The Free Lunch Foundation
The Free Lunch Foundation is a private foundation based in Jackson, Wyoming. It makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations whose primary focus is furthering education and/or protecting the environment.
The Free Lunch Foundation at a glance
In short: The Free Lunch Foundation gave $47K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Wyoming. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $47,350
- +50.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +62.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,642
- -7.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $76,742
- -3.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (6 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (55% 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 The Free Lunch Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 11450, Jackson, WY 83002
Phone: (307) 739-1898
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Free Lunch Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Bird Conservancy ($17K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 72 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wyoming and 35% to recipients in Virginia. The remaining reported shares went to North Carolina (4%), New York (2%), and Minnesota (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Free Lunch Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 13 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 61% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $31K (2023) to $186K (2020). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Bird Conservancy The Plains, VA | General | $16,500 |
| Hole Food Rescue Jackson, WY | General | $10,000 |
| First in Family Jackson, WY | General | $7,500 |
| National Museum of Wildlife Art Jackson Hole, WY | General | $3,500 |
| Community Foundation of Jackson Hole Jackson, WY | Generalgeneral | $2,700 |
| Coalition for Liberty Charlotte, NC | General | $2,000 |
| Cornell University Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY | General | $1,000 |
| Dancer's Workshop of Jackson Hole Jackson, WY | General | $1,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Foundation Rochester, MN | General | $1,000 |
| Off Square Theatre Jackson, WY | General | $1,000 |
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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 | $76,742 | $49,592 | $52,221 | $47,350 | 13 | $49,105 | $38,091 | $1,826 |
| 2023 | $79,300 | $33,263 | $40,129 | $31,440 | 8 | $33,121 | $14,704 | $4,717 |
| 2022 | $86,237 | $67,019 | $93,124 | $82,700 | 17 | $85,830 | $41,386 | $6,634 |
| 2021 | $112,342 | $85,306 | $125,869 | $122,156 | 20 | $122,160 | $62,783 | $7,183 |
| 2020 | $153,153 | $94,511 | $190,015 | $185,650 | 14 | — | $58,007 | $8,624 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Free Lunch Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated grantmaking focus is education and environmental protection. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions cover a range of activities. For example, American Bird Conservancy says it works to conserve wild birds and their habitats, while First in Family Jackson Hole says it supports local first-generation students with advising and financial support. Hole Food Rescue describes its work as reducing food waste and cultivating food security in Teton County, and Dancers Workshop says it offers dance education, performance, and outreach.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $47,350 through 13 grants. Grants ranged from $150 to $16,500, with a median grant of $1,000. Its largest reported grants went to American Bird Conservancy ($16,500), Hole Food Rescue ($10,000), and First in Family ($7,500). Other notable recipients included the National Museum of Wildlife Art ($3,500), Community Foundation of Jackson Hole ($2,700), and Coalition for Liberty ($2,000). The listed grant purposes were reported as general.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Walsh and Jade Walsh as trustees.
The Free Lunch Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Walsh
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jade Walsh
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Free Lunch Foundation
How much does The Free Lunch Foundation give each year?
The Free Lunch Foundation gave $47K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $31K across 8 grants.
What is The Free Lunch Foundation's typical grant size?
The Free Lunch Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,642, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Free Lunch Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Free Lunch Foundation give grants?
The Free Lunch Foundation gives mostly in Wyoming: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (35%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, WY (5 grants).
Does The Free Lunch Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Free Lunch Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Free Lunch Foundation's largest grantees?
The Free Lunch Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Bird Conservancy ($16,500), Hole Food Rescue ($10,000) and First in Family ($7,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Free Lunch Foundation?
The Free Lunch Foundation reported $77K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $49K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Free Lunch Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated grantmaking focus is education and environmental protection. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions cover a range of activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Free Lunch Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Free Lunch Foundation's EIN?
The Free Lunch Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1482552. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Free Lunch 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 October 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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Figures come from The Free Lunch 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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