The Wildwood Foundation
The Wildwood Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. It makes contributions to other organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; it states that it is not involved in direct charitable activities.
The Wildwood Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wildwood Foundation gave $1.2M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in New York. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,177,000
- +31.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +9.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $51,174
- +19.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $15,247,597
- +6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (75% 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 Wildwood Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1270 Avenue Of The Americas 214, New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 218-4100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wildwood Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Museum of Natural History ($395K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 104 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. Other reported recipient-state shares were Connecticut (6%), Delaware (4%), Pennsylvania (4%), and Montana (2%). The listed grants also included recipients in Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Wildwood Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 23 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 87% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% 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 $897K (2023) to $1.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | For Mission Support | $395,000 |
| Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY | For Mission Support | $250,000 |
| Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY | For Mission Support | $220,000 |
| Connecticut Audubon Society Fairfield, CT | For Mission Support | $65,000 |
| Brandywine Red Clay Alliance West Chester, PA | For Mission Support | $50,000 |
| Delaware Wild Lands Odessa, DE | For Mission Support | $25,000 |
| Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Wilmington, DE | For Mission Support | $20,000 |
| Sea Education Association Woods Hole, MA | For Mission Support | $20,000 |
| The Montana Land Reliance Helena, MT | For Mission Support | $20,000 |
| Trout Unlimited Arlington, VA | For Mission Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Wildwood 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 | $15,247,597 | $3,739,297 | $1,227,155 | $1,177,000 | 23 | $1,189,500 | $1,979,287 | $1,206,516 |
| 2023 | $14,368,693 | $185,065 | $934,308 | $897,000 | 21 | $914,250 | $167,690 | $979,003 |
| 2022 | $15,117,936 | $338,280 | $1,106,969 | $1,064,500 | 21 | $1,081,750 | $320,905 | $1,007,195 |
| 2021 | $15,886,625 | $466,381 | $1,102,776 | $1,062,000 | 20 | $1,079,025 | $449,231 | $1,380,709 |
| 2020 | $16,523,020 | $350,861 | $1,149,996 | $1,111,000 | 19 | — | $333,861 | $1,201,762 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wildwood Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support other tax-exempt organizations through contributions. Its 2024 grants included support for a natural history museum, wildlife and habitat conservation organizations, and organizations focused on watershed stewardship and maritime heritage. These are grantees’ activities, not a stated mission or focus-area list for the foundation. For example, the American Museum of Natural History describes its mission as discovering, interpreting, and sharing knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe. Connecticut Audubon Society says it protects birds, other wildlife, and habitats through conservation, education, and advocacy. Brandywine Red Clay Alliance describes its work as promoting the restoration, conservation, and enjoyment of watershed resources.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $1,177,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $395,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants included $395,000 to the American Museum of Natural History, $250,000 to Weill Cornell Medicine, and $220,000 to Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Other notable awards were $65,000 to Connecticut Audubon Society, $50,000 to Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, and $25,000 to Delaware Wild Lands. The listed grant purposes were for mission support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Edwin H Morgens, Linda M Morgens, and Lauren Morgens as trustees.
The Wildwood Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edwin H. Morgens
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Morgens
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda M. Morgens
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Wildwood Foundation
How much does The Wildwood Foundation give each year?
The Wildwood Foundation gave $1.2M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $897K across 21 grants.
What is The Wildwood Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wildwood Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $51,174, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wildwood Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Wildwood Foundation give grants?
The Wildwood Foundation gives mostly in New York: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Connecticut (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Wilmington, DE (2 grants).
Does The Wildwood Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Wildwood Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For Mission Support" (23 grants).
Who are The Wildwood Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wildwood Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Museum of Natural History ($395,000), Weill Cornell Medicine ($250,000) and Cornell Lab of Ornithology ($220,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Wildwood Foundation?
The Wildwood Foundation reported $15.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (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 Wildwood Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support other tax-exempt organizations through contributions. Its 2024 grants included support for a natural history museum, wildlife and habitat conservation organizations, and organizations focused on watershed stewardship and maritime heritage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wildwood Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Wildwood Foundation's EIN?
The Wildwood Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6090956. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Wildwood 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
(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 Wildwood Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-wildwood-foundation-morg_3859ab95db8d4d5c908eba5dcbbf3add
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_316090956_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Wildwood Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-wildwood-foundation-morg_3859ab95db8d4d5c908eba5dcbbf3add},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Wildwood 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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