Wagner Foundation
Wagner Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 2005, it supports organizations working to build healthier communities, with grantmaking focused on health equity, economic wellbeing, and art and culture.
Wagner Foundation at a glance
In short: Wagner Foundation gave $12.5M across 132 grants in 2024 (avg $95K), mostly in Massachusetts. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,534,222
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 132
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $94,956
- -2.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $161,143,389
- -3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (35 of 114, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (81% 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 Wagner Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Its website says grants are by invitation only; it reviews inquiries and responds only to those it wishes to pursue further.
- Contact
Mailing address: 485 Massachusetts Ave 2Nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: (617) 468-6800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wagner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mass Design Group ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
588 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 299 grants of 588 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it works in the United States, Africa, Latin America, and Haiti. Its 2024 filing identifies Massachusetts, New York, and California as primary grantmaking locations. In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 81% of grant dollars, followed by California and Illinois at 5% each, New York at 4%, and Pennsylvania at 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 132 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wagner Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 35 of 114 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $139K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 137% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
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 $11.4M (2020) to $14.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 132 grants totaling $12.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Design Group Boston, MA | The catalyst fund, learning & engagement program, and labs program | $1,000,000 |
| Year up Inc Boston, MA | Campaign for an Equitable Future | $1,000,000 |
| Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, MA | Fund for the Future: Phase II | $700,000 |
| Partners in Health a Nonprofit Corporation Boston, MA | Building on Impact Towards Greater Systems Change Grant | $650,000 |
| Root Capital Inc Cambridge, MA | Wai Evolution & Innovation Grant | $450,000 |
| Integrate Health Inc Medway, MA | General Operating Support | $400,000 |
| Muso Inc San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $400,000 |
| Pivotworks Inc Randolph, MA | General Operating Support | $400,000 |
| United States Artists Inc Chicago, IL | Wagner Arts Fellowship | $392,722 |
| Seed Global Health Inc Boston, MA | Innovative Financing for Health Systems Strengthening | $350,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wagner Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $161,143,389 | $8,865,912 | $15,489,669 | $12,534,222 | 132 | $14,995,993 | $12,302,453 | $10,973,142 |
| 2023 | $167,759,079 | $7,904,161 | $15,470,355 | $13,196,500 | 135 | $15,039,540 | $1,225,507 | $10,073,334 |
| 2022 | $175,331,276 | $12,287,957 | $16,148,365 | $14,691,000 | 125 | $15,701,025 | — | $9,344,726 |
| 2021 | $179,189,159 | $35,918,783 | $14,682,798 | $13,711,090 | 100 | $14,272,421 | $17,911,403 | $10,414,113 |
| 2020 | $157,945,011 | $16,483,558 | $11,832,349 | $11,382,440 | 96 | — | $7,599,940 | $8,930,695 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wagner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s vision is a just, vibrant, and healthy world centered on shared humanity and the equal value of all people. Its stated focus areas are health equity, economic wellbeing, and art and culture. Its work includes strengthening healthcare delivery and systems, addressing social drivers of health, expanding access to wealth-building opportunities and fair wages, and supporting contemporary visual arts exhibitions, publications, public art, and arts organizations.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate these areas. Partners In Health describes its work as bringing modern medical science to vulnerable communities worldwide. Year Up says it works to close the opportunity divide by helping young adults gain skills, experience, and support for careers and higher education. United States Artists describes its mission as investing in artists and illuminating their value to society. Other 2024 grantees include organizations whose stated work addresses agricultural businesses and farmer incomes, health-system strengthening, and healthcare access.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Wagner Foundation reported 132 grants totaling $12,534,222. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Across its grantmaking, the foundation lists a typical award range of $3,000 to $3,000,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $1,000,000 to Mass Design Group for its Catalyst Fund, Learning & Engagement Program, and Labs Program; $1,000,000 to Year Up for its Campaign for an Equitable Future; $700,000 to the Institute of Contemporary Art for Fund for the Future: Phase II; and $650,000 to Partners In Health for a systems-change grant. Other awards included $450,000 to Root Capital, $400,000 each to Integrate Health, Muso, and PivotWorks, and $392,722 to United States Artists for the Wagner Arts Fellowship.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Herbert S. Wagner III and Charlotte R. Cramer Wagner as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Charlotte Wagner as founder and president and Caroline Easley as executive director.
Wagner Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charlotte R. Cramer Wagner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Herbert S. Wagner III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Wagner Foundation
How much does Wagner Foundation give each year?
Wagner Foundation gave $12.5M across 132 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.2M across 135 grants.
What is Wagner Foundation's typical grant size?
Wagner Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $94,956, across 132 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wagner Foundation that year got $44K on average.
Where does Wagner Foundation give grants?
Wagner Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (48 grants), Cambridge, MA (15 grants), New York, NY (8 grants) and Jamaica Plain, MA (5 grants).
Does Wagner Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of Wagner Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (76 of 132) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wagner Foundation's largest grantees?
Wagner Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mass Design Group ($1,000,000), Year up Inc ($1,000,000) and Institute of Contemporary Art ($955,000 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wagner Foundation?
Wagner Foundation reported $161.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wagner Foundation fund?
The foundation’s vision is a just, vibrant, and healthy world centered on shared humanity and the equal value of all people. Its stated focus areas are health equity, economic wellbeing, and art and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wagner Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wagner Foundation's EIN?
Wagner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6079941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wagner 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 October 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wagner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wagner-foundation-morg_1fedfd354f2d4554aed7958103abdec6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_206079941_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wagner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wagner-foundation-morg_1fedfd354f2d4554aed7958103abdec6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Wagner 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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