Waddell Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Marion, OH EIN: 31-4386851

Waddell Foundation is a private foundation based in Marion, Ohio. Its 2025 filing reports grants to Ohio organizations for purposes including historical activities, health, senior services, arts and culture, nutrition, and reutilization.

Waddell Foundation at a glance

In short: Waddell Foundation gave $165K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Ohio. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$165,000
-1.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
14
-6.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$11,786
+5.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$7,500
Total assets
$4,650,342
+3.8% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Ohio (100% 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 Waddell Foundation

Contact

Application contact: James Waddell
Mailing address: P O Box 358, Marion, OH 43302
Phone: (419) 845-3316

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Waddell Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Ohio Historical Society: $55K across 2 grantsOhio Historical Society$55K · 2 grantsMarion County Fed Womens: $25KMarion County Fed Womens$25KMarion General Hospital Foundation: $20KMarion General HospitalFoundation$20KLife Care Alliance: $10KLife Care Alliance$10KMLS Construction Services: $10KMLS Construction Services$10KAxess Pointe: $10KAxess Pointe$10KMarion Palace Theatre: $5KMarion Palace Theatre$5KProspect Senior Center: $5KProspect Senior Center$5KPleasant Senior Center: $5KPleasant Senior Center$5KMarion Senior Center: $5KMarion Senior Center$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Ohio Historical Society ($55K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $150K.

Grant Size Distribution

63 grants across all recorded years

63<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 filing shows that 100% of grant dollars went to Ohio recipients. The 2024 filing states that awards are restricted to Marion and adjacent counties.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

States

Cities

MarionColumbusCaledoniaGreen CampProspectRavennaDelaware

Is Waddell Foundation open to new grantees?

15%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $13K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K8 grants2021 13 grants2022 13 grants2023 15 grants2024 14 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $133K (2023) to $168K (2024). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $165K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Ohio Historical Society Columbus, OHHistorical$30,000
Marion County Fed Womens Marion, OHHistorical$25,000
Ohio Historical Society Columbus, OHHistorical$25,000
Marion General Hospital Foundation Marion, OHHEALTH$20,000
Life Care Alliance Columbus, OHHealth & Nutrition$10,000
MLS Construction Services Delaware, OHReutilization$10,000
Axess Pointe Ravenna, OHServices for Seniors$10,000
Marion Palace Theatre Marion, OHArts/Cultural$5,000
Prospect Senior Center Prospect, OHServices for Seniors$5,000
Pleasant Senior Center Marion, OHServices for Seniors$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$4,650,342$262,442$230,658$165,00014$223,964$234,001$221,605
2024$4,480,931$216,037$219,425$167,56015$214,696$188,934$207,171
2023$4,038,723$158,576$183,791$132,50013$179,299$133,227$202,160
2022$4,246,835$308,650$200,526$145,00013$191,362$279,796$218,721
2021$4,793,971$361,060$209,807$150,0008—$334,035$210,142

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Waddell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K 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 included support for historical organizations, health services, senior centers, and an arts and cultural organization. The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications must be for charities and activities assisting senior citizens.

Marion General Hospital Foundation described its mission as supporting the work of Marion General Hospital. LifeCare Alliance described its mission as identifying and delivering health and nutrition services to meet community needs.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $165,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $30,000, with a median of $7,500. Among the largest grants were $30,000 and $25,000 to the Ohio Historical Society, $25,000 to Marion County Fed Womens, $20,000 to Marion General Hospital Foundation, and $10,000 each to LifeCare Alliance, MLS Construction Services, and Axess Pointe.

The 2024 filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. How to apply: The filing says to contact James Waddell and submit an application for funds for charities and activities assisting senior citizens. It states that awards are restricted to Marion and adjacent counties. Deadline: The filing states that applications may be submitted any time during the year.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists James P. Waddell as president; Michael Payette as vice president; Trenton J. Waddell and Robert Waddell as trustees; and Tim Waddell as secretary.

Waddell Foundation is led by James P. Waddell, President on every filing since 2021; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • James P. Waddell

    President

    On filings since 2021

    $6K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Robert Waddell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $6K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Trenton J. Waddell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    $2K (2022) → $8K (2025)

  • Michael Payette

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    $6K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Tim Waddell

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $14K (2025)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Betty Dendinger (2021–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: David Williamson (2021) — Attorney

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Tim Waddell — Secretary: $14KTim WaddellSecretary$14KJames P Waddell — President: $8KJames P WaddellPresident$8KMichael Payette — Vice Preside: $8KMichael PayetteVice Preside$8KTrenton J Waddell — Trustee: $8KTrenton J WaddellTrustee$8KRobert Waddell — Trustee: $8KRobert WaddellTrustee$8K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to Tim Waddell (Secretary). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Waddell Foundation

How much does Waddell Foundation give each year?

Waddell Foundation gave $165K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $168K across 15 grants.

What is Waddell Foundation's typical grant size?

Waddell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $11,786, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Waddell Foundation that year got $10K on average.

Where does Waddell Foundation give grants?

Waddell Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Marion, OH (6 grants) and Columbus, OH (3 grants).

Does Waddell Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Waddell Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Services for Seniors" (7 grants) and "Historical" (3 grants).

Who are Waddell Foundation's largest grantees?

Waddell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ohio Historical Society ($55,000 across 2 grants), Marion County Fed Womens ($25,000) and Marion General Hospital Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Waddell Foundation?

Waddell Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $224K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $222K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Waddell Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for historical organizations, health services, senior centers, and an arts and cultural organization. The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications must be for charities and activities assisting senior citizens. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Waddell Foundation?

Waddell Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Waddell Foundation's EIN?

Waddell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-4386851. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Waddell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/waddell-foundation-morg_234d2961e1f74611b2be7b82b59aa86f

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_314386851_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Waddell Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/waddell-foundation-morg_234d2961e1f74611b2be7b82b59aa86f},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Waddell 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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