Wagner Foundation is a private independent foundation headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 2005, the foundation has evolved from a locally-focused grantmaker into an organization with international reach. The foundation operates a gallery space that displays rotating art exhibitions by contemporary visual artists whose work addresses the role of art in civic life.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$161.1M
-3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.5M
-5.0% YoY
Grant Count
132
-2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$95K
-2.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: A just, vibrant, and healthy world centered around shared humanity and the equal value of all people.
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on three primary areas:
- Health Equity: Improving health equity by strengthening healthcare systems and addressing underlying social drivers that impact health
- Economic Wellbeing: Fostering inclusive economies that provide everyone with the opportunity to achieve economic wellbeing
- Art & Culture: Supporting the transformative power of art and culture
Geographic Evolution: The foundation began with a local focus on Greater Boston, funding programs in elementary and secondary education, universities, hospitals, and human service organizations. Following exposure to the work of Partners In Health, the foundation expanded its geographic reach and now funds initiatives in the US, Africa, Latin America, and Haiti.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $3,000 to $3,000,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives in:
- United States (including Massachusetts, New York, and California)
- Africa
- Latin America
- Haiti
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $161,143,389 (2024)
- Total Assets: $168,000,000 (2023)
- Total Giving: $12,534,222 (2024)
- Annual Revenue: $7,900,000 (2023)
- Annual Expenses: $15,500,000 (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $4,690 (2023)
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private independent foundation; tax-exempt since January 2004; EIN 20-6079941
Staffing: 7 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $161,143,389 | $167,759,079 | $175,331,276 |
| Revenue | $8,865,912 | $7,904,161 | $12,287,957 |
| Expenses | $15,489,669 | $15,470,355 | $16,148,365 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,995,993 | $15,039,540 | $15,701,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,302,453 | $1,225,507 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $10,973,142 | $10,073,334 | $9,344,726 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Caroline Easley: Executive Director (joined November 2025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HERBERT S WAGNER III | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHARLOTTE R CRAMER WAGNER | TRUSTEE | 40 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Wagner Arts Fellowship (2026):** The foundation announced its inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship program, awarding $75,000 to selected artists. Three Greater Boston artists received awards in the inaugural cohort.
Announcing the 2026 Wagner Arts Fellows - United States Artists**2025 Grantee Partners:** The foundation announced its 2025 grantee partners, reflecting its commitment to health equity, economic wellbeing, and art and culture initiatives.
Announcing Wagner Foundation 2025 Grantee Partners - Wagner Foundation**Wagner Gallery:** The foundation operates a gallery space in Cambridge that displays rotating exhibitions by local, national, and internationally renowned contemporary visual artists.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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