The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation
The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation is a private foundation based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Its 2024 filing is marked as the organization’s final return and reports no grants or assets, so the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation at a glance
- Revenue (2024)
- $1,935,870
- +1001.0% vs 2023
- Qualifying distributions (2024)
- $34,848
- -85.7% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $87,483
- -68.3% vs 2023
- 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 Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing states that the foundation did not accept applications that year. Its application instructions called for an online application describing the organization’s purpose, why it was requesting a grant, intended outcomes, and planned use of funds. The filing said applicants had to be exempt under section 501(c)(3) or be a governmental agency; the foundation did not make grants to individuals, purchase tickets, or participate in fundraising events such as galas. These instructions are from the 2024 filing and should not be treated as a current application process.
- Review Cycle
- April 1 was the deadline stated in the 2024 filing; that cycle is past.
- Deadline
- April 1 was the deadline stated in the 2024 filing; that cycle is past.
- Contact
Application contact: Online Only The Foundation Did
Mailing address: Not Accept Applications In 2024, New Orleans, LA 70163
Phone: (504) 207-8555
Website: https://wisdomfoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 72 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website says the foundation’s direct grantmaking is focused on 501(c)(3) organizations serving Greater New Orleans. The 2024 filing says primary consideration was given to organizations conducting their operations in the Greater New Orleans area. Past recipients included organizations based in New Orleans and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, based in Houston.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Is The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 86% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 18% 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 (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $210K (2021) to $258K (2022). In 2023 it made 14 grants totaling $231K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Le Petit Theatre Du Vieux Carre New Orleans, LA | Performing Arts to Nola Community | $41,000 |
| Greater New Orleans Foundation New Orleans, LA | Charitable Center for Philantropy | $38,500 |
| New Orleans Startup Fund Inc New Orleans, LA | Provide Resources to Early Stage Cos | $38,500 |
| Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Inc Houston, TX | Reproductive Health Care & Sex Ed | $28,500 |
| Louise S McGehee School New Orleans, LA | Prek - 12TH Grade Education | $15,000 |
| Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra New Orleans, LA | Professional Orchestra in Gulf South | $15,000 |
| Bridge House Corporation New Orleans, LA | Long-Term Substance Abuse Treatment | $10,000 |
| Families Helping Families Se LA New Orleans, LA | Support for People with Disabilities | $10,000 |
| Court Watch Nola New Orleans, LA | Criminal Court Ethics & Fairness | $10,000 |
| NC School of Science and Math Fdn Durham, NC | STEM Education | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mary Freeman Wisdom 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 | — | $1,935,870 | $87,483 | — | — | $34,848 | $1,909,238 | $195,519 |
| 2023 | $3,452,367 | $175,836 | $276,015 | $231,000 | 14 | $244,467 | $146,166 | $225,080 |
| 2022 | $3,552,546 | $210,255 | $298,504 | $258,000 | 23 | $265,347 | $179,360 | $227,488 |
| 2021 | $3,641,036 | $166,986 | $247,092 | $210,000 | 21 | $212,015 | $133,380 | $249,982 |
| 2020 | $3,721,917 | $-284,671 | $259,719 | $228,000 | 14 | — | $36,499 | $208,335 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $196K 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 website describes two completed initiatives: FixNOLA, a partnership with the City of New Orleans to document and address road and drainage issues, and ChatNOLA, launched in March 2025 to focus on broader city services and accessibility. The website says the foundation is now focused on direct grantmaking to local 501(c)(3) organizations.
