The Wagner Foundation Ltd
The Wagner Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, committed to supporting creative, visionary individuals and arts institutions while expanding cultural access. The foundation also supports health and economic opportunity efforts in poor and rural communities in the United States and globally.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+142.9% YoY
Grant Count
8
-42.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$289K
+325.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Wagner Foundation supports individuals and communities exploring creative ideas that challenge convention. The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Arts and Culture: Supporting arts institutions and contemporary visual artists whose work addresses the role of art in civic life
- Health and Economic Opportunity: Funding health initiatives and economic opportunity programs in underserved communities
- Systems Change: The foundation conducts grantmaking through the lens of systems change, transparency, and equity
The foundation operates under what it calls an "accompaniment approach" to philanthropy—a model inspired by Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners In Health that emphasizes deep partnerships, shared learning, and walking alongside grantee partners on the journey toward systems change. This approach includes trust-based funding practices such as multi-year general operating support, transparency, and simplified reporting.
Grantmaking
The Wagner Foundation makes significant grants to support its mission. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Wagner Foundation funds globally with particular geographic concentrations:
- United States: Boston area (majority of grants), rural America
- International: Africa, Latin America, and Haiti
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $161,143,389
- Total Revenues: $8,865,912
- Total Expenses: $15,489,669
- Staff: 7 employees
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Kelch Aviation Museum Inc ($1,017,600), Mano a Mano ($550,000), Mid-continent Railway Museum ($344,510).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BURLINGTON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS BURLINGTON, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $182,853 |
| CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BURLINGTON, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE LAKE SUPERI SUPERIOR, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| KELCH AVIATION MUSEUM INC BRODHEAD, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,017,600 |
| MANO A MANO ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $550,000 |
| MID-CONTINENT RAILWAY MUSEUM NORTH FREEDOM, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $344,510 |
| SAUK COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES BARABOO, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL BURLINGTON, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Hunter Wagner holds a position at the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERTA WAGNER | President | 10 | $400 |
| MARCIA ESSMAN | Secretary | 5 | $400 |
| JULIE O'NEILL | Vice President | 5 | $400 |
| KEN ESSMAN | Director | 1 | $400 |
| ROBERT O'NEILL | Director | 1 | $400 |
| MEGHAN LANG | Director | 1 | $400 |
| MELISSA DOYLE | Director | 1 | $400 |
| ADAM ESSMAN | Director | 1 | $400 |
| MARCI RUETER | Director | 1 | $400 |
| MOLLY ELSBURY | Director | 1 | $400 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Wagner Foundation announced its inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship, recognizing and supporting artist awardees. The foundation also operates the Wagner Incubator Grant Fund, which announced 2023 grantees. The foundation maintains a Wagner Gallery that displays rotating art exhibitions by local, national, and internationally renowned contemporary visual artists.
Wagner Foundation announces inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship and artist awardeesFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Wagner Foundation Ltd fund?
The Wagner Foundation supports individuals and communities exploring creative ideas that challenge convention. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Arts and Culture**: Supporting arts institutions and contemporary visual artists whose work addresses the role of art in civic life • **Health and Economic Opportunity**: Funding health initiatives and economic opportunity programs in underserved communities • **Systems Change**: The foundation conducts grantmaking through the lens of…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wagner Foundation Ltd?
The Wagner Foundation makes significant grants to support its mission. Recent grants include: • Mass Design Group: $1,000,000 (2024) • Year Up: $1,000,000 (2024) • Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA): $700,000 (2024) The foundation made approximately $11.9 million in grants in 2024 across 126+ grantees. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy emphasizes building trust, listening, and remaining flexible. It seeks to be a thought partner to grantees, amplify their stories, advocate for their work…
Where does The Wagner Foundation Ltd make grants?
The Wagner Foundation funds globally with particular geographic concentrations: • **United States**: Boston area (majority of grants), rural America • **International**: Africa, Latin America, and Haiti
What size grants does The Wagner Foundation Ltd award?
In 2023, The Wagner Foundation Ltd awarded 8 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $289K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Wagner Foundation Ltd's EIN?
The Wagner Foundation Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1311452. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wagner Foundation Ltd'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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