The Wireless Foundation
The wireless foundation advances positive social impact fueled by innovative wireless technology in american communities.
Key facts about The Wireless Foundation
In short: The Wireless Foundation gave $340K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), top state New York. 60% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 52-1708229
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $340,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $34,000
- Median grant
- $20,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (6 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $36,049,439
- Primary geography
- New York (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$36.0M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$340K
-20.9% YoY
Grant Count
10
-37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+26.5% YoY
Is The Wireless Foundation open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 10 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $27K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
About The Wireless Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Wireless Foundation is a nonprofit organization, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $36.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 10 grants totaling $340K. Net investment income was $2.1M.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 10 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UPCHIEVE New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $111,800 |
| HEALTHY HIP HOP FOUNDATION Kansas City, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $62,800 |
| BEFOREWEBEGIN INC Bozeman, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $38,400 |
| CAMELBACK VENTURES New Orleans, LA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FAST FORWARD San Francisco, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| PATIENTORY INC Atlanta, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,000 |
| PALMPLUG Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,000 |
| OBJECTIVE ZERO FOUNDATION Wilmington, DE | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| KAI XR FUTURES INC Oakland, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| STORYUP INC Columbia, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,049,439 | $34,178,321 | $31,599,585 |
| Revenue | $2,317,574 | $1,803,885 | $1,955,746 |
| Expenses | $1,621,611 | $1,250,248 | $1,084,919 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,052,574 | $1,671,324 | $1,629,758 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Wireless Foundation is led by Dolores Kreiger, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 14 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dolores Kreiger
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith A. Baker
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eduardo Arthur
Chairman
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Baffer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blake Tye
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael O'Brien
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raquel Noriega
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michele Thomas
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eminence Griffin
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Schneider
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Hughes
Vice Chairwoman
Director → Vice Chairwoman, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Hastings
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Hogan
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Baker
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Clint Odom (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Grant Spellmeyer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Megan Pollock (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Philip Christopher (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Alice Tornquist (2020–2021) — Chairwoman
- Former: Amanda Gardiner (2020) — Director
- Former: Cathleen Massey (2020) — Director
- Former: Debby Ballard (2020) — Director
- Former: Jeanine Poltronieri (2020) — Director
- Former: Marie Sylla-Dixon (2020) — Director
- Former: Mary Clark (2020) — Director
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 Wireless Foundation
How much does The Wireless Foundation give each year?
The Wireless Foundation gave $340K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $430K across 16 grants.
What is The Wireless Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wireless Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,500, and its average grant was $34,000, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wireless Foundation that year got $43K on average.
Where does The Wireless Foundation give grants?
The Wireless Foundation's top state is New York, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were Missouri (23%) and California (12%).
Does The Wireless Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Wireless Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Who are The Wireless Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wireless Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Upchieve ($111,800), Healthy Hip Hop Foundation ($62,800) and Beforewebegin Inc ($38,400), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Wireless Foundation?
The Wireless Foundation reported $36.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What is The Wireless Foundation's EIN?
The Wireless Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1708229. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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