Past grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré describes its mission as providing theatrical productions and programming to entertain, enrich, and educate the region. New Orleans Startup Fund describes its work as providing seed capital and business assistance to early-stage businesses to support jobs and economic prosperity in the Greater New Orleans area. Court Watch NOLA says it monitors Orleans Parish criminal cases to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Make Music NOLA describes a tuition-free music instruction and performance program for New Orleans students. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 14 grants totaling $231,000 in 2023 and 23 grants totaling $258,000 in 2022. Its 2024 filing reports no grants. Notable 2023 grants included $41,000 to Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, $38,500 to New Orleans Startup Fund, $28,500 to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, $15,000 to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, $10,000 to Court Watch NOLA, and $5,000 to Make Music NOLA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stuart Benjamin as president; Ned Benjamin as secretary; Arthur Wisdom, Adelaide Benjamin, and Matthew Wisdom as trustees; and Andrew Wisdom as treasurer.
The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation is led by Stuart Benjamin, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stuart Benjamin
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Adelaide Benjamin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Arthur Wisdom
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Matthew Wisdom
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Andrew Wisdom
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ned Benjamin
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Matt Wisdom (2020–2021) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation
What does The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation fund?
The website describes two completed initiatives: FixNOLA, a partnership with the City of New Orleans to document and address road and drainage issues, and ChatNOLA, launched in March 2025 to focus on broader city services and accessibility. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation?
The 2024 filing states that the foundation did not accept applications that year. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation make grants?
The website says the foundation’s direct grantmaking is focused on 501(c)(3) organizations serving Greater New Orleans. The 2024 filing says primary consideration was given to organizations conducting their operations in the Greater New Orleans area. Past recipients included organizations based in New Orleans and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, based in Houston.
How much is The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $196K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation's EIN?
The Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-6123208. 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 Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Greater New Orleans Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Greater New Orleans Foundation funds arts and culture, education, youth development, health, social services, and other regional priorities across the 13 parishes of Southeast Louisiana. Its stated average grant is about $20,000; its IMPACT grants are invitation-only, while the Foundation encourages nonprofits to share information about their work through a form.
Assets
$513.0M
Grants
623
Total Given
$34.6M
Baptist Community Ministries
New Orleans, LA
Baptist Community Ministries funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in health, education, or public safety in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana. Its 2025 grants had a median of $10,000, while public Transom Grants start at $50,000 per year and discretionary donations are generally $5,000 or less. It accepts unsolicited requests through these public programs; other grant types are invitation-only.
Assets
$397.5M
Grants
264
Total Given
$10.6M
Goldring Family Foundation
Metairie, LA
The Goldring Family Foundation funds nonprofits in education, health, arts and culture, human services, children’s opportunities, Jewish causes, and other areas, primarily in Greater New Orleans. Its 2024 grants had a median of $7,000, though awards ranged from $30 to $1 million. It invites organizations to begin with a Letter of Inquiry.
Assets
$199.2M
Grants
305
Total Given
$7.0M
Eugenie & Joseph Jones Family Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Eugenie & Joseph Jones Family Foundation supports a broad range of Louisiana organizations, including schools, arts and cultural groups, nature programs, and nonprofits providing food and human services; nearly all its 2025 grant dollars went to Louisiana. Grants ranged from $200 to $125,000, with a median of $12,500. It accepts requests from organizations beyond a preselected group; applications are due by the 15th of the month before a scheduled meeting.
Assets
$15.9M
Grants
52
Total Given
$1.0M
Patrick F Taylor Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation primarily funds education, equal opportunity, and free enterprise, with additional support for charitable and humanitarian work, arts and culture, the environment, and community needs. In 2024, grants ranged from $600 to $425,000, with a median of $8,000; it focuses on Louisiana while also funding work elsewhere, especially in Mississippi. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$45.5M
Grants
109
Total Given
$3.7M
Zemurray Foundation
New Orleans, LA
The Zemurray Foundation funds education, health, research, environmental sustainability, and cultural and community programs, with a focus on organizations in the greater New Orleans region. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1.5 million, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests, but eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in the region may submit a letter of intent.
Assets
$101.2M
Grants
33
Total Given
$7.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Louisiana
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Mary Freeman Wisdom 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 Mary Freeman Wisdom Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?