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.
Key facts about The WLS Spencer Foundation
- EIN
- 13-3799186
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,349,201
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- Average grant
- $61,327
- Median grant
- $30,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $8,853,911
- Primary geography
- California (54% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Grant applications are currently by invitation only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The WLS Spencer Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The WLS Spencer Foundation's 22 itemized 2024 grants were California (54%), Oregon (26%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Eugene, OR (9 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants) and North Adams, MA (2 grants). 41% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The WLS Spencer Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $55K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $55K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 251% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The WLS Spencer Foundation
- How to evaluate The WLS Spencer Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The WLS Spencer Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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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.
Ready to take the next step with The WLS Spencer Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds activities anywhere in the world.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 22 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients include Freshgrass Public Foundation ($270,000 across 3 grants), Surfrider Foundation ($250,000), University of Oregon Foundation ($174,737).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SURFRIDER FOUNDATION San Clemente, CA | FOR PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE | $250,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION Eugene, OR | FOR CONTEMPORARY CHINESE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION | $174,737 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART North Adams, MA | FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS | $125,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC Los Angeles, CA | FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS | $100,000 |
| THE ASIA SOCIETY New York, NY | FOR CURATOR OF LEARNING AND OUTREACH | $100,000 |
| KLCC PUBLIC RADIO FOUNDATION Eugene, OR | FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL KLCC REPORTER | $50,000 |
| TEN STRANDS San Rafael, CA | FOR DATA INITIATIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION | $50,000 |
| LANE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 4J Eugene, OR | FOR AVID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS | $49,464 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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?
Grant applications are currently by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.