W Sherman Winseman Foundation
The William Sherman Winseman Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 1978, operating from Rancho San Clemente, California. The foundation operates almost entirely on internal funds rather than public donations or government support, with all operational expenses and staff salaries paid through internal resources. The foundation has been active for over 66 years as of 2026, marking decades of contributions, support, and community involvement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.2M
+18.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$344K
-32.6% YoY
Grant Count
35
+34.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-49.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, W Sherman Winseman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $999K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is dedicated to assisting children, elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged populations for the purpose of awareness, needs, and educational opportunities. The foundation's core purpose includes three pillars: to Educate, to Enlighten, and to Inspire.
Primary focus areas include:
- Veterans Support: Financial assistance and support services for United States Veterans
- Elderly Care: Services and financial support for elderly populations
- Child Protection & Welfare: Support for court-protected children from abuse
- Disability Services: Assistance for children suffering from debilitating disabilities
- Medical Support: Aid for those with life-threatening ailments including cancer and those in need of prosthetics
- Educational Support: Scholarships, honorariums, grants, and financial assistance for nursing students and home care students pursuing careers in special needs care and elderly patient support
The foundation's trademark is "A Dream is the Seed of Success."
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $361,482 in 2023. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in California, with documented grantmaking activity in Orange County and Bakersfield areas. The foundation maintains membership in multiple California chambers of commerce including San Juan Capistrano, Fullerton, and Orange County chambers.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $18,689,569
- Total Revenues: $1,066,226
- Total Expenses: $986,922
- Total Grants Contributions: $97,670
- Employees: 2
The foundation's financial structure reflects its reliance on internal funds, with total assets significantly exceeding annual revenues and expenses.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,186,382 | $18,689,569 | $16,869,695 |
| Revenue | $2,341,208 | $1,066,226 | $1,653,088 |
| Expenses | $953,600 | $986,922 | $570,545 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $800,071 | $872,828 | $454,455 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,308,705 | $854,462 | $1,211,938 |
| Distributable Amount | $998,687 | $856,537 | $841,382 |
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
123 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ronald Mcdonald House (and Orange) ($102,679), Mental Health Association of Orange County ($69,129), Burrito Project ($29,734).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMERS OC IRVINE, CA | CASH DONATION FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| AUTISM COMMUNITY IN ACTION IRVINE, CA | CASH DONATION FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| AUTRY MUSEUM LOS ANGELES, CA | CASH DONATION FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BURRITO PROJECT BAKERSFIELD, CA | DONATIONS OF GOODS AND CASH | $29,734 |
| CHILDREN FIRST BAKERSFIELD BAKERSFIELD, CA | CASH DONATION FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $27,776 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF ORANGE COUNTY ORANGE, CA | 36 LARGE STUFFED ANIMALS FOR CHILDREN | $1,829 |
| CITY OF HOPE DUARTE, CA | CASH DONATION FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| DELTA RESCUE GLENDALE, CA | CASH DONATION FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| GUIDE DOGS OF AMERICA SYLMAR, CA | CASH DONATION FOR ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE. | $1,000 |
| HAVEN HOUSE OLATHE, CO | HYGEINE KITS, SOCKS, TOYS, BLANKETS, STUFFED ANIMALS, AND PET SUPPLIES FOR CHARITY'S USE | $7,485 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by trustees Dana D. Winseman and David E. Winseman. The foundation operates with 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANA D WINSEMAN | PRESIDENT/CFO/DIRECTOR | 70 | — |
| MICHAEL ULLO | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMES G JONES ESQ | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does W Sherman Winseman Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is dedicated to assisting children, elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged populations for the purpose of awareness, needs, and educational opportunities. The foundation's core purpose includes three pillars: to Educate, to Enlighten, and to Inspire. Primary focus areas include: • **Veterans Support**: Financial assistance and support services for United States Veterans • **Elderly Care**: Services and financial support for elderly populations • **Child Protection & Welfa…
How do I apply for a grant from W Sherman Winseman Foundation?
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $361,482 in 2023. Recent grants include: • **New Directions for Veterans**: $154,106 (cash donation for organizational charitable purposes) • **Orange County Association for Mental Health**: $114,930 (clothing, hygiene kits, pet supplies, books, and cultural event passes for homeless and low-income families) • **Haven House**: $61,002 (hygiene kits, socks, toys, blankets, stuffed animals, and pet supplies) • **Valley Achievement Center**: $31,44…
Where does W Sherman Winseman Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in California, with documented grantmaking activity in Orange County and Bakersfield areas. The foundation maintains membership in multiple California chambers of commerce including San Juan Capistrano, Fullerton, and Orange County chambers.
What size grants does W Sherman Winseman Foundation award?
In 2024, W Sherman Winseman Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $344K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is W Sherman Winseman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, W Sherman Winseman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $999K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is W Sherman Winseman Foundation's EIN?
W Sherman Winseman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3202989. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in W Sherman Winseman 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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