The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc
The Roots and Wings Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2019 and based in Seattle, Washington. The foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to support low-income children and families in reaching their full potential. Operating with a small staff and a lean approach, the foundation emphasizes trust-based philanthropy and provides multi-year, unrestricted support to its grantees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$611.8M
+22.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$66.6M
+26.5% YoY
Grant Count
518
+14.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$129K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $26.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is encapsulated in its philosophy: "Two of the greatest gifts you can give a child are roots to grow and wings to fly." The foundation helps children grow strong from the roots up by supporting nonprofit organizations serving low-income children and families.
The foundation focuses on four primary program areas:
- Basic Needs — Supporting organizations addressing fundamental needs of low-income families
- Early Learning — Funding early childhood education and development programs
- Health — Supporting health initiatives for children and families
- Safety & Justice — Funding programs related to child safety and justice system involvement
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, it identifies prospective nonprofit partners through ongoing research, its growing network of grantees, community outreach, and introductions through its website. Eligible nonprofits are then invited to apply. Organizations can introduce themselves through the foundation's website at rootswings.org/grantmaking/introduce-yourself/.
Grant Range
$20,000 to $555,000+
Average Grant
approximately $117,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds in:
- Wisconsin — especially Dane County
- Washington — especially King County
- Oregon — expanding presence
- Select national organizations
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $497.9 million
- Total revenues: $200.5 million
- Total expenses: $48.9 million
- Total liabilities: $94,600
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $611.8 million
- Total giving: $66.6 million
Staff: 5 employees (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $611,848,279 | $497,952,730 | $287,662,170 |
| Revenue | $136,161,197 | $200,460,454 | $-3,074,733 |
| Expenses | $71,690,104 | $48,863,594 | $24,177,672 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $69,114,653 | $55,779,025 | $41,643,514 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,760,760 | $5,502,827 | $1,971,014 |
| Distributable Amount | $26,665,079 | $20,194,637 | $16,284,252 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Access Community Health Centers ($1,000,000), 2nd Harvest Foodbank of S Wisconsin ($500,000), Bayview Fdn ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2ND HARVEST FOODBANK OF S WISCONSIN MADISON, WI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $500,000 |
| ABC FOR HEALTH MADISON, WI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $140,000 |
| ABC FOR HEALTH MADISON, WI | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR SAFETYWEB NETWORK PROJECT | $50,000 |
| ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS MADISON, WI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $335,000 |
| ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS MADISON, WI | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $1,000,000 |
| ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS MADISON, WI | SITE VISIT HONORARIUM | $300 |
| ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED GRANT | $405,000 |
| ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK CHICAGO, IL | SITE VISIT HONORARIUM | $450 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GATHERING HONORARIUM | $400 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | FOUNDATION GATHERING HONORARIUM | $1,100 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Shana Dall'Osto — Executive Director (daughter of founder Judy Faulkner)
The foundation was established by Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Epic Systems, and her husband Gordon Faulkner, following their signing of the Giving Pledge.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHANA DALL'OSTO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 36 | $180,000 |
| JUDITH FAULKNER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| GORDON FAULKNER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Cooper Foundation received a $555,000 grant from Roots & Wings Foundation in February 2025 for prenatal and early childhood healthcare programs
Roots And Wings Foundation Inc - Full Filing - Nonprofit ExplorerRoots and Wings received a 2025 grant from Admirals Cove Foundation to support children's literacy through Project UpLift
Roots And Wings Foundation Inc - Full Filing - Nonprofit ExplorerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is encapsulated in its philosophy: "Two of the greatest gifts you can give a child are roots to grow and wings to fly." The foundation helps children grow strong from the roots up by supporting nonprofit organizations serving low-income children and families. The foundation focuses on four primary program areas: • **Basic Needs** — Supporting organizations addressing fundamental needs of low-income families • **Early Learning** — Funding early childhood education and de…
How do I apply for a grant from The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $20,000 to $555,000+ • Average grant size: approximately $117,000 • Multi-year, unrestricted grants whenever possible • Minimal application requirements and reporting burdens **Recent Activity:** • 2020: $15 million distributed across 120 organizations • 2023: $52.7 million distributed across 451 grants • 2023: Total giving of $66.6 million **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, it identifies prospective …
Where does The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds in: • **Wisconsin** — especially Dane County • **Washington** — especially King County • **Oregon** — expanding presence • Select national organizations
What size grants does The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc awarded 518 grants totaling $66.6M — an average of about $129K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $26.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0581904. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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