The Wilhoit Foundation
The Wilhoit Foundation is a private foundation based in Gilbert, Arizona. It reported 17 grants totaling $160,000 in 2024, supporting charitable organizations in Arizona, Colorado, and New York. The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
The Wilhoit Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wilhoit Foundation gave $160K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Arizona. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $160,000
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,412
- -20.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,674,646
- -1.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (88% 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 Wilhoit 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: 4179 E Chestnut Lane, Gilbert, AZ 85298
Phone: (480) 680-5706
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wilhoit Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Salvation Army ($25K). Together the top 10 received $137K.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 86 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona, 9% to recipients in Colorado, and 3% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Wilhoit Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 55% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 122% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $160K (2024) to $357K (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $160K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army Phoenix, AZ | Program Support | $25,000 |
| St Mary's Food Bank Phoenix, AZ | Program Support | $25,000 |
| St Vincent De Paul Society Phoenix, AZ | Program Support | $25,000 |
| ASU Foundation Tempe, AZ | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Vail, CO | Program Support | $15,000 |
| St Mary Magdalene Gilbert, AZ | Program Support | $12,000 |
| Arizona Humane Society Phoenix, AZ | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Diocese of Phoenix Phoenix, AZ | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund New York, NY | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Robinson Ranch Phoenix, AZ | Program Support | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,674,646 | $147,071 | $194,672 | $160,000 | 17 | $182,813 | $113,623 | $149,798 |
| 2023 | $2,722,467 | $72,394 | $231,874 | $189,000 | 16 | $217,040 | $56,959 | $148,423 |
| 2022 | $2,883,832 | $214,692 | $236,279 | $190,500 | 17 | $215,520 | $199,447 | $160,081 |
| 2021 | $2,910,470 | $190,549 | $410,557 | $357,000 | 20 | $386,828 | $174,164 | $180,865 |
| 2020 | $3,166,174 | $3,324,308 | $339,150 | $290,500 | 16 | — | $89,318 | $146,809 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wilhoit Foundation reported a distributable amount of $150K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes food assistance, social services, animal welfare, alpine conservation and education, and support for children in foster care. For example, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens describes its mission as protecting the alpine environment through education, conservation, and living plant collections. The Arizona Humane Society says it saves vulnerable animals and enriches the lives of pets and people. The Foster Alliance says it supports the foster care community by providing essentials for children in foster care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $160,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000.
Its largest reported grants included $25,000 each to the Salvation Army, St. Mary’s Food Bank, and St. Vincent de Paul Society; $15,000 each to ASU Foundation and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens; and $12,000 to St. Mary Magdalene. Other reported awards included $5,000 each to Arizona Humane Society, Diocese of Phoenix, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and Robinson Ranch; and $3,750 each to Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, The Foster Alliance, and St. Joseph the Worker. Aid to Women Center received $3,000. The listed grant purposes were program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Katherine C. Lahowetz as president/director; William F. Wilhoit, Emily Lahowetz Foldes, and Stephen Foldes as directors; Jeffrey E. Shiffra as treasurer/director; and William Lee as secretary/director.
The Wilhoit Foundation is led by Katherine C. Lahowetz, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katherine C. Lahowetz
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$19K (2020) → $13K (2024)
Emily Lahowetz Foldes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Stephen Foldes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
William F. Wilhoit
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Jeffrey E. Shiffra
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Lee
Secretary & Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $13K, to Katherine C Lahowetz (President/Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Wilhoit Foundation
How much does The Wilhoit Foundation give each year?
The Wilhoit Foundation gave $160K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $189K across 16 grants.
What is The Wilhoit Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wilhoit Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $9,412, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wilhoit Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Wilhoit Foundation give grants?
The Wilhoit Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (10 grants) and Tempe, AZ (3 grants).
Does The Wilhoit Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on The Wilhoit Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (17 grants).
Who are The Wilhoit Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wilhoit Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Salvation Army ($25,000), St Mary's Food Bank ($25,000) and St Vincent De Paul Society ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Wilhoit Foundation?
The Wilhoit Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $183K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $150K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Wilhoit Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes food assistance, social services, animal welfare, alpine conservation and education, and support for children in foster care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wilhoit 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 Wilhoit Foundation's EIN?
The Wilhoit Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-1033226. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Wilhoit 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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Browse active grant opportunities in The Wilhoit Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Wilhoit Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-wilhoit-foundation-morg_981936a26e194ab1b778611cf17ebc37
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_861033226_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Wilhoit Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-wilhoit-foundation-morg_981936a26e194ab1b778611cf17ebc37},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Wilhoit 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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