The West Foundation Inc
The West Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. It describes itself as a family foundation working in international community development through partnerships with U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations.
The West Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The West Foundation Inc gave $291K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), top state New York. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $290,678
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,180
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,674,344
- -6.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (22% 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 West Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and limits proposals to invited existing partners. The 2025 filing lists Emily West as the application contact and says no special format is required.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing lists no deadlines. The website’s guidelines describe quarterly submissions and advise applicants to discuss the applicable quarter with the foundation.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing lists no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Emily West
Mailing address: 332 N East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: (317) 972-0204
Website: https://thewestfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The West Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ubuntu Pathways Inc ($20K). Together the top 10 received $131K.
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 125 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its mission as focused on the Global South and supports international community development through U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations. In 2025, 22% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 18% to California, 11% to Indiana, 10% to Washington, DC, and 3% to Georgia. Grant purposes included work in South Africa, Uganda, Guatemala, East Africa, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The West Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 26 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 347% 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 $122K (2020) to $293K (2023). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $291K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pathways Inc New York, NY | Education in South Africa - Covid Response | $20,000 |
| Mothers 2 Mothers Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Empower Women to Eliminate Pediatric AIDS | $17,500 |
| Hesperian Health Guides Berkeley, CA | Content Development for Grassroots Healthcare Literature Series | $15,000 |
| Trickle up New York, NY | Unrestricted - Poverty Elimination | $15,000 |
| Companion Community Development Alternatives Indianapolis, IN | Unrestricted solar power and clean water projects in salvadoran and nicaraguan villages | $13,178 |
| African Wildlife Foundation Washington DC, DC | Youth Leadership Program African Biodiversity | $10,000 |
| Building Tomorrow Indianapolis, IN | Unrestricted - Educational Programs in Uganda | $10,000 |
| Cooperative for Assistance & Relief Everywhere Inc Atlanta, GA | Impact Fund - Global Relief Efforts | $10,000 |
| Cooperative for Education Cincinnati, OH | Unrestricted - Educational Programs in Guatemala | $10,000 |
| Educate Denver, CO | Youth Employment Programs in East Africa | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The West 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 | $2,674,344 | $569,192 | $759,656 | $290,678 | 26 | $693,648 | $513,818 | $199,812 |
| 2024 | $2,847,660 | $624,823 | $707,024 | $262,500 | 26 | $638,366 | $561,892 | $199,005 |
| 2023 | $2,945,565 | $451,067 | $721,881 | $292,900 | 27 | $403,667 | $398,891 | $188,763 |
| 2022 | $3,215,545 | $565,950 | $696,214 | $255,500 | 23 | $352,274 | $504,487 | $217,380 |
| 2021 | $3,414,318 | $888,534 | $635,731 | $223,000 | 23 | $298,209 | $822,034 | $254,782 |
| 2020 | $3,091,928 | $294,399 | $516,402 | $122,000 | 12 | — | $238,050 | $217,114 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The West Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $200K 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 mission is to further the progress of nations in the Global South by supporting sustainable efforts to eliminate poverty through community development, particularly at the grassroots level.
Its stated areas of interest include livelihood development; education that promotes self-sufficiency, especially women’s education; community-based health programs; and environmentally sustainable activities, particularly potable water supply. Its guidelines also say that leadership development grounded in ethics and servant leadership may be considered case by case. The foundation gives priority consideration to programs that may be difficult to fund because of limited public appeal, expansions of proven services, and programs that could serve as models.
Examples of grantees’ work illustrate the kinds of organizations it has supported. Hesperian Health Guides says it develops and distributes health information resources, including materials available in 86 languages. Educate! describes its work as preparing youth in Africa with skills for the economy, while Building Tomorrow says it supports education in rural, underserved areas. Other 2025 grantees describe work in vision care (VisionSpring), global water education and WASH projects (H2O for Life), stopping child labor in supply chains (GoodWeave International), and financial services and training for people living in poverty in developing countries (Opportunity International).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $290,678. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $20,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable awards included $20,000 to Ubuntu Pathways for education in South Africa and COVID response; $17,500 to Mothers 2 Mothers for unrestricted support to empower women to eliminate pediatric AIDS; $15,000 each to Hesperian Health Guides for grassroots health-literature content development and to Trickle Up for poverty elimination; and $13,178 to Companion Community Development Alternatives for solar power and clean-water projects in Salvadoran and Nicaraguan villages. Other 2025 awards included $10,000 each to African Wildlife Foundation, Building Tomorrow, CARE, Cooperative for Education, Educate!, GoodWeave International, and H2O for Life.
The foundation’s website says it is currently accepting proposals by invitation only, limited to existing partners or previous grant constituents. Its 2025 filing, however, states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. For current partners seeking renewal, the website requests a cover letter and organizational report and budget for unrestricted support; project-based requests call for a cover letter, a narrative of up to eight pages, an organizational report and budget, and relevant supporting materials. The filing states that no special format is required and lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Emily West as executive director; Rebekah Jones, Suzanna Bloom, and Jordan Davis as directors; Daniele Roth-Larrison as office manager; and Emily Rice as program and communications officer.
The West Foundation Inc is led by Emily West, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Emily West
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$94K (2020) → $96K (2025)
Jordan Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rebekah Jones
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Suzanna Bloom
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Daniele Roth-Larrison
Office Manager
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$51K (2020) → $59K (2025)
Emily Rice
Program & Communications Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$24K (2022) → $75K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Debra Des Vignes (2020–2022) — Program & Communications Officer
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 $96K, to Emily West (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The West Foundation Inc
How much does The West Foundation Inc give each year?
The West Foundation Inc gave $291K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $263K across 26 grants.
What is The West Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The West Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,180, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The West Foundation Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does The West Foundation Inc give grants?
The West Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (18%) and Indiana (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Indianapolis, IN (3 grants) and Washington DC, DC (3 grants).
Does The West Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 27% of The West Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The West Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The West Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ubuntu Pathways Inc ($20,000), Mothers 2 Mothers ($17,500) and Hesperian Health Guides ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The West Foundation Inc?
The West Foundation Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $694K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $200K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The West Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to further the progress of nations in the Global South by supporting sustainable efforts to eliminate poverty through community development, particularly at the grassroots level. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The West Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and limits proposals to invited existing partners. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The West Foundation Inc's EIN?
The West Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7416727. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The West 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 September 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 6, 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 November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The West Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-west-foundation-inc-morg_2dcbecbf8e45492f97bd25582288a2ef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237416727_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The West Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-west-foundation-inc-morg_2dcbecbf8e45492f97bd25582288a2ef},
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 West 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.
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