY (23 grants), Santa Fe, NM (16 grants) and Washington, DC (11 grants).
Does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (140 of 140) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's largest grantees?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nature Conservatory ($11,000), Planned Parenthood ($11,000) and ACLU Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $202K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated missions span several areas. Catlin Gabel School says it fosters compassionate, curious citizens by inspiring a love of learning and responsible action. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's EIN?
The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6086849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 1, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-esther-and-morton-wohlgemuth-foundation-morg_738d1ef00de644ed8b584bbe7d30435e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136086849_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Esther \& Morton Wohlgemuth Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-esther-and-morton-wohlgemuth-foundation-morg_738d1ef00de644ed8b584bbe7d30435e},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-02. 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 The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth 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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