Tony R Wells Foundation
The Tony R Wells Foundation is a private foundation based in Lewis Center, Ohio. Founded by Tony and Dana Wells in 2001, it supports nonprofit leaders and social innovation through grants, leadership development, and social impact investing.
Tony R Wells Foundation at a glance
In short: Tony R Wells Foundation gave $7K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $509.857), top state Ohio. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,138
- -80.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -46.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $510
- -64.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $229
- Total assets
- $2,200,119
- +2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (6 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Tony R Wells Foundation
- Review Cycle
- None listed on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None listed on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Tony R Wells
Mailing address: 445 Hutchinson Ave Ste Ste 140, Columbus, OH 43235
Phone: (614) 335-5009
Email: twells@trwellsfoundation.org
Website: https://www.trwellsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tony R Wells Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action ($2K). Together the top 10 received $7K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Lewis Center, Ohio. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (38%), Montana (35%), Texas (14%), Missouri (10%), and Pennsylvania (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Tony R Wells Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 14 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $323; repeat grants $650. How we count
Medians: $229 first-time, $269 repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2024) to $37K (2023). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $7K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action Missoula, MT | Operational Support | $2,488 |
| Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio Columbus, OH | Operational Support | $1,272 |
| Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas Richardson, TX | Operatioal Support | $1,010 |
| Pedal the Cause Saint Louis, MO | Operational Support | $632 |
| National MS Society Independence, OH | Operational Support | $330 |
| Young's Jersey Dairy Bike Ride Yellow Springs, OH | Operatioal Support | $294 |
| YMCA Columbus, OH | Operatonal Support | $250 |
| Flying Horse Farms Mount Gilead, OH | Operational Support | $208 |
| Breakthrough Challenge Philadelphia, PA | Operational Support | $207 |
| NAMI Columbus, OH | Operations Support | $105 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,200,119 | $1,416,324 | $406,611 | $7,138 | 14 | $1,629,336 | — |
| 2023 | $2,141,631 | $1,783,014 | $301,285 | $37,277 | 26 | $989,082 | — |
| 2022 | $2,433,611 | $1,081,719 | $403,893 | $19,295 | 13 | $443,416 | $28,754 |
| 2021 | $1,770,619 | $251,094 | $259,787 | $12,486 | 11 | $303,974 | $44,181 |
| 2020 | $1,935,704 | $274,025 | $289,998 | $17,884 | 28 | — | $18,128 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to “Create value for the community by developing stronger nonprofit leaders and investing in the next generation of social innovations.” Its website says it works with nonprofits seeking to use social entrepreneurship to increase operational sustainability, and identifies organizations serving adults and children with special needs as a particular interest.
The foundation’s website describes impact investments in the form of loans, lines of credit, equity, guarantees, and recoverable grants. It also provides leadership development and capacity-building training. Its 2024 filing lists restrictions on awards as social enterprise, technology, and leadership development.
The 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas says its mission is to help the Down syndrome community advocate, educate, and enable the fullest lives possible; Pedal the Cause says it raises funding for cancer research through an annual cycle challenge; and Flying Horse Farms says it provides medically safe, cost-free camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. These are the grantees’ stated missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $7,138. Grant amounts ranged from $77 to $2,488, with a median of $229. The largest listed awards were $2,488 to Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action, $1,272 to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, and $1,010 to the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas. Other listed recipients included Pedal the Cause ($632), the National MS Society ($330), Young’s Jersey Dairy Bike Ride ($294), YMCA ($250), Flying Horse Farms ($208), and Breakthrough Challenge ($207). The filing describes these grants as operational support.
The foundation’s website says it accepts requests on a rolling basis. Its 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. How to apply: The filing lists Tony R Wells as the contact and requests an executive summary and financial reports, including an audit. The foundation’s website describes impact-investment applicants beginning with a conversation; it may request historical financial statements and audits, project and organization projections or budgets, relevant legal agreements, and a business plan for a new social enterprise.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tony R Wells as president, Dana A Wells as vice president, and Amanda Pollock and Ashley Wells as directors.
Tony R Wells Foundation is led by Tony R. Wells, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tony R. Wells
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Amanda Pollock
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$8K (2024)
Ashley Wells
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$8K (2024)
Dana A. Wells
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$125K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Daniel Pershing (2020–2023) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $125K, to Dana a Wells (Vice President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Tony R Wells Foundation
How much does Tony R Wells Foundation give each year?
Tony R Wells Foundation gave $7K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $37K across 26 grants.
What is Tony R Wells Foundation's typical grant size?
Tony R Wells Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $229, and its average grant was $510, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tony R Wells Foundation that year got $323 on average.
Where does Tony R Wells Foundation give grants?
Tony R Wells Foundation's top state is Ohio, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Montana (35%) and Texas (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (6 grants) and Saint Louis, MO (2 grants).
Does Tony R Wells Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Tony R Wells Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operatioal Support" (3 grants).
Who are Tony R Wells Foundation's largest grantees?
Tony R Wells Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action ($2,488), Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio ($1,272) and Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas ($1,010), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tony R Wells Foundation?
Tony R Wells Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does Tony R Wells Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to “Create value for the community by developing stronger nonprofit leaders and investing in the next generation of social innovations.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tony R Wells Foundation?
Tony R Wells Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check trwellsfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Tony R Wells Foundation's EIN?
Tony R Wells Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1778364. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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