The Westerman Foundation
The Westerman Foundation is a private foundation based in Plano, Texas. Founded by Laura “Jane” Westerman in June 2000, it supports Catholic education, family resiliency, and organizations serving people in need.
The Westerman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Westerman Foundation gave $1.8M across 80 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), top state Texas. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,784,357
- +10.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 80
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,304
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $35,701,629
- +4.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (15 of 77, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Westerman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation’s website says its process is invitation-only and that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Selected organizations receive an invitation with instructions for accessing the online grant portal and information about requirements and deadlines. The application instructions say organizations must be U.S.-based, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations providing U.S. program services, and that requests must be for general operating or program support rather than for individuals. The instructions list organizational, program, budget, evaluation, and service-population information among the application materials.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation’s 2024 filing states that the submission deadline is August 1 annually. The website says invited organizations receive information about deadlines specific to the applicable funding cycle.
- Deadline
- The foundation’s 2024 filing states that the submission deadline is August 1 annually.
- Contact
Application contact: The Westerman Foundation
Mailing address: 3225 Macdill Ave Suite 129, Tampa, FL 33629
Phone: (813) 257-8477
Email: info@thewestermanfoundation.org
Website: https://thewestermanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Westerman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Catholic Charities Fort Worth ($50K). Together the top 10 received $481K.
Grant Size Distribution
440 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 420 grants of 440 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana as its primary geographic focus, while noting that it may consider opportunities elsewhere when mission and impact strongly align with its priorities. In 2024, its grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Texas (34%), Kansas (26%), Oklahoma (12%), Louisiana (8%), and New Mexico (6%). The 2024 grants also included recipients in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 80 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Westerman Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 77 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2022) to $1.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 80 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo Laredo, TX | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Donnelly College Kansas City, KS | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| St Eugene Catholic School Oklahoma City, OK | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| St Eugene Catholic Church Oklahoma City, OK | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Dallas, TX | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Saint Cecilia Catholic School Dallas, TX | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Bishop Ward High School Kansas City, KS | General Purposes | $45,000 |
| Mount St Scholastica Atchison, KS | General Purposes | $45,000 |
| James L Collins Catholic School Corsicana, TX | General Purposes | $41,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Westerman Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $35,701,629 | $2,348,199 | $2,143,548 | $1,784,357 | 80 | $1,961,590 | $2,140,560 | $1,734,456 |
| 2023 | $34,116,770 | $561,991 | $1,952,769 | $1,611,400 | 84 | $1,766,964 | $552,110 | $1,653,011 |
| 2022 | $32,208,228 | $-247,175 | $1,632,629 | $1,197,366 | 71 | $1,285,878 | $287,279 | $1,735,192 |
| 2021 | $32,328,144 | $4,955,064 | $2,022,685 | $1,689,000 | 106 | $1,753,427 | $4,685,806 | $1,780,135 |
| 2020 | $30,642,068 | $2,916,153 | $1,825,137 | $1,602,500 | 99 | — | $2,758,205 | $1,533,523 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Westerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to educational institutions, with emphasis on Catholic education; Christian-based organizations that promote family unity and values; and programs that assist the poor and abused.
Its 2026 funding priorities are Catholic education, women’s empowerment, and family resilience. In Catholic education, it considers programs from early childhood through undergraduate levels, including faith formation, curriculum, instruction, enrichment, and student well-being. It does not award grants for individual scholarships or general tuition assistance programs. The website describes women’s empowerment as supporting women’s safety, health, self-realization, and resilience, and identifies family resilience as another core priority.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Donnelly College says it provides education and community services with personal concern for students, especially those who might not otherwise be served. Marian Middle School describes its work serving adolescent girls across religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds and fostering development toward college readiness. Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas says it serves, teaches, builds community, and preserves the dignity of individuals and families; Catholic Charities of Dallas describes addressing poverty, hunger, and homelessness through service, education, and empowerment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 80 grants totaling $1,784,357. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the 2024 grants, Donnelly College received $50,000, Marian Middle School received $40,000, Catholic Charities Community Services Odessa received $30,000, Good Shepherd Nativity Mission School received $30,000, Catholic Charities in Salina received $30,000, and Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas received $30,000. The foundation’s largest listed grants included $50,000 each to Catholic Charities Fort Worth, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo, an individual recipient Catholic School, an individual recipient Catholic Church, an individual recipient School, and Saint Cecilia Catholic School. The listed purposes for these largest grants were general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Valerie H. Goddard as executive director, Lindsey Thompson as president, John Settich as vice president, Dan Carey as treasurer, and Julie Westerman as director.
The Westerman Foundation is led by Lindsey Thompson, President on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lindsey Thompson
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Valerie H. Goddard
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $79K (2024)
Julie Westerman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Dan Carey
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2024)
John Settich
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: James Lewis III (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sandra Zita Pratt (2020–2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $79K, to Valerie H Goddard (Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Westerman Foundation
How much does The Westerman Foundation give each year?
The Westerman Foundation gave $1.8M across 80 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 84 grants.
What is The Westerman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Westerman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $22,304, across 80 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Westerman Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does The Westerman Foundation give grants?
The Westerman Foundation's top state is Texas, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Kansas (26%) and Oklahoma (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (11 grants), Oklahoma City, OK (5 grants), Wichita, KS (5 grants) and Kansas City, KS (4 grants).
Does The Westerman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Westerman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (80 of 80) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Westerman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Westerman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Catholic Charities Fort Worth ($50,000), Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo ($50,000) and Donnelly College ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Westerman Foundation?
The Westerman Foundation reported $35.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Westerman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to provide financial support to educational institutions, with emphasis on Catholic education; Christian-based organizations that promote family unity and values; and programs that assist the poor and abused. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Westerman Foundation?
The foundation’s website says its process is invitation-only and that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Westerman Foundation's EIN?
The Westerman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2897679. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Westerman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Westerman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-westerman-foundation-morg_44ec8d06461e4307a4c245554697389f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752897679_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Westerman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-westerman-foundation-morg_44ec8d06461e4307a4c245554697389f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Westerman 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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