The Wagner Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Reno, NV EIN: 27-2532631

The Wagner Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Reno, NV. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 10 grants totaling $286K. Net investment income was $282K.

Key facts about The Wagner Foundation

EIN: 27-2532631
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $285,768
Grants made (2024): 10
Average grant: $28,577
Median grant: $12,500
Total assets: $5,314,403
Primary geography: California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The Wagner Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Wagner Foundation's 10 itemized 2024 grants were California (95%) and Montana (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Luis Obispo, CA (3 grants) and Bigfork, MT (2 grants). None of its 10 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

How The Wagner Foundation gives

In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Next steps with The Wagner Foundation

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.3M

-2.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$286K

+90.4% YoY

Grant Count

+150.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$29K

-23.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wagner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $260K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Wagner Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

California $270K (95%)

Montana $15K (5%)

Share of all 10 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Montana Washington

Cities

San Luis ObispoRancho MirageBigforkKalispellLos AngelesPalm DesertLa QuintaLos GatosSanta RosaSpokane

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$5,314,403	$5,424,123	$5,301,852
Revenue	$291,333	$393,777	$528,639
Expenses	$401,053	$271,330	$343,965
Qualifying Distributions	$293,802	$205,787	$305,726
Net Investment Income	$281,928	$338,118	$490,400
Distributable Amount	$259,579	$263,985	$265,570

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

24 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include California Polytechnic State University Foundation ($159,368 across 2 grants), Eisenhower Medical Center Foundation ($50,000), Cal Poly Athletics ($50,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION San Luis Obispo, CA	4 FORTUNE SCHOLARSHIP	$106,368
CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION San Luis Obispo, CA	WOMENS VOLLEYBALL & MENS GOLF	$53,000
EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION Rancho Mirage, CA	MEDICAL CARE	$50,000
CAL POLY ATHLETICS San Luis Obispo, CA	TENNIS PAVILION	$50,000
BIGFORK YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION Bigfork, MT	YOUTH BASEBALL FIELD	$15,000
DESERT SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION - ARNOLD PALMER EDUCATION FUND Palm Desert, CA	SUPPORT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT	$10,000
OLD TOWN ARTISAN STUDIOS La Quinta, CA	ART EDUCATION	$600
JULI INKSTER FOUNDATION Los Gatos, CA	WOMENS GOLF SCHOLARSHIP	$500
LOGAN HEALTH Kalispell, MT	BREAST CANCER	$200
BIGFORK ART CULTURAL CENTER - GINGERBREAD SCHOLARSHIP FUND Bigfork, MT	SUPPORT FOR HIGHSCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP	$100

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Barbara Y Gillespie	Treasurer/Director	5	$80,000
Troy S Gillespie	Secretary/Director	5	$10,000

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Wagner Foundation?

The Wagner Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Reno, NV. It holds $5.3M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Wagner Foundation?

As of 2024, The Wagner Foundation holds $5.3M in total assets with $291K in annual revenue. It awarded 10 grants totaling $286K in 2024.

Where does The Wagner Foundation operate?

The Wagner Foundation has awarded grants in California, Montana, Washington.

What size grants does The Wagner Foundation award?

In 2024, The Wagner Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $286K — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Wagner Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Wagner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $260K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.