The Wana Brands Foundation
The Wana Brands Foundation is a private foundation based in Boulder, Colorado, established in December 2021. The foundation was created with a $50 million endowment from proceeds of Wana Brands' sale to Canopy Growth Corp. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed over $12 million to more than 150 nonprofit partners across the United States.
Key facts about The Wana Brands Foundation
- EIN
- 87-4098170
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,509,075
- Grants made (2024)
- 130
- Average grant
- $34,685
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $55,766,283
- Primary geography
- Colorado (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wana Brands Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Wana Brands Foundation's 130 itemized 2024 grants were Colorado (45%) and Maryland (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (32 grants), Boulder, CO (10 grants), Lakewood, CO (6 grants) and Chicago, IL (4 grants). 93% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Capital Campaign" (4 grants).
How The Wana Brands Foundation gives
- 49% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 11173% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 165% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Wana Brands Foundation
- How to evaluate The Wana Brands Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Wana Brands Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$55.8M
+5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.5M
+62.2% YoY
Grant Count
130
+23.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+31.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wana Brands Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Enhancing our world by giving people the resources they need to live happy, healthy lives.
The foundation operates through trust-based philanthropy, moving away from traditional funder-nonprofit dynamics toward partnerships rooted in mutual respect and accountability.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Environment: Community-driven solutions that address environmental challenges, reduce food waste through recovery efforts, and build long-term ecological resilience
- Access & Opportunity: Support for efforts that challenge systemic barriers, expand access to opportunity, and amplify underrepresented voices
- Mental Health & Well-being: Support for mental health research, affordable and accessible care, and services that strengthen day-to-day well-being for individuals and communities
- Education
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$250,000–$400,000
Average Grant
$35,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Wana Brands Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national focus, funding nonprofits across the United States, with particular activity in Colorado, Michigan, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 130 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $55,766,283
- Total Annual Giving: $4,509,075
- Grant Count: 130
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $52,905,210
- Total Annual Giving: $2,779,670
- Total Expenses: $3,008,022
- Number of Grants: 105
Year-over-Year Growth (2023 to 2024):
- Assets increased 5.4%
- Annual giving increased 62.2%
- Grant count increased 23.8%
- Average grant size increased 31.0%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $55,766,283 | $52,905,210 | $49,960,591 |
| Revenue | $-3,729,981 | $-2,393,000 | $50,000,616 |
| Expenses | $5,010,673 | $3,008,022 | $40,025 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,623,364 | $2,786,305 | $40,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $405,716 | $609,595 | $616 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,797,514 | $2,569,112 | $36,761 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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
236 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Johns Hopkins University 2024 ($600,000 across 2 grants), Oasis Fresh Foundation ($220,000 across 2 grants), CCD Foundation ($202,500 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University 2024 Baltimore, MD | To benefit the Department of Pyschiatry and Behaviorial Sciences in support of cannabis and cannabinoid research | $400,000 |
| 4MyCiTy Inc Baltimore, MD | General Operating | $200,000 |
| CCD Foundation Denver, CO | Scholarships, Belonging, Leadership and Support Services | $200,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University 2024 Baltimore, MD | To benefit the Department of Pyschiatry and Behaviorial Sciences in support of psychedelic research | $200,000 |
| Oasis Fresh Foundation Tulsa, OK | General Operating | $200,000 |
| Boulder Pride dba Out Boulder County Boulder, CO | General Operating | $150,000 |
| One Colorado Education Fund Denver, CO | General Operating | $150,000 |
| South Oakland Shelter dba Lighthouse MI Pontiac, MI | Capital Campaign | $150,000 |
| The Loveland Foundation Brooklyn, NY | General Operating | $150,000 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Development Center FBO Man Therapy Denver, CO | General Operating | $140,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nancy Whiteman — Principal Officer, CEO and co-founder of Wana Brands
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's annual #4ward20 campaign reached the symbolic $4.2 million donation milestone in April 2024
The foundation announced a $3 million donation to Johns Hopkins University for cannabis and psychedelic research
Wana Brands Foundation to Donate $3 Million to Johns Hopkins for Cannabis,PsychedelicIn 2023, Wana Brands Foundation was named the 2023 Corporate Changemaker by Rocky Mountain Equality
Wana Brands Foundation hits symbolic $4.2M mark for charitable giving \u2013\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Wana Brands Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Enhancing our world by giving people the resources they need to live happy, healthy lives. The foundation operates through trust-based philanthropy, moving away from traditional funder-nonprofit dynamics toward partnerships rooted in mutual respect and accountability. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Environment:** Community-driven solutions that address environmental challenges, reduce food waste through recovery efforts, and build long-term ecological resilience • **Access & Opportun…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wana Brands Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Wana Brands Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national focus, funding nonprofits across the United States, with particular activity in Colorado, Michigan, and New Jersey.
What size grants does The Wana Brands Foundation award?
In 2024, The Wana Brands Foundation awarded 130 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Wana Brands Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Wana Brands Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Wana Brands Foundation's EIN?
The Wana Brands Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4098170. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Wana Brands Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Wana Brands 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.