The Wilhelm Family Foundation
The Wilhelm Family Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to supporting nonprofit arts organizations across the United States. Established in 2013, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on expanding access to creative resources and artistic expression.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$219K
+28.3% YoY
Grant Count
24
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+17.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to help expand artists' access to resources by supporting organizations working to make creative expression, experimentation, public programming, and discourse accessible to all people, artists and non-artists alike.
The foundation prioritizes funding nonprofit arts organizations of all types and sizes that:
- Prioritize diversity, inclusiveness, community, and freedom of speech
- Utilize art and programming to engage diverse, marginalized, at-risk, or underserved communities
- Address gentrification and displacement of artists and nonprofit art spaces
- Further dialogue around creativity, cultural issues, and environmental and social justice issues
- Embody intersectional practices and disciplines
The foundation takes a holistic philanthropic approach that considers the totality of an organization's work, ethos, history, and community engagement, rather than focusing on specific funding areas.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** The foundation's average grant size is approximately $10,000.
Average Grant
is approximately $10,000.
Review Cycle
** Annual grant cycles take place between March and May. The 2026 grant cycle opens March 30 at 6am PST and closes May 1 at 6pm PST.
How to Apply
** Organizations must meet eligibility requirements and align with the foundation's mission and values. Applications are submitted through an online application portal during the annual grant cycle.
Ready to take the next step with The Wilhelm Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation accepts applications from nonprofit arts organizations nationwide, many of its grant recipients operate in California. The foundation has supported organizations across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,597,448
- Total Giving: $170,500
- Revenue: $168,916
- Expenses: $256,291
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,403,469
- Total Revenue: $106,623
- Total Expenses: $300,602
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
138 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Wilhelm Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Partners ($10,900), Active Cultures ($10,000), Womens Audio Mission ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE CULTURES LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR NEW SERIES OF PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED PROGRAMS IN LOS ANGELES. | $10,000 |
| FRACTURED ATLAS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $8,640 |
| STREET SYMPHONY PROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $8,000 |
| HOLLYWOOD HEART LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMMING. | $8,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR LOS FOTOS PROJECT. | $10,900 |
| WOMENS AUDIO MISSION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SIRENS ARTISTS RECORDING RESIDENCIES | $10,000 |
| BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE DURING BOB BAKER DAY. | $10,000 |
| INDIGENOUS ROOTS ST PAUL, MN | SUPPORT FOR CULTURE BEARER AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER RESIDENCY. | $10,000 |
| LAXART LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR LIFE ON EARTH: ART AND ECOFEMINISM | $10,000 |
| THE CURTIS LEGACY FOUNDATION BURENA VISTA, CO | SUPPORT FOR THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT A MULTI MEDIA VENTURE. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Cascade Wilhelm serves as CEO, working 20 hours per week with annual compensation of $55,000.
Matthew O'Donnell serves as Secretary (no compensation listed).
Leland Evans serves as CFO (no compensation listed).
The foundation is a continuation of the philanthropic spirit of its founder, Donald Wilhelm, who believed that art has the power to transform humanity through individual self-expression.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADE WILHELM | CEO | 20 | $55,000 |
| MATTHEW O'DONNELL | Secretary | 1 | — |
| LELAND EVANS | CFO | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with featured grantees including Craft Contemporary, The MAP Fund, International Studio & Curatorial Practice, Los Angeles Dance Project, Now Be Here, International Indigenous Youth Council LA Chapter, Creative Acts, Artistic Freedom Initiative, and A.R.T. (A.rt R.esources T.ransfer).
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Wilhelm Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to help expand artists' access to resources by supporting organizations working to make creative expression, experimentation, public programming, and discourse accessible to all people, artists and non-artists alike. The foundation prioritizes funding nonprofit arts organizations of all types and sizes that: • Prioritize diversity, inclusiveness, community, and freedom of speech • Utilize art and programming to engage diverse, marginalized, at-risk, or underserved co…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wilhelm Family Foundation?
**Grant Cycles:** Annual grant cycles take place between March and May. The 2026 grant cycle opens March 30 at 6am PST and closes May 1 at 6pm PST. **Grant Sizes:** The foundation's average grant size is approximately $10,000. **Recipient Profile:** The foundation funds small organizations with operating budgets around $1.5 million or less. All recipients must have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. **Historical Activity:** Since 2015, the foundation has distributed nearly $2.5 million in grants to o…
Where does The Wilhelm Family Foundation make grants?
While the foundation accepts applications from nonprofit arts organizations nationwide, many of its grant recipients operate in California. The foundation has supported organizations across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.
What size grants does The Wilhelm Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Wilhelm Family Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $219K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Wilhelm Family Foundation's EIN?
The Wilhelm Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2796479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wilhelm Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Wilhelm Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Wilhelm Family Foundation to a real strategy.