The Gary C Wendt Foundation
The Gary C Wendt Foundation is a private foundation, based in Cos Cob, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $27.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $1.0M. Net investment income was $1.8M.
The Gary C Wendt Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gary C Wendt Foundation gave $1.0M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $174K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,042,000
- +18.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $173,667
- -40.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $72,500
- Total assets
- $27,189,172
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Florida (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Gary C Wendt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Broward ($662K). Together the top 6 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 4 grants of 12 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Gary C Wendt Foundation gives
- Giving grew 108% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 76% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $320K (2023) to $1.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Broward Fort Lauderdale, FL | To transform the community through focused leadership that fosters collaboration, builds endowment, advances equity, and connects people who care to causes that matter. | $662,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | To promote the welfare of and advance the objectives of the university of Wisconsin madison by encouraging the interest, engagement, and financial support of alumni, donors, and friends in the life of the university and with each other. | $200,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH | To integrate clinical and hospital care with research and education. | $100,000 |
| Wendt Family Philanthropic Fund New York, NY | To support initiatives that educate, empower, and lift individuals to reach their full potential, as well as to support programs that strengthen communities. | $45,000 |
| Slow Burn Theatre Company Inc Fort Lauderdale, FL | To showcase the best of contemporary musical theatre to South Florida. | $25,000 |
| Stamford Center for the Arts Inc Stamford, CT | To award scholarships for many under-resourced youth and encourage a life-long appreciation of the performing arts. | $10,000 |
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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 | $27,189,172 | $2,013,150 | $1,342,907 | $1,042,000 | 6 | $1,099,586 | $1,789,271 | $1,442,974 |
| 2024 | $26,518,929 | $1,482,035 | $1,105,936 | $877,000 | 3 | $925,864 | $1,322,819 | $1,377,256 |
| 2023 | $26,142,830 | $18,360,125 | $423,165 | $320,000 | 1 | $344,061 | $1,493,554 | $412,264 |
| 2022 | $8,205,870 | $313,936 | $581,565 | $500,000 | 1 | $513,810 | $258,181 | $474,603 |
| 2021 | $7,412,707 | $652,000 | $452,659 | $375,000 | 1 | $391,138 | $590,479 | $457,378 |
| 2020 | $7,263,939 | $406,447 | $480,976 | $400,000 | 5 | — | $261,335 | $384,397 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gary C Wendt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Gary C Wendt Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Valerie Ahneman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $90K (2025)
Gary C. Wendt
Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $90K, to Valerie Ahneman (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Gary C Wendt Foundation
How much does The Gary C Wendt Foundation give each year?
The Gary C Wendt Foundation gave $1.0M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $877K across 3 grants.
What is The Gary C Wendt Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gary C Wendt Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $72,500, and its average grant was $173,667, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gary C Wendt Foundation give grants?
The Gary C Wendt Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wisconsin (19%) and Ohio (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Lauderdale, FL (2 grants).
Does The Gary C Wendt Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on The Gary C Wendt Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Gary C Wendt Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gary C Wendt Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Broward ($662,000), University of Wisconsin Foundation ($200,000) and Cleveland Clinic Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Gary C Wendt Foundation?
The Gary C Wendt Foundation reported $27.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 is The Gary C Wendt Foundation's EIN?
The Gary C Wendt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6469925. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Gary C Wendt Foundation funds
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