The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $340K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $288K. Net investment income was $15K.
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation at a glance
In short: The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation gave $288K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $144K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $288,000
- -33.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $144,000
- +32.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $144,000
- Total assets
- $339,633
- -46.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (87% 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 Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Whistleblower Center ($250K). Together the top 2 received $288K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 17 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $288K (2025) to $460K (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $288K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Whistleblower Center Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $250,000 |
| Media Alliance San Francisco, CA | Whistleblower Network News Fund | $38,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Whistleblower Legal Defense 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $339,633 | $14,535 | $306,303 | $288,000 | 2 | $306,303 | $14,535 | $19,902 |
| 2024 | $631,401 | $36,730 | $453,709 | $435,300 | 4 | $453,109 | $36,730 | $39,845 |
| 2023 | $1,048,380 | $240,585 | $386,419 | $368,000 | 4 | $385,619 | $40,585 | $48,771 |
| 2022 | $1,194,214 | $17,533 | $338,525 | $295,000 | 3 | $338,525 | $17,533 | $67,805 |
| 2021 | $1,515,206 | $775 | $515,525 | $460,000 | 4 | $515,525 | $1,141 | $91,740 |
| 2020 | $2,029,956 | $18,602 | $497,424 | $447,600 | 5 | — | $18,602 | $114,718 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation is led by Stephen M Kohn, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen M Kohn
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David K Colapinto
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael D Kohn
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation
How much does The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation give each year?
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation gave $288K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $435K across 4 grants.
How large is The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation?
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation reported $340K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $306K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation operate?
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New York.
What is The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation's EIN?
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3950011. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Delaware
Proteus Fund Inc
Waltham, MA
Proteus Fund supports social justice initiatives advancing racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and inclusive democracy, primarily through national grantmaking and collaborative funds. Its 2024 grants ranged from $25,000 to $2 million, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests; its RISE Together Fund has a separate, time-limited open call.
Assets
$67.1M
Grants
219
Total Given
$21.6M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Poetry Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Poetry Foundation funds U.S.-based nonprofit organizations focused on poetry and literary arts, including poetry organizations, presses, publications, and some literary arts service groups. Its General Operating Support grants are typically $10,000–$75,000 for 12 months; it also offers other grants, with 2024 awards ranging from $500 to $500,000. The General Operating Support program uses a competitive application process, with guidelines and deadlines on its grants page; Sustainable Futures grants are by invitation.
Assets
$313.2M
Grants
179
Total Given
$4.2M
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc
New York, NY
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund supports work on democracy, sustainable development and climate, and peacebuilding, as well as place-based efforts in China, Central America, and the Western Balkans and arts and culture in New York City. Its 2024 grants had a median of $60,000, though awards varied widely. It accepts unsolicited requests, but rarely funds them—fewer than 1 percent result in funding.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
646
Total Given
$60.4M
Rasmuson Foundation
Anchorage, AK
Rasmuson Foundation funds Alaska nonprofits, tribes, and local governments across a broad range of community needs, from small purchases to major capital and strategic projects. Grants range from $50 to $1 million, with a 2024 median of $5,000; Tier 1 awards are up to $35,000, Community Support grants up to $250,000, and Legacy grants exceed $250,000. Tier 1 applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis; strategic grants are by invitation.
Assets
$845.4M
Grants
300
Total Given
$17.7M
Wend II Inc
Bentonville, AR
Wend II Inc funds racial justice, youth, river stewardship, and community-support initiatives, with 2025 grants ranging from $23,050 to $724,972 and a median of $174,713. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in Virginia, Arizona, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Massachusetts. The foundation funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$153.6M
Grants
5
Total Given
$1.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Whistleblower Legal Defense 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.
The Whistleblower Legal Defense Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?