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.
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
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. There is no public application portal or process. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$250,000–$400,000
Average Grant
$35,000
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include 4MyCiTy Inc ($200,000), CCD Foundation ($200,000), Boulder Pride dba Out Boulder County ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 40 Tons Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Operating | $10,750 |
| 4MyCiTy Inc Baltimore, MD | General Operating | $200,000 |
| Accelerate Change Boston, MA | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Al Otro Lado San Ysidro, CA | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Alternatives For Girls Detroit, MI | General Operating | $15,000 |
| Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado Arvada, CO | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Ardent Grove Foundation Denver, CO | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Ardent Grove Foundation Denver, CO | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Phoenix, AZ | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Arizona Food Bank Network Phoenix, AZ | General Operating | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nancy Whiteman — Principal Officer, CEO and co-founder of Wana Brands
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
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?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $250,000–$400,000 • Average grant size: $35,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 • In 2023, the foundation made 105 grants • In 2024, the foundation made 130 grants **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. There is no public application portal or process. Grantmaking is by invitation only. **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable 2023 grants included: • Our Academy: $156,000 (In Support of Social Impact Scholarship …
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.
Explore Open Grants
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.
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