The Ward Foundation Inc
The Ward Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Gretna, Louisiana, formed in 2018. It focuses on increasing access to education for underserved people in New Orleans and Guatemala.
The Ward Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Ward Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), top state Louisiana. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,009,374
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- -8.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $29,687
- +11.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $15,278,275
- +25.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (5 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (19% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ward Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says grants are considered by invitation only, while inquiries are welcome. It describes spring and fall grantmaking cycles.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 275, Gretna, LA 70054
Phone: (504) 296-6768
Website: https://thewardfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ward Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maia ($158K). Together the top 10 received $688K.
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 143 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated focus is New Orleans and Guatemala. Its 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in several states: Louisiana and Illinois each received 19%, Texas 18%, California 13%, and Washington 8%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ward Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 34 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $24K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 84% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 181% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $338K (2020) to $1.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maia Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $157,819 |
| The Sparks Foundation Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $110,000 |
| International Community Foundation National City, CA | Unrestricted | $103,839 |
| Amigos De Santa Cruz Foundation Seattle, WA | Unrestricted | $80,250 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope Network St. Louis, MO | Unrestricted | $46,170 |
| She's the First New York, NY | Unrestricted | $38,896 |
| Live Oak Wilderness Camp New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $36,000 |
| Planting Seeds International Northbrook, IL | Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Cremos Norte Scarborough, ME | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ward Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15,278,275 | $5,318,984 | $2,312,518 | $1,009,374 | 34 | $1,186,393 | $1,144,152 | $655,845 |
| 2024 | $12,155,234 | $3,149,228 | $1,223,156 | $986,459 | 37 | $1,154,882 | $917,156 | $617,307 |
| 2023 | $10,229,162 | $1,278,928 | $890,322 | $695,900 | 30 | $799,890 | $652,769 | $494,296 |
| 2022 | $9,840,556 | $235,403 | $605,413 | $549,760 | 22 | $577,261 | $306,944 | $492,821 |
| 2021 | $10,210,566 | $543,488 | $563,843 | $498,000 | 20 | $498,000 | $436,799 | $491,828 |
| 2020 | $10,230,921 | $461,987 | $412,391 | $337,634 | 15 | — | $491,701 | $487,067 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ward Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $656K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to increase access to quality education for underserved people in New Orleans and Central America.
In New Orleans, it supports direct-service organizations providing innovative, education-focused services to children and youth ages 3–18, with geographic priority for programs serving Orleans and Jefferson parishes. In Guatemala, its priorities are education for children and youth ages 3–18 and rights-based efforts supporting women and girls, with particular attention to Indigenous and Maya communities. The foundation also says it sometimes supports networks and collaborations among organizations working in these areas.
Its website describes its grants as generally unrestricted and multi-year. It is open to supporting general operations and, on rare occasions, capital projects for existing grantees.
Examples among its 2025 grantees include Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation, whose stated mission is to improve the lives of Indigenous people in Santa Cruz La Laguna and surrounding villages through education and sustainable economic empowerment; Planting Seeds International, which says its programs address the needs of the whole child in Guatemala; and Live Oak Wilderness Camp, which says it connects a diverse community of New Orleans children through year-round camp, friendship, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 34 grants totaling $1,009,374. Awards ranged from $500 to $157,819, with a median grant of $20,000. Its largest grants included $157,819 to MAIA, $110,000 to The Sparks Foundation, $103,839 to International Community Foundation, and $80,250 to Amigos de Santa Cruz Foundation. The listed purposes for these grants were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Albert James Ward Jr, Director–President; Christopher Van Dervort, Director–Secretary; Elizabeth Heebe-Russo, Director–Treasurer; Sarah Heebe, Director; and Anna Heebe, Director. Travis Ning is listed as Program Director.
The Ward Foundation Inc is led by Albert James Ward Jr., Director - President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Albert James Ward Jr.
Director - President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Van Dervort
Director - Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $40K (2025)
Travis Ning
Program Director
Director → Program Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $120K (2025)
Elizabeth Heebe-Russo
Director - Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Heebe
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Heebe
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $120K, to Travis Ning (Program Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ward Foundation Inc
How much does The Ward Foundation Inc give each year?
The Ward Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $986K across 37 grants.
What is The Ward Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Ward Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $29,687, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ward Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Ward Foundation Inc give grants?
The Ward Foundation Inc's top state is Louisiana, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (19%) and Texas (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Orleans, LA (8 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants), Houston, TX (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Ward Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of The Ward Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ward Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Ward Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Maia ($157,819), The Sparks Foundation ($110,000) and International Community Foundation ($103,839), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ward Foundation Inc?
The Ward Foundation Inc reported $15.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $656K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ward Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to increase access to quality education for underserved people in New Orleans and Central America. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ward Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ward Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ward Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2945207. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Ward Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 20, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ward Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Luis Von AHN Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
The Luis von Ahn Foundation funds community leaders and nonprofits advancing education, women’s and girls’ equality, conservation, and democracy, with a focus on Guatemala. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $478,000, with a median of $60,000; learning grants are typically $25,000–$50,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and invites selected organizations to submit proposals.
Assets
$8.3M
Grants
43
Total Given
$4.2M
Brooklyn Community Foundation
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Org funds nonprofits working to advance racial justice and address poverty, inequality, and community needs, with a priority on BIPOC-led organizations in low-income Brooklyn communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $20,000 to $100,000, with a median of $45,000; it focuses primarily on Brooklyn. Its General Operating Support program accepts applications at any time, though selected organizations are invited to submit a full proposal.
Assets
$142.0M
Grants
93
Total Given
$4.7M
The Summit Charitable Foundation Inc
Washington, DC
The Summit Charitable Foundation funds equality for women and girls, ocean biodiversity—especially the Mesoamerican Reef—and people-focused transportation, with grants also supporting gender justice, youth leadership, fisheries, and water quality. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median of $50,000; its work includes the DC and other US locations as well as Central America and the Mesoamerican Reef region. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$159.0M
Grants
110
Total Given
$7.3M
Vyuha Inc
Miami Beach, FL
Vyuha Inc. supports qualified public charities chosen by members of the Vohra employee and partner community, across areas including health, education, arts, environment, and international aid. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median of $15,000, and went to organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It says it does not currently require an application form for consideration.
Assets
$14.5M
Grants
66
Total Given
$1.0M
Open Society Institute
New York, NY
The Open Society Institute funds organizations and individuals advancing democracy, human rights, equity, and justice, including work on civic engagement, independent media, and digital rights. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged widely, and it supports work nationally and globally. Application processes vary by program; most grants go to groups approached directly, and the Latin America and Caribbean program rarely funds unsolicited proposals.
Assets
$5.4B
Grants
559
Total Given
$146.9M
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
Venice, FL
Gulf Coast Community Foundation funds arts and culture, civic and economic development, education, the environment, health and human services, and disaster response, with grants generally serving Sarasota and Charlotte counties, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,030 to $2,101,739, with a median of $16,251; Community Grants are capped at $25,000 per nonprofit per fiscal year. It accepts letters of inquiry for Community Grants; Catalytic and Initiative Grants are by invitation.
Assets
$533.7M
Grants
651
Total Given
$45.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Louisiana
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ward Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ward-foundation-inc-morg_cd5e357cf20b442b8dff75c27f4a9ea9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832945207_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ward Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ward-foundation-inc-morg_cd5e357cf20b442b8dff75c27f4a9ea9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ward Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Ward Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?