The Wendy Foundation
The Wendy Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 3 grants totaling $69K. Net investment income was $3K.
The Wendy Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wendy Foundation gave $69K across 3 grants in 2021 (avg $23K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $68,882
- +359.2% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $22,961
- +206.1% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $15,835
- Primary geography
- Ohio (58% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who The Wendy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Otterbein University ($40K). Together the top 3 received $69K.
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 11 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Wendy Foundation gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2020) to $82K (2019). In 2021 it made 3 grants totaling $69K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Otterbein University Westerville, OH | Project Support | $40,000 |
| The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival Palm Springs, CA | Provide Support | $15,835 |
| Fractured Atlas New York, NY | Project Support | $13,047 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $3,064 | $69,390 | $68,882 | 3 | $68,909 | $2,905 | $2,555 |
| 2020 | $67,334 | $23,220 | $15,226 | $15,000 | 2 | — | $23,176 | $3,367 |
| 2019 | $82,500 | $14,678 | $82,262 | $82,000 | 6 | — | $15,100 | $6,896 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wendy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Wendy Foundation is led by Gus Van Sant Jr., Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Gus Van Sant Jr.
Director & President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Kohn
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gus Van Sant Sr.
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "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 Wendy Foundation
How much does The Wendy Foundation give each year?
The Wendy Foundation gave $69K across 3 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $15K across 2 grants.
What is The Wendy Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wendy Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $15,835, and its average grant was $22,961, across 3 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Wendy Foundation give grants?
The Wendy Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (23%) and New York (19%).
Does The Wendy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Wendy Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How much is The Wendy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The Wendy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Wendy Foundation's EIN?
The Wendy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1191915. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 20, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Live grants for the work The Wendy Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Wendy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from The Wendy Foundation'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.
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