The Wadhams Family Foundation
The Wadhams Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It makes grants to organizations that qualify as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and states that it promotes community education, supports culture and the arts, advances social welfare, and supports community beautification.
Key facts about The Wadhams Family Foundation
In short: The Wadhams Family Foundation gave $1.0M across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $67K), mostly in Michigan. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-4718116
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,010,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- Average grant
- $67,367
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2024)
- Total assets
- $13,661,866
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.7M
-9.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+2.3% YoY
Grant Count
15
-11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
+15.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wadhams Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $868K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Wadhams Family Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $87K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purposes include promoting community education and supporting culture, the arts, social welfare, and community beautification. Its 2024 grants included support for environmental work, arts, cancer research, mental health, homelessness services, and community programs.
Among the grantees, Garrett’s Space describes its mission as filling gaps in support for young adults facing mental health challenges and providing support networks and resources for individuals, families, and communities. Therapeutic Riding Inc describes its mission as providing a therapeutic environment through horseback riding and other activities for people with disabilities or other challenges. The University of Michigan describes its mission as representing and advocating for its member physicians.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $1,010,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $710,000, with a median of $17,500. Notable grants included $710,000 to the University of Michigan for community and medical support; $50,000 each to Huron Waterloo Pathways for environmental support and the Ann Arbor Art Center for a capital campaign; and $50,000 to Chad Tough Cornerstone Club for cancer research. Other 2024 recipients included Garrett’s Space ($15,000), Shelter Association of Washtenaw County ($17,500), and Therapeutic Riding Inc ($2,500).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 3% to recipients in New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $567K (2022) to $1.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Michigan ($710K). Together the top 10 received $983K.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 80 (71%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Community Support, Medical Support | $710,000 |
| Huron Waterloo Pathways Chelsea, MI | BTB Trail - Environmental Support | $50,000 |
| Ann Arbor Art Center Ann Arbor, MI | Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| Chad Tough Cornerstone Club Saline, MI | Cancer Research | $50,000 |
| Student Conservation Assoc Charleston, NH | Enviromental Support | $35,000 |
| Ann Arbor Pioneer HS Booster Club Ann Arbor, MI | Booster Club | $20,000 |
| Ann Arbor A's Baseball Ann Arbor, MI | Athethic Team - Community Support | $20,000 |
| Shelter Assoc Washtenaw Cty Ann Arbor, MI | Gen Fund Support- Homelessness | $17,500 |
| Ray & Mary Knight Foundation Ann Arbor, MI | Mental Health Support | $15,000 |
| Garrett's Space Ann Arbor, MI | Mental Health Support | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,661,866 | -$120,971 | $1,195,019 | $1,010,500 |
| 2023 | $15,160,483 | $986,661 | $1,185,563 | $988,000 |
| 2022 | $14,573,333 | $541,253 | $861,045 | $567,489 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,661,866 | $15,160,483 | $14,573,333 |
| Revenue | $-120,971 | $986,661 | $541,253 |
| Expenses | $1,195,019 | $1,185,563 | $861,045 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,010,500 | $988,000 | $567,489 |
| Net Investment Income | $144,811 | $716,608 | $444,913 |
| Distributable Amount | $867,936 | $871,632 | $1,017,656 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Timothy Wadhams as trustee and Laurie G Wadhams as secretary.
The Wadhams Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy Wadhams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie G. Wadhams
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dennis R. Valenti (2020) — 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.
Contact
Mailing address: 3666 River Pines, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: (734) 662-0277
Frequently asked questions about The Wadhams Family Foundation
How much does The Wadhams Family Foundation give each year?
The Wadhams Family Foundation gave $1.0M across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $988K across 17 grants.
What is The Wadhams Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wadhams Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $67,367, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wadhams Family Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Wadhams Family Foundation give grants?
The Wadhams Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ann Arbor, MI (12 grants).
Does The Wadhams Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Wadhams Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Wadhams Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wadhams Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Michigan ($710,000), Huron Waterloo Pathways ($50,000) and Ann Arbor Art Center ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Wadhams Family Foundation?
The Wadhams Family Foundation reported $13.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $868K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Wadhams Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purposes include promoting community education and supporting culture, the arts, social welfare, and community beautification. Its 2024 grants included support for environmental work, arts, cancer research, mental health, homelessness services, and community programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wadhams Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Wadhams Family Foundation's EIN?
The Wadhams Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4718116. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Wadhams Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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