The Wagner Foundation
The Wagner Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois, established in 1954. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making cash contributions to other 501(c)(3) organizations using investment proceeds to further exempt purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$174K
+15.2% YoY
Grant Count
31
+10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+4.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking approach centers on accompaniment—a partnership model inspired by Dr. Paul Farmer and the work of Partners In Health. Rather than providing funding and stepping back, the foundation builds deep partnerships with grantees, staying engaged with organizations on the front lines of social change.
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Health and global health initiatives
- Religion and Judaism
- Human services
- Philanthropy and nonprofit support
- Mental health and suicide prevention
- Arts and culture
- Education
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains a Grantee Portal and provides site visits with grantee partners to deepen engagement.
Grant Range
** $750–$50,000, with a median grant amount of $5,655
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular activity in:
- Illinois
- Virginia
- New York
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2025:
- Total Assets: $3,433,454
- Total Revenue: $344,364
- Total Expenses: $254,167
- Total Giving: $190,033
- Giving Rate: 5.7%
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,247,763
- Total Revenue: $195,406
- Total Expenses: $226,308
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Active Minds ($25,000), The Jed Foundation ($25,000), Glenbrook North High School ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Liver Foundation West Orange, NJ | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $3,000 |
| amfAR - Foundation for AIDS Researc New York, NY | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $5,000 |
| Bernie's Book Bank Lake Bluff, IL | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $2,000 |
| Chicago Coalition For The Homeless Chicago, IL | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $3,000 |
| FORCE - Facing Hereditary Cancer Em Tampa, FL | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $6,000 |
| Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank Fredericksburg, VA | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $5,000 |
| Fredericksburg SPCA Fredericksburg, VA | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $9,000 |
| GGC Foundation Lawrenceville, GA | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $3,000 |
| Glenbrook North High School Northbrook, IL | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $12,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | To aid the organization and further exempt purposes. | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Paul Wagner – Treasurer ($23,000)
- Ralph Satoloe – Secretary ($23,000)
- David Wagner – Director ($23,000)
- Hal Roseth – Director ($3,000)
- Charlotte Wagner – Founder & President
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wagner | Treasurer | — | $23,000 |
| Ralph Satoloe | Secretary | — | $23,000 |
| David Wagner | Director | — | $23,000 |
| Hal Roseth | Director | — | $3,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several significant initiatives:
Wagner Incubator Grant Fund: 2023 Grantees Announced \u2013 Wagner Foundation**2025 Grantee Partners** – The foundation announced its 2025 cohort of grantee partners
Announcing Wagner Foundation 2025 Grantee Partners - Wagner Foundation**Wagner Arts Fellowship** – The foundation launched its inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship program with artist awardees
Announcing Wagner Foundation 2025 Grantee Partners - Wagner Foundation**Wagner Incubator Grant Fund** – The foundation operates an incubator grant fund supporting emerging organizations
Announcing Wagner Foundation 2025 Grantee Partners - Wagner Foundation**Arts Support** – The foundation awarded $300,000 to support the Boston Contemporary Art (BCA) Studio Residents program
BCA receives $300,000 award from Wagner Foundation to fully support the next**Artadia Partnership** – The foundation is involved with the 2025 Boston Artadia Awardees program
Wagner Foundation Announces Inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship and Artist AwardeesFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Wagner Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking approach centers on **accompaniment**—a partnership model inspired by Dr. Paul Farmer and the work of Partners In Health. Rather than providing funding and stepping back, the foundation builds deep partnerships with grantees, staying engaged with organizations on the front lines of social change. The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Health and global health initiatives • Religion and Judaism • Human services • Philanthropy and nonprofit support • Mental h…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wagner Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $750–$50,000, with a median grant amount of $5,655 **Recent Activity:** The foundation made 25 grants in fiscal year 2025, with total giving of $190,033. Recent grantees include The JED Foundation ($25,000), Active Minds ($25,000), and To Write Love on Her Arms ($10,000). **Approach:** The foundation employs trust-based funding practices including multi-year general operating support, transparency, and simplified reporting. The accompaniment model emphasizes: • Building relatio…
Where does The Wagner Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular activity in: • Illinois • Virginia • New York • California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Minnesota • New Hampshire • New Jersey • South Carolina • Tennessee • Wisconsin
What size grants does The Wagner Foundation award?
In 2025, The Wagner Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $174K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Wagner Foundation's EIN?
The Wagner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6055674. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wagner 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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