The Joan M Wismer Foundation
The Joan M Wismer Foundation is a private foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. It supports programs intended to improve and enrich the lives of youth and adults, with stated geographic emphasis on the Mid-Atlantic and Southern California.
The Joan M Wismer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Joan M Wismer Foundation gave $2.9M across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $108K), top state California. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,910,000
- +3.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $107,778
- +3.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $44,033,797
- +0.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Joan M Wismer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online application form; it says a letter of inquiry or preapproval is unnecessary and the application is the appropriate first step. Applicants should review the guidelines and FAQs, complete an eligibility quiz, and, if eligible, submit the application. Applicants must generally be IRS-recognized tax-exempt nonprofits based in the United States; the FAQ also allows schools, state governments, and churches to apply without a valid 501(c)(3) status. The foundation does not fund organizations in their first three years as an IRS-approved 501(c)(3). Its exclusions include food insecurity, safety and humanitarian services, international funding, animal-related requests, capital construction, and specified health, wellness, and disability programs. Priority is given to requests with specific, feasible plans for funding beyond the current grant period.
- Review Cycle
- Rolling. The foundation says its board meets quarterly and reviews applications pending when the meeting agenda is closed.
- Deadline
- Rolling.
- Contact
Application contact: Geoffrey Parkinson
Mailing address: C/O Fs 6270 Rivo Lakes Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34241
Phone: (703) 726-4973
Email: wismer@fsllc.net
Website: https://wismerfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Joan M Wismer Foundation
Who The Joan M Wismer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was International Medical Corps ($400K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 71 grants of 138 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic emphasis is the Mid-Atlantic and Southern California. In 2025, its grant dollars went to recipients in California (47%), Pennsylvania (35%), New York (10%), Virginia (5%), and Minnesota (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Joan M Wismer Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 26 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $113K. How we count
Medians: $63K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2023) to $3.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International Medical Corps Los Angeles, CA | Disaster Relief Campaign | $400,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Long Beach Long Beach, CA | Youth & Safety Programs | $350,000 |
| Project HOME Philadelphia, PA | Support for the Homeless | $325,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation New York, NY | Family Planning & Pre-Natal Education | $300,000 |
| Elevate 215 Philadelphia, PA | Educator Training Programs & School Support | $250,000 |
| The Marshall Legacy Institute Arlington, VA | Landmine Eradication & Medical Relief | $140,000 |
| Teach For America Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | School Leadership Development | $125,000 |
| Downtown Womens Center Los Angeles, CA | Housing & Support for Homeless Women | $100,000 |
| University of California San Diego San Diego, CA | Interventional Pulmonary Fellowship Fund | $100,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Joan M Wismer Foundation?
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 | $44,033,797 | $3,441,411 | $3,748,353 | $2,910,000 | 27 | $3,487,114 | $2,954,234 | $3,040,169 |
| 2024 | $43,785,739 | $4,042,400 | $3,590,263 | $2,819,994 | 27 | $3,305,833 | $3,784,400 | $2,826,335 |
| 2023 | $42,563,602 | $1,363,364 | $3,457,548 | $2,709,994 | 25 | $3,174,285 | $1,144,393 | $2,517,299 |
| 2022 | $45,042,786 | $3,022,679 | $3,531,124 | $2,762,994 | 28 | $3,225,075 | $2,696,786 | $2,639,142 |
| 2021 | $45,691,232 | $3,806,765 | $3,950,861 | $3,215,000 | 31 | $3,608,434 | $3,516,338 | $3,040,768 |
| 2020 | $44,985,330 | $2,206,662 | $3,410,444 | $2,755,000 | 28 | — | $1,948,790 | $2,450,487 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joan M Wismer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2025 — 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 states that it is dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of youth and adults. Its website identifies education and development for disadvantaged youth, job and skills training and placement, homelessness, and medical and scientific research as its current funding areas.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate these areas. Project HOME describes its work as helping adults, children, and families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Elevate 215 says it prepares students for the future by modernizing learning in Philadelphia schools. Reignite Hope describes its work as teaching welding job skills to former gang members, ex-offenders, and people experiencing homelessness. The Marshall Legacy Institute’s 2025 grant purpose was landmine eradication and medical relief.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $2,910,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $400,000, with a median of $50,000. Its guidelines generally set grants for new applicants at $2,500 to $25,000; only existing grantees may discuss amounts outside that range, and new requests above it may be automatically declined.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $400,000 to International Medical Corps for a disaster relief campaign; $350,000 to YMCA of Greater Long Beach for youth and safety programs; $325,000 to Project HOME for support for the homeless; $300,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation for family planning and prenatal education; and $250,000 to Elevate 215 for educator training and school support. Other listed grants included $140,000 to The Marshall Legacy Institute for landmine eradication and medical relief and $125,000 to Teach For an individual recipient for school leadership development.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John D Iskrant ESQ and Susan P Dilday as trustees.
The Joan M Wismer Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John D Iskrant Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$260K (2020) → $313K (2025)
Susan P Dilday
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$136K (2020) → $181K (2025)
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 $313K, to John D Iskrant ESQ (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Joan M Wismer Foundation
How much does The Joan M Wismer Foundation give each year?
The Joan M Wismer Foundation gave $2.9M across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 27 grants.
What is The Joan M Wismer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Joan M Wismer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $107,778, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joan M Wismer Foundation that year got $63K on average.
Where does The Joan M Wismer Foundation give grants?
The Joan M Wismer Foundation's top state is California, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (35%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (7 grants), Los Angeles, CA (5 grants) and Long Beach, CA (2 grants).
Does The Joan M Wismer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on The Joan M Wismer Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hunger Relief" (4 grants).
Who are The Joan M Wismer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Joan M Wismer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include International Medical Corps ($400,000), YMCA of Greater Long Beach ($350,000) and Project HOME ($325,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Joan M Wismer Foundation?
The Joan M Wismer Foundation reported $44.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Joan M Wismer Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it is dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of youth and adults. Its website identifies education and development for disadvantaged youth, job and skills training and placement, homelessness, and medical and scientific research as its current funding areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joan M Wismer Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online application form; it says a letter of inquiry or preapproval is unnecessary and the application is the appropriate first step. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joan M Wismer Foundation's EIN?
The Joan M Wismer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-3089181. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Joan M Wismer Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Joan M Wismer Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joan M Wismer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Joan M Wismer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-joan-m-wismer-foundation-morg_8d27b87a5cca4284ad86d429816bfaa7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_233089181_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Joan M Wismer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-joan-m-wismer-foundation-morg_8d27b87a5cca4284ad86d429816bfaa7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Joan M Wismer 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.
The Joan M Wismer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?