The Why Wouldn't We Foundation
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation is a private foundation, based in Auburn, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2018 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $110K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $18K. Net investment income was $4K.
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation at a glance
In short: The Why Wouldn't We Foundation gave $18K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $17,900
- -51.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,238
- -69.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $109,912
- +12.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who The Why Wouldn't We Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Shannon Russell ($5K). Together the top 8 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Why Wouldn't We Foundation gives
- Giving grew 147% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 394% 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 2018 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2021) to $37K (2023). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shannon Russell College Station, TX | Hardship | $5,400 |
| John Miller Auburn, AL | Hardship | $5,000 |
| Ashleigh Farris Bryan, TX | Hardship | $3,000 |
| Grace Covenant Church DC Washington, DC | General Fund | $1,500 |
| Mike Luepke College Station, TX | Hardship | $1,000 |
| The Riley Gleason Foundation Saint Clair, MI | General Fund | $1,000 |
| Rainey Elite Speed Ocala, FL | General Fund | $500 |
| Daily Bread Grand Rapids, MI | General Fund | $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 | $109,912 | $31,979 | $19,695 | $17,900 | 8 | $17,900 | $4,479 | $4,544 |
| 2023 | $97,628 | $31,876 | $38,779 | $36,500 | 5 | $36,500 | $4,376 | $4,801 |
| 2022 | $104,531 | $30,930 | $17,000 | $15,500 | 13 | $15,500 | $930 | $4,268 |
| 2021 | $90,601 | $27,507 | $8,481 | $7,250 | 9 | $7,250 | $7 | $3,230 |
| 2020 | $71,575 | $52,579 | $21,202 | $19,215 | 15 | — | $79 | $1,704 |
| 2018 | $34,884 | $2,956 | $10,019 | $9,710 | 8 | — | $456 | $1,901 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Why Wouldn't We Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation is led by Daniel J. Durkin, Co-President on every filing since 2018; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daniel J. Durkin
Co-President
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Sarah Durkin
President
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Sal Lamendola
Vice President
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2024. "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 Why Wouldn't We Foundation
How much does The Why Wouldn't We Foundation give each year?
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation gave $18K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $37K across 5 grants.
What is The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's typical grant size?
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,250, and its average grant was $2,238, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Why Wouldn't We Foundation give grants?
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Alabama (28%) and Michigan (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were College Station, TX (2 grants).
Does The Why Wouldn't We Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Hardship" (4 grants).
Who are The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's largest grantees?
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Shannon Russell ($5,400), John Miller ($5,000) and Ashleigh Farris ($3,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Why Wouldn't We Foundation?
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation reported $110K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's EIN?
The Why Wouldn't We Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1686222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Data last updated October 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 2018 (received by the IRS November 15, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 13, 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 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Why Wouldn't We Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-why-wouldn-t-we-foundation-morg_7bda25a7a8544fc7bec5ca4a2887a903
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471686222_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Why Wouldn't We Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-why-wouldn-t-we-foundation-morg_7bda25a7a8544fc7bec5ca4a2887a903},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Why Wouldn't We 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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