The Wilke Family Foundation
The Wilke Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2007 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations, community groups, and other initiatives aimed at creating lasting impact across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$39.2M
+32.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-15.8% YoY
Grant Count
30
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
-21.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wilke Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to supporting programs that create opportunities for young people and improve quality of life in communities. Primary focus areas include:
Youth & Education
The foundation prioritizes investments in education at all levels, with particular emphasis on:
Access to Quality Education: Funding initiatives that increase educational access for underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, including scholarships, school infrastructure in remote or impoverished areas, and programs addressing educational disparities.
Literacy & Language Skills: Supporting programs focused on improving literacy rates, language acquisition, and multilingual education to empower individuals with communication skills for success in a globalized world.
Beyond the Classroom: Funding educational projects extending beyond traditional schooling, including early childhood education, literacy programs, STEM education, and innovative learning methods for children from diverse backgrounds, especially in underserved communities.
Lifelong Learning: Supporting adult education, continuing education, and community learning centers that promote learning as a lifelong journey.
Human Services
The foundation provides funding for initiatives that improve health, wellbeing, address social challenges, and enhance quality of life for individuals and communities in need.
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated consistent support for education and youth development initiatives, with documented grants to organizations including the American Indian College Fund and Whitman University.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major urban centers such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Geographic reach extends to California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $39,242,438
- Total revenues: $11,960,977
- Total expenses: $2,395,956
- Number of employees: 0
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $29,677,417
- Total revenues: $406,000
- Total expenses: $2,650,000
- Total liabilities: $0
The foundation's revenue includes investment income and dividends, with 2024 showing investment income of $1,162,135 and net gains from asset sales of $10,797,194.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,242,438 | $29,677,417 | $31,926,730 |
| Revenue | $11,960,977 | $405,631 | $389,934 |
| Expenses | $2,395,956 | $2,654,944 | $2,763,638 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,071,893 | $2,445,131 | $2,650,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,985,512 | $7,669,194 | $282,221 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,673,053 | $2,220,381 | $2,407,187 |
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
167 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Code Org ($500,000), Children in Conflict Inc ($250,000), Teach for All Inc ($166,667).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE INC NEW YORK, NY | Distant Thunder | $10,000 |
| BAY AREA LYME FOUNDATION PORTOLA VALLEY, CA | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| CHILDREN IN CONFLICT INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $250,000 |
| CODE ORG SEATTLE, WA | General & Unrestricted | $500,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOS ANGELES, CA | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| FILM INDEPENDENT INC LOS ANGELES, CA | "For Mr Johnson" Project, a film by Khana Tillman | $5,000 |
| FILM INDEPENDENT INC LOS ANGELES, CA | "For Mr Johnson" Project, a film by Khana Tillman | $3,000 |
| FOREVER KIDS COVINA, CA | For DREAMERS project | $5,000 |
| KH THEATRE LIMITED | General & Unrestricted | $56,474 |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MA | Sloan Annual Fund | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by family members who serve without compensation:
- Liesl D Wilke - President, Director, and Secretary
- Jeffrey Allan Wilke - Vice President and Director
- Julia Wilke - Director
- Taylor Wilke - Director
All leadership dedicates minimal time to foundation activities and receives no compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Allan Wilke | VP, Dir | 1 | — |
| Julia Wilke | Dir | 1 | — |
| Liesl D Wilke | Pres, Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
| Taylor Wilke | Dir | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant grants to support computer science and technology education. In 2020, the foundation granted $1 million to the American Indian College Fund to grow computer science programs at tribal colleges. The foundation has also provided $1 million in support to Whitman University for science and technology initiatives.
The Wilke Family Foundation Grants $1 Million to AmericanSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Wilke Family Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to supporting programs that create opportunities for young people and improve quality of life in communities. Primary focus areas include: The foundation prioritizes investments in education at all levels, with particular emphasis on: • **Access to Quality Education**: Funding initiatives that increase educational access for underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, including scholarships, school infrastructure in remote or impoverished areas, and programs addressing…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wilke Family Foundation?
**Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Total grants awarded: 38 grants • Total giving: $2,395,000 • Notable recent grants include $500,000 to Code Org, $250,000 to Children in Conflict, and $166,667 to Teach for All for the Technology Engineers Initiative **Historical Grant Activity (2023):** • Total expenses: $2.65 million • Total giving: $2.395 million The foundation has demonstrated consistent support for education and youth development initiatives, with documented grants to organizations inclu…
Where does The Wilke Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major urban centers such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Geographic reach extends to California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
What size grants does The Wilke Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Wilke Family Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Wilke Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Wilke Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Wilke Family Foundation's EIN?
The Wilke Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1207948. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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