The Wessel Foundation
The Wessel Foundation is a private foundation, based in St. Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $53K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $12K. Net investment income was $4K.
The Wessel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wessel Foundation gave $12K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- Average grant
- $4,000
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $52,566
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% 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 Wessel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ursuline Academy ($10K). Together the top 3 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 18 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Wessel Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2020) to $12K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ursuline Academy St. Louis, MO | educational institution | $10,000 |
| Notre Dame Middle School St. Louis, MO | educational institution | $1,000 |
| Marian Middle School St. Louis, MO | educational institution | $1,000 |
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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 | $52,566 | $15,149 | $13,145 | $12,000 | 3 | $13,145 | $3,816 | $12,222 |
| 2023 | $53,884 | $8,881 | $9,642 | $9,600 | 4 | $9,642 | $4,839 | — |
| 2022 | $50,645 | $8,401 | $12,649 | $11,300 | 4 | $12,649 | $3,052 | $10,682 |
| 2021 | $51,125 | $8,581 | $9,891 | $9,000 | 3 | $9,716 | $3,190 | $9,663 |
| 2020 | $52,469 | $5,902 | $9,766 | $9,000 | 4 | — | $2,340 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wessel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Wessel Foundation is led by J Scott Wessel, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J Scott Wessel
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy A Corbin
V.p. of Operations
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer A Kriner
V.p. of Public Relations
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen M Wessel
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Wessel Foundation
How much does The Wessel Foundation give each year?
The Wessel Foundation gave $12K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Wessel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wessel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,000, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Wessel Foundation give grants?
The Wessel Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (3 grants).
Does The Wessel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Wessel Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Institution" (3 grants).
How large is The Wessel Foundation?
The Wessel Foundation reported $53K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Wessel Foundation's EIN?
The Wessel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1944939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 29, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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