The Wight Foundation

NEWARK, NJ EIN: 22-2743349 Website

The Wight Foundation is a private foundation and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. Founded in 1987, the organization operates as an education administration program that provides opportunities for talented, economically disadvantaged students from the Greater Newark area to achieve academic success and personal development in a college preparatory boarding school environment.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$11.4M

-12.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$426K

-19.3% YoY

Grant Count

120

+87.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$4K

-57.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $729K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Wight Foundation's mission is to nurture future leaders who will positively impact their local communities. The organization focuses on:

Scholarships for talented students from the Greater Newark, New Jersey vicinity
College preparatory education through boarding school placement
Personal development alongside academic achievement
Community leadership development with emphasis on local impact

Grantmaking

The Wight Foundation operates as a grantmaking foundation with the following characteristics:

Ready to take the next step with The Wight Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Wight Foundation's funding is primarily concentrated in New Jersey, with particular emphasis on the Greater Newark area and surrounding communities.

Grant Distribution by State

New Jersey $776K (100%)

States

New Jersey

Cities

Newark

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:

Total Assets: $13,063,875
Total Revenues: $3,289,222
Total Expenses: $2,192,521
Investment Income and Dividends: $697,986
Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $591,236
Total Grants and Contributions: $2,000,000

Staffing: 6 employees (as of 2023)

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$11,412,087	$13,063,875	$11,967,174
Revenue	$633,414	$3,289,222	$2,283,343
Expenses	$2,285,202	$2,192,521	$1,744,227
Qualifying Distributions	$2,283,452	$2,190,884	$1,756,809
Net Investment Income	$651,246	$1,287,585	$331,334
Distributable Amount	$728,841	$694,011	$687,624

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Church Farm School ($32,336), Chapel Hill - Chauncy Hall ($15,750), George School ($11,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ADEBISI AKILO NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$375
ADEN BAEZ NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$5,530
AHOEFA NANEVI NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$375
ALVIN AGBENYEGAH NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$375
AMEL OUJI NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$375
ANGEL CHUKWUMA NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$625
ANGELA ZHANG NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$300
ANN PIERRE-LOUIS NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$375
ANN-VALERIE CLITUS NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$800
ARIANNA DEMPSEY NEWARK, NJ	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATION	$375

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Rhonda Auguste – Executive Director (compensation: $228,490 as of 2024)
William Wilson – Step Director (compensation: $60,223 as of 2024)
Catherine Mitchell – Office Manager (compensation: $55,883 as of 2023)
Derrick Wallace – Human Resources and Financial Aid Coordinator (compensation: $52,123 as of 2024)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
RUSSELL WIGHT	TRUSTEE	1	—
ALFRED WOODS	TRUSTEE	1	—
JAMES ADLAM	TRUSTEE	1	—
YVONNE GOYINS	TRUSTEE	1	—
SHAKIRAH MILLER-HARRINGTON	TRUSTEE	1	—
GWEN RUKEYSER	TRUSTEE	1	—

Contact Information

Address: 550 Broad Street, Suite #717 Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: (973) 824-1195 Fax: (973) 824-1199 Email: wightfoundation@wightfoundation.org Website: wightfoundation.org

EIN: 22-2743349

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Wight Foundation fund?

The Wight Foundation's mission is to nurture future leaders who will positively impact their local communities. The organization focuses on: • **Scholarships** for talented students from the Greater Newark, New Jersey vicinity • **College preparatory education** through boarding school placement • **Personal development** alongside academic achievement • **Community leadership development** with emphasis on local impact

How do I apply for a grant from The Wight Foundation?

The Wight Foundation operates as a grantmaking foundation with the following characteristics: • **Grant Activity**: Made 182 grants in the most recent reporting period • **Typical Award Range**: $25–$64,810 • **Recent Grant Example**: $6,000 to The Peddie School for scholarships in education (2023) • **Total Giving**: $426,458 (based on 2024 IRS filing) • **Primary Recipients**: Charitable organizations and educational institutions

Where does The Wight Foundation make grants?

The Wight Foundation's funding is primarily concentrated in **New Jersey**, with particular emphasis on the **Greater Newark area** and surrounding communities.

What size grants does The Wight Foundation award?

In 2024, The Wight Foundation awarded 120 grants totaling $426K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Wight Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Wight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $729K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.