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.
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
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 |
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 include International Medical Corps ($400,000), YMCA of Greater Long Beach ($350,000), Project HOME ($325,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School Philadelphia, PA | Education Programs & Scholarships | $50,000 |
| Catalina Island Museum Avalon, CA | Education Program | $10,000 |
| Las Floristas Inc Whittier, CA | Pediatric Rehabilitation Support | $50,000 |
| The Marshall Legacy Institute Arlington, VA | Landmine Eradication & Medical Relief | $140,000 |
| Memorial Medical Center Foundation Long Beach, CA | Genetic Counseling Program | $100,000 |
| Second Harvest Northland Duluth, MN | Hunger Relief | $50,000 |
| Elevate 215 Philadelphia, PA | Educator Training Programs & School Support | $250,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation New York, NY | Family Planning & Pre-Natal Education | $300,000 |
| Project HOME Philadelphia, PA | Support for the Homeless | $325,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank OC Irvine, CA | Hunger Relief | $50,000 |
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 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?
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. • Requests are submitted through an online application form • Rolling application basis with quarterly board review • The foundation emphasizes that applicants should carefully review guidelines and FAQs before applying • Submissions that appear drafted without meaningful consideration of guidelines may be declined without full …
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
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
California Community Foundation
LOS ANGELES, CA
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
2,025
Total Given
$272.6M
Sempra Foundation
SAN DIEGO, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Joan M Wismer Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities