The Wetsman Foundation
The Wetsman Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 filing states that it contributes only to preselected organizations.
The Wetsman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wetsman Foundation gave $64K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), top state Michigan. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $63,750
- -54.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -51.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,542
- -7.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $2,603,212
- +5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (45% 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 Wetsman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 233 Oakland Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 642-5100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wetsman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Detroit Institue of Arts ($10K). Together the top 10 received $58K.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 139 grants of 141 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan (45%), California (22%), Connecticut (16%), Ohio (8%), and Maryland (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Wetsman Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 18 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 34% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $64K (2024) to $234K (2020). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $64K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Institue of Arts Detroit, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,200 |
| Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford West Hartford, CT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Healthnetwork Foundation Pepper Pike, OH | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Jewish Federation of of Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| The Music Center Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network West Bloomfield, MI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Museum Trustee Association Baltimore, MD | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $4,500 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,603,212 | $228,065 | $95,066 | $63,750 | 18 | $63,750 | $187,702 | $187,429 |
| 2023 | $2,463,713 | $96,479 | $171,337 | $141,051 | 37 | $141,051 | $54,855 | $166,988 |
| 2022 | $2,538,571 | $144,144 | $218,671 | $175,870 | 37 | $175,870 | $101,679 | $166,388 |
| 2021 | $2,613,098 | $212,256 | $227,158 | $202,998 | 26 | $202,998 | $152,252 | $186,930 |
| 2020 | $2,629,870 | $161,972 | $257,386 | $234,350 | 23 | — | $134,368 | $165,879 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wetsman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $187K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for arts and cultural organizations, healthcare-related organizations, Jewish community services, and a university foundation.
The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network says it helps Jewish patients and families facing terminal illness access care navigation, spiritual care, grief support, and other resources. Healthnetwork Foundation says it connects members with healthcare providers and supports medical education and research through partner hospitals. Museum Trustee Association says it helps museum trustees navigate their roles and responsibilities. UCLA Foundation describes itself as the giving, receiving, and investing arm of the UCLA campus.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $63,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $10,200, with a median of $1,500. Examples include $10,200 to Detroit Institute of Arts, $10,000 each to Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan and Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford, and $5,000 each to Healthnetwork Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, The Music Center, and Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network. The listed purposes for these grants were unrestricted charitable gifts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adam F Wetsman as president and secretary, Janis B Wetsman as vice president, and David J Wetsman as treasurer.
The Wetsman Foundation is led by Adam F. Wetsman, President & Secretary since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam F. Wetsman
President & Secretary
Vice President & Assistant Secretary → President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David J. Wetsman
Treasurer
Vice President, Secretary & Ass → Vice President, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer, 2022
Vice President, Secretary & Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Janis B. Wetsman
Vice President
Vice President & Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: William M. Wetsman (2020–2023) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Wetsman Foundation
How much does The Wetsman Foundation give each year?
The Wetsman Foundation gave $64K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $141K across 37 grants.
What is The Wetsman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wetsman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,542, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wetsman Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Wetsman Foundation give grants?
The Wetsman Foundation's top state is Michigan, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (22%) and Connecticut (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (5 grants) and Detroit, MI (4 grants).
Does The Wetsman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Wetsman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Wetsman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wetsman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Detroit Institue of Arts ($10,200), Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan ($10,000) and Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Wetsman Foundation?
The Wetsman Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $187K (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 does The Wetsman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for arts and cultural organizations, healthcare-related organizations, Jewish community services, and a university foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wetsman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Wetsman Foundation's EIN?
The Wetsman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6056692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Wetsman 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 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 June 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 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 July 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wetsman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Wetsman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-wetsman-foundation-morg_acb0fe113fbe4757837f79be7891d881
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386056692_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Wetsman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-wetsman-foundation-morg_acb0fe113fbe4757837f79be7891d881},
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 Wetsman 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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