The Robert I Wishnick Foundation
The Robert I Wishnick Foundation, also known as the William Wishnick Foundation, is a private family foundation incorporated in Illinois in 1951 and granted tax-exempt status in August 1952. Based in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization supporting diverse nonprofit causes across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.4M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$319K
-2.7% YoY
Grant Count
38
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-2.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert I Wishnick Foundation reported a distributable amount of $349K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's philosophy centers on supporting nonprofits that align with individual board members' values. According to the foundation's stated purpose, "We donate to non-profits that each Board Member believes in." The foundation does not accept unrequested solicitations.
The foundation supports a broad spectrum of causes, including:
- Animal welfare
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Environmental causes
- Health and medical research
- Human services
- Jewish people and organizations
- People with disabilities
- People with diseases and illnesses
- Public safety and disaster management
- Religion
- International human rights
- Community and economic development
- Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
Grantmaking
The foundation made 42 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Bonner and Kootenai counties in Idaho and Salt Lake and Summit counties in Utah. However, the foundation also funds organizations across numerous states including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,400,601
- Total Revenues: $382,340
- Total Expenses: $363,572
- Investment Income and Dividends: $384,400
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,400,601 | $7,016,632 | $8,215,647 |
| Revenue | $382,340 | $307,053 | $244,515 |
| Expenses | $363,572 | $372,513 | $491,063 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $329,334 | $337,891 | $452,284 |
| Net Investment Income | $350,162 | $311,024 | $306,294 |
| Distributable Amount | $349,360 | $366,416 | $414,590 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
156 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include The Forgotten Dog Foundation ($70,000), Adopt a Native American Elder ($25,000), Rathdrum Food Bank ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADOPT A NATIVE AMERICAN ELDER SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| 4 PAWS PALACE SANCTUARY NEWPORT, WA | GENERAL | $6,000 |
| AIRMID INSTITUTE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA | GENERAL | $8,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAELI NAVY SE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN VALOR FOUNDATION HAMILTON, TX | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| BONNER GENERAL HEALTH FOUNDATION SANDPOINT, ID | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| CHABAD OF PUTNAM COUNTY CARMEL HAMLET, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| DOUBLE J DOG RANCH POST FALLS, ID | GENERAL | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ami Jo Gibson — President
- Howard Schur — Investment Officer
All leadership and trustees work without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMI JO GIBSON | President | — | — |
| HOWARD SCHUR | INVEST. OFFICER | — | — |
| LISA WISHNICK | Trustee | — | — |
| KENDALL WISHNICK ADAMS | Trustee | — | — |
| JENNIFER ROTHBERG | Secretary/Treas | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made recent grants to organizations including Nik's Wish, a Rockford-based nonprofit, and has supported various regional and national organizations across its focus areas.
More than $8K gifted to Nik\u2019s Wish, a Rockford-based nonprofitFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert I Wishnick Foundation fund?
The foundation's philosophy centers on supporting nonprofits that align with individual board members' values. According to the foundation's stated purpose, "We donate to non-profits that each Board Member believes in." The foundation does not accept unrequested solicitations. The foundation supports a broad spectrum of causes, including: • Animal welfare • Arts and culture • Education • Environmental causes • Health and medical research • Human services • Jewish people and organizations • Peop…
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert I Wishnick Foundation?
The foundation made 42 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Rathdrum Food Bank: $25,000 (general support) • Music Conservatory of Sandpoint: $20,000 (general support) • Alzheimer's Association: $10,000 (general support) Types of support provided include general operating support and project support. The foundation funds projects across multiple states and in various cities, including major metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as well as smaller communities.
Where does The Robert I Wishnick Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Bonner and Kootenai counties in Idaho and Salt Lake and Summit counties in Utah. However, the foundation also funds organizations across numerous states including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
What size grants does The Robert I Wishnick Foundation award?
In 2023, The Robert I Wishnick Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $319K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert I Wishnick Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Robert I Wishnick Foundation reported a distributable amount of $349K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert I Wishnick Foundation's EIN?
The Robert I Wishnick Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6068668. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert I Wishnick Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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