The Wellspring Foundation
The Wellspring Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Canton, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $310K. Net investment income was $325K.
The Wellspring Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wellspring Foundation gave $310K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $310,000
- -58.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -30.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,444
- -40.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $3,275,098
- -0.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Wellspring Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Center for Reproductive Rights ($50K). Together the top 9 received $310K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 51 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Wellspring Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $180K (2021) to $750K (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $310K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NY | General | $50,000 |
| The Good Information Foundation New York, NY | General | $50,000 |
| National Resources Defnse Council Cambridge, MA | General | $40,000 |
| Spring Street Climate Fund Brooklyn, NY | General | $40,000 |
| Lone Star Justice Alliance Austin, TX | General | $30,000 |
| Association of Independents in Radio New York, NY | General | $30,000 |
| Educational Video Center New York, NY | General | $25,000 |
| Just Impact Albany, NY | General | $25,000 |
| Abolitionist Law Center Pittsburgh, PA | General | $20,000 |
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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 | $3,275,098 | $393,906 | $395,116 | $310,000 | 9 | $310,000 | $325,025 | $378,913 |
| 2024 | $3,276,308 | $818,270 | $820,760 | $750,000 | 13 | $750,000 | $752,110 | $335,723 |
| 2023 | $3,278,798 | $378,716 | $372,477 | $310,000 | 11 | $310,000 | $316,239 | $306,937 |
| 2022 | $3,272,559 | $384,118 | $398,112 | $330,000 | 8 | $330,000 | $316,006 | $308,573 |
| 2021 | $3,286,553 | $650,579 | $241,913 | $180,000 | 10 | $182,000 | $590,666 | $324,675 |
| 2020 | $2,877,887 | $264,374 | $391,367 | $340,000 | 8 | — | $215,007 | $264,566 |
| 2019 | $3,004,880 | $400,386 | $280,226 | $230,000 | 8 | — | $352,160 | $255,598 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wellspring Foundation reported a distributable amount of $379K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Wellspring Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ashley Pettus
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brewster Pettus
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elise Pettus
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Wellspring Foundation
How much does The Wellspring Foundation give each year?
The Wellspring Foundation gave $310K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $750K across 13 grants.
What is The Wellspring Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wellspring Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $34,444, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Wellspring Foundation give grants?
The Wellspring Foundation gives mostly in New York: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (13%) and Texas (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants).
Does The Wellspring Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Wellspring Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Wellspring Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wellspring Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Center for Reproductive Rights ($50,000), The Good Information Foundation ($50,000) and National Resources Defnse Council ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Wellspring Foundation?
The Wellspring Foundation reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $310K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $379K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Wellspring Foundation?
The Wellspring Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Canton, MA. It holds $3.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Wellspring Foundation's EIN?
The Wellspring Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3457878. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work The Wellspring Foundation funds
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