The Wolfe Foundation
The Wolfe Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in San Mateo, California. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $28,500 through 21 grants to preselected charitable organizations; it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
The Wolfe Foundation at a glance
In short: The Wolfe Foundation gave $29K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in California. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,500
- -5.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,357
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $264,708
- +4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (77% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Wolfe Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1514 Brandywine Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402-3803
Phone: (650) 372-9121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Wolfe Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ultimate Impact Inc ($3K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 112 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California (77%), New York (12%), Illinois (4%), Florida (4%), and Virginia (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Wolfe Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 21 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 154% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2025) to $33K (2020). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Impact Inc San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Planned Parenthood San Jose, CA | unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank San Jose, CA | unrestricted | $2,500 |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom New York, NY | unrestricted | $2,000 |
| The African Library Project Portola Valley, CA | unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Jewish Vocational Services San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| The Marfan Foundation Port Washington, NY | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Semper Fi Fund Camp Pendelton, CA | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| University of Illinois Foundation Urbana, IL | unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco San Franciscoc, CA | unrestricted | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $264,708 | $42,160 | $30,307 | $28,500 | 21 | $28,802 | $41,046 | $18,739 |
| 2024 | $252,855 | $22,041 | $31,812 | $30,000 | 22 | $30,316 | $20,934 | $19,471 |
| 2023 | $262,626 | $247,429 | $34,507 | $30,010 | 22 | $30,478 | $246,600 | $15,003 |
| 2022 | $49,704 | $26,819 | $31,271 | $29,500 | 22 | $30,003 | $25,991 | $18,012 |
| 2021 | $53,156 | $32,441 | $31,769 | $30,150 | 25 | $30,588 | $31,669 | $16,674 |
| 2020 | $53,484 | $29,108 | $34,712 | $33,050 | 25 | — | $28,366 | $15,320 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wolfe Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Second Harvest Food Bank describes its mission as ending hunger and malnutrition through community education and involvement. Ultimate Impact Inc says it empowers youth from underrepresented communities through ultimate. American Friends of Magen David Adom says it supports the lifesaving efforts of Magen David Adom in Israel. The Marfan Foundation describes work in research, education, support, and community-building for people with certain genetic aortic and vascular conditions.
Other 2025 recipients include the University of Illinois Foundation, which says it administers private gifts to benefit the University of Illinois; The Nature Conservancy, whose stated mission is to conserve lands and waters; Nine Lives Foundation, which describes cat rescue, clinical care, adoption, and low-cost spay and neuter services; and the California Academy of Sciences, which says it works to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $28,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,500, with a median of $1,000. The largest grants included $2,500 each to Ultimate Impact Inc, Planned Parenthood, and Second Harvest Food Bank; $2,000 each to American Friends of Magen David Adom, The African Library Project, and Jewish Vocational Services; and $1,500 each to The Marfan Foundation and Semper Fi Fund. The listed 2025 grant purposes are unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Barbara E. Goldstein as president, Michael S. Goldstein as secretary treasurer, and Therese M. Vandenberg as director.
The Wolfe Foundation is led by Barbara E. Goldstein, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara E. Goldstein
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Therese M. Vandenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael S. Goldstein
Secretary Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Wolfe Foundation
How much does The Wolfe Foundation give each year?
The Wolfe Foundation gave $29K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $30K across 22 grants.
What is The Wolfe Foundation's typical grant size?
The Wolfe Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,357, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Wolfe Foundation give grants?
The Wolfe Foundation gives mostly in California: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (5 grants) and San Jose, CA (4 grants).
Does The Wolfe Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Wolfe Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Wolfe Foundation's largest grantees?
The Wolfe Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ultimate Impact Inc ($2,500), Planned Parenthood ($2,500) and Second Harvest Food Bank ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Wolfe Foundation?
The Wolfe Foundation reported $265K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $29K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Wolfe Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Second Harvest Food Bank describes its mission as ending hunger and malnutrition through community education and involvement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wolfe Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Wolfe Foundation's EIN?
The Wolfe Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6027471. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Wolfe 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Wolfe 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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