The Joan M Wismer Foundation
The Joan M Wismer Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2001 and based in Sarasota, Florida. The foundation is dedicated to improving and enriching the lives of youth and adults in the United States and abroad through strategic philanthropic support.
Key facts about The Joan M Wismer Foundation
- EIN
- 23-3089181
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,819,994
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $104,444
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $43,785,739
- Primary geography
- California (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Requests are submitted through an online application form. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joan M Wismer Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Joan M Wismer Foundation's 27 itemized 2024 grants were California (46%), Pennsylvania (36%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (9 grants), Los Angeles, CA (4 grants) and Long Beach, CA (3 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hunger Relief" (4 grants).
Is The Joan M Wismer Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 27 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $113K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 117% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Joan M Wismer Foundation
- How to evaluate The Joan M Wismer Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.8M
+2.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+4.1% YoY
Grant Count
27
+8.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$104K
-3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joan M Wismer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve and enrich the lives of youth and adults in the United States and abroad. The foundation supports programs focusing on:
- Education and youth development
- Safety and humanitarian services
- Medical and scientific research
- Culture and the arts
Grantmaking
The foundation awards grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, with typical awards between $10,000 and $400,000. Multi-year commitments of up to three years are possible.
How to Apply
- Requests are submitted through an online application form
Ready to take the next step with The Joan M Wismer Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with California and Pennsylvania accounting for a significant portion of grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $43.8 million (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $3.3 million (2024)
Revenue: $4,042,400 (fiscal year ending December 2024)
Expenses: $3,590,263 (fiscal year ending December 2024)
Charitable Disbursements: Over 92% of expenses are dedicated to charitable disbursements
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $10.2 million in 2011 to $42.6 million in 2023
Grant Distribution History
According to available records, the foundation has made 112 grants totaling $11.4 million, with a median grant of $50,000. The foundation has distributed between $2.7 million and $3.2 million annually from 2020 to 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2021 with $3.2 million distributed across 31 grants. The foundation has supported 38 unique organizations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,785,739 | $42,563,602 | $45,042,786 |
| Revenue | $4,042,400 | $1,363,364 | $3,022,679 |
| Expenses | $3,590,263 | $3,457,548 | $3,531,124 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,305,833 | $3,174,285 | $3,225,075 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,784,400 | $1,144,393 | $2,696,786 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,826,335 | $2,517,299 | $2,639,142 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
139 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Joan M Wismer Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include International Medical Corps ($400,000), YMCA of Greater Long Beach ($350,000), Project HOME ($325,000).
| 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 |
| Memorial Medical Center Foundation Long Beach, CA | Genetic Counseling Program | $100,000 |
| Teach For America Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | School Leadership Development | $100,000 |
| Downtown Womens Center Los Angeles, CA | Housing & Support for Homeless Women | $75,000 |
| ReIgnite Hope Gardena, CA | Training and Job Placement Program | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John D Iskrant - Principal Officer and Trustee
- Susan Dilday - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John D Iskrant Esq | Trustee | 20 | $304,429 |
| Susan P Dilday | Trustee | 20 | $175,630 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has provided grants supporting diverse initiatives, including genetic counseling services for patients at children's hospitals and educational scholarships. The foundation continues to accept applications on a rolling basis with quarterly board review.
2022 Wismer Scholarship recipients \u2013 Community Foundation of St. Clair\Contact Information
Address: 6270 Rivo Lakes Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34241-2725
Website: www.wismerfdn.org
Application Method: Online application form through website
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Joan M Wismer Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to improve and enrich the lives of youth and adults in the United States and abroad. The foundation supports programs focusing on: • Education and youth development • Safety and humanitarian services • Medical and scientific research • Culture and the arts
How do I apply for a grant from The Joan M Wismer Foundation?
Requests are submitted through an online application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Joan M Wismer Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with California and Pennsylvania accounting for a significant portion of grants.
What size grants does The Joan M Wismer Foundation award?
In 2024, The Joan M Wismer Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $104K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Joan M Wismer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Joan M Wismer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.