The Wls Spencer Foundation
The WLS Spencer Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1994 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is located in San Francisco, California, with an additional address listed in New York, New York. It operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.9M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-13.2% YoY
Grant Count
22
-24.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
+14.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wls Spencer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $599K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation funds activities that foster new ideas, encourage creativity, and disrupt the status quo across four primary fields:
- K-12 Education
- Education through the Arts
- Environmental Education
- Healthcare
- The Arts
The foundation operates globally and is interested in leveraging seed grants, challenge grants, and matching grants. The foundation explicitly states it prefers not to fund endowments, operating expenses, or ongoing projects.
Grantmaking
Invitation Only
** Grant applications are currently by invitation only. Returning grantees are directed to follow reporting and renewal instructions through the foundation's website.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds activities anywhere in the world.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenue: $1,313,741
- Total Expenses: $1,645,564
- Net Income: -$331,823
- Total Assets: $8,850,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,853,911 | $9,185,734 | $9,800,045 |
| Revenue | $1,313,741 | $1,798,400 | $1,149,414 |
| Expenses | $1,645,564 | $1,806,436 | $1,775,654 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,505,321 | $1,686,559 | $1,626,961 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,186,839 | $978,112 | $866,334 |
| Distributable Amount | $599,195 | $562,256 | $604,687 |
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
161 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Surfrider Foundation ($250,000), University of Oregon Foundation ($174,737), Freshgrass Public Foundation ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 VALENCIA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BAY AREA SCORES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER BUFFALO, NY | FOR A GRAMMAR OF ANIMACY: CHARLES E. BURCHFIELD AND MIKE GLIER | $10,000 |
| EUGENE SOUTHTOWNE ROTARY FOUNDATION EUGENE, OR | FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AVID GRADUATES | $20,000 |
| FOOD FOR LANE COUNTY EUGENE, OR | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR FOLK ALLEY | $20,000 |
| KLCC PUBLIC RADIO FOUNDATION EUGENE, OR | FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL KLCC REPORTER | $50,000 |
| KLCC PUBLIC RADIO FOUNDATION EUGENE, OR | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN S WADSWORTH JR | CIO EMERITUS | 2 | — |
| BETTE SUE WADSWORTH | CEO EMERITUS | 2 | — |
| JOHN S WADSWORTH III | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| ELIZABETH JANE WADSWORTH | CEO | 2 | — |
| PAUL WILLIAM PEPPIS | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| SHANNON WADSWORTH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER WADSWORTH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: wlsspencerfoundation.org
- Phone: +1-415-561-6540
- Address: 1660 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94109-5308
- EIN: 13-3799186
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since January 1995
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Wls Spencer Foundation fund?
The foundation funds activities that foster new ideas, encourage creativity, and disrupt the status quo across four primary fields: • **K-12 Education** • **Education through the Arts** • **Environmental Education** • **Healthcare** • **The Arts** The foundation operates globally and is interested in leveraging seed grants, challenge grants, and matching grants. The foundation explicitly states it prefers not to fund endowments, operating expenses, or ongoing projects.
How do I apply for a grant from The Wls Spencer Foundation?
**Application Process:** Grant applications are currently by invitation only. Returning grantees are directed to follow reporting and renewal instructions through the foundation's website. **Grant Strategy:** The foundation favors leverage-oriented funding mechanisms, particularly seed grants, challenge grants, and matching grants that catalyze broader impact rather than sustaining ongoing operations.
Where does The Wls Spencer Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds activities anywhere in the world.
What size grants does The Wls Spencer Foundation award?
In 2024, The Wls Spencer Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Wls Spencer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Wls Spencer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $599K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Wls Spencer Foundation's EIN?
The Wls Spencer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3799186. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wls Spencer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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