The Margaret L Wendt Foundation
The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York, that makes grants for charitable and public-service purposes in Western New York. Founded in 1956, it says there is no single area on which it focuses its gifts.
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation at a glance
In short: The Margaret L Wendt Foundation gave $2.9M across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), mostly in New York. 77% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,882,759
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- +18.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $65,517
- -9.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $75,450,359
- +16.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 77% first-time grantees (33 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% 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 Margaret L Wendt Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says it does not accept letters of intent and that organizations may request a grant application. Its 2024 filing describes the application materials as a letter, a description of the organization, and information about the need or problem. The filing says awards are restricted to the Western New York area, grants are not made to individuals, and applications are due one month before quarterly trustee meetings. The website says awarded organizations must wait three years before reapplying.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists January 1, June 15, and October 1, 2026, and says applications must be submitted by close of business on the day before the deadline. The January 1 and June 15 dates have passed; the next listed deadline is October 1, 2026, with submission due by close of business September 30. Dates are subject to change.
- Deadline
- The website lists January 1, June 15, and October 1, 2026, and says applications must be submitted by close of…
- Contact
Application contact: Mr Thomas Lunt
Mailing address: 111 Gensee Street Suite 304, Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: (716) 855-2146
Website: https://themlwendtfoundation.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 Margaret L Wendt Foundation
Who The Margaret L Wendt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Buffalo Seminary ($779K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 192 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports charitable and public-service purposes in Western New York. Its 2024 filing shows that all reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Margaret L Wendt Foundation open to new grantees?
77%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 43 grantees (77%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $75K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 7% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $2.7M (2023) to $3.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Seminary Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $779,306 |
| Roswell Park Foundation Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $300,000 |
| Kleinhans Music Hall Foundation Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $150,000 |
| One Symphony Circle Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $125,000 |
| Burchfield Penney Art Center Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $100,000 |
| Genesis Center Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $100,000 |
| Read to Succeed Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $100,000 |
| The Tool Library Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $78,750 |
| Buffalo Toronto Public Media Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $75,000 |
| World of Girls and Boys Leadership Buffalo, NY | Available Upon Request | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Margaret L Wendt 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $75,450,359 | $4,171,027 | $5,722,084 | $2,882,759 | 44 | $3,121,413 | $2,900,049 | $3,741,096 |
| 2023 | $64,615,125 | $4,674,231 | $4,628,315 | $2,679,446 | 37 | $2,973,563 | $2,664,577 | $3,107,313 |
| 2022 | $65,834,544 | $3,159,416 | $6,526,861 | $3,799,336 | 36 | $4,040,578 | $1,673,021 | $3,508,658 |
| 2021 | $82,817,860 | $6,131,264 | $5,190,422 | $3,702,383 | 41 | $3,942,192 | $5,119,225 | $3,858,929 |
| 2020 | $75,439,563 | $8,225,422 | $16,095,745 | $3,600,453 | 34 | — | $6,989,052 | $3,776,079 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Margaret L Wendt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its purpose broadly as supporting charitable and public-service purposes and says it does not focus on one specific area. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of activities. For example, Buffalo Seminary says its mission is to prepare young women to be engaged scholars and citizens, while the Burchfield Penney Art Center says it operates a museum dedicated to Charles E. Burchfield and artists of Buffalo, Niagara, and Western New York. The Tool Library says it promotes resource-sharing, sustainability, and access to practical tools and knowledge. Housing Options Made Easy says it supports people with mental health concerns to improve wellness and live independently.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $2,882,759. Grant amounts ranged from $2,400 to $779,306, with a median of $30,000. Among the largest awards were $779,306 to Buffalo Seminary, $300,000 to Roswell Park Foundation, $150,000 to Kleinhans Music Hall Foundation, and $125,000 to One Symphony Circle. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Burchfield Penney Art Center, Genesis Center, and Read to Succeed.
One Symphony Circle says its mission is to preserve, restore, and maintain a registered historic building as a community asset. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, which received $69,414, says it produces symphonic music for the cultural benefit of the Buffalo area and provides arts education programs for local youth. The Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, which received $58,000, describes its work as remembering, discovering, safeguarding, and sharing community stories. The Center for Elder Law & Justice, which received $50,000, says it provides free civil legal services to elderly, disabled, and low-income people in Western New York.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas Lunt, Claire Kresse White, and Jennifer Day Domanski as trustees.
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Claire Kresse White
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$99K (2020) → $89K (2024)
Thomas Lunt
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$99K (2020) → $89K (2024)
Jennifer Day Domanski
Trustee
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
$90K (2023) → $89K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Janet L. Day (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $89K, to Thomas Lunt (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Margaret L Wendt Foundation
How much does The Margaret L Wendt Foundation give each year?
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation gave $2.9M across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.7M across 37 grants.
What is The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's typical grant size?
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $65,517, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Margaret L Wendt Foundation that year got $75K on average.
Where does The Margaret L Wendt Foundation give grants?
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (33 grants) and Orchard Park, NY (2 grants).
Does The Margaret L Wendt Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Available Upon Request" (44 grants).
Who are The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's largest grantees?
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Buffalo Seminary ($779,306), Roswell Park Foundation ($300,000) and Kleinhans Music Hall Foundation ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Margaret L Wendt Foundation?
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation reported $75.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.7M (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 does The Margaret L Wendt Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its purpose broadly as supporting charitable and public-service purposes and says it does not focus on one specific area. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Margaret L Wendt Foundation?
The foundation’s website says it does not accept letters of intent and that organizations may request a grant application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's EIN?
The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6030037. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Margaret L Wendt Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Margaret L Wendt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-margaret-l-wendt-foundation-morg_c65d49864356422c95f5075f0442ead3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_166030037_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Margaret L Wendt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-margaret-l-wendt-foundation-morg_c65d49864356422c95f5075f0442ead3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Margaret L Wendt 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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