Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It supports animal welfare and conservation, including medical care and equipment for animals, rescue and rehabilitation, and humane education.
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation at a glance
In short: Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation gave $215K across 112 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state California. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $214,500
- -5.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 112
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,915
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,087,016
- -3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (3 of 54, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (29% 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 Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://wagsandmenace.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was 3 Sisters Equine Rescue ($28K). Together the top 10 received $99K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
596 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 596 grants of 596 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed across recipient states, with the largest shares going to California (29%), Colorado (22%), Oregon (13%), Washington (7%), and Wyoming (4%). The foundation’s website also describes its work as reaching animals in locations around the world.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 112 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 54 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 444% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $215K (2025) to $318K (2022). In 2025 it made 112 grants totaling $215K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Sisters Equine Rescue Redmond, OR | in support of the medical fund | $28,200 |
| Pacific Marine Mammal Center Laguna Beach, CA | in support of the emergency medical fund | $9,400 |
| Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute Inc Gaviota, CA | medical fund | $5,200 |
| Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA Orlando, FL | in support of conservation efforts | $5,000 |
| Noco Humane Loveland, CO | 3 critter camps fund and medical fund | $4,100 |
| Colorado Puppy Rescue of Colorado Parker, CO | in support of the medical fund | $4,000 |
| Northcoast Marine Mammal Center Crescent City, CA | 6 seals medical care fund | $3,600 |
| Pacific Marine Mammal Center Laguna Beach, CA | 6 seals medical care fund | $3,600 |
| Snow Leopard Trust Seattle, WA | for conservation efforts | $3,500 |
| Blackfoot Animal Shelter & Rescue Blackfoot, ID | emergency medical care fund | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wags and Menace Make a Difference 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,087,016 | $232,291 | $267,017 | $214,500 | 112 | $246,112 | $455,953 | $55,442 |
| 2024 | $1,121,742 | $85,156 | $278,863 | $226,300 | 110 | $257,553 | $142,397 | $66,982 |
| 2023 | $1,315,449 | $373,569 | $339,844 | $302,300 | 118 | $326,450 | $231,963 | $55,149 |
| 2022 | $1,281,724 | $550,075 | $355,131 | $318,300 | 128 | $342,514 | $465,877 | $49,310 |
| 2021 | $1,084,780 | $377,576 | $337,598 | $304,500 | 128 | $328,505 | $67,575 | $52,786 |
| 2020 | $1,044,802 | $506,236 | $354,561 | $314,070 | 122 | — | $287,855 | $39,614 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55K 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
The foundation’s stated goals include ending animal cruelty, helping abandoned or orphaned domestic and wild animals, and advancing education about humane treatment of animals. Its website describes support for emergency medical funding and equipment, humane education, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and conservation efforts.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work represented among its grantees. 3 an individual recipient says it rescues at-risk horses and works with the foundation to rescue orphan foals from Warm Springs Reservation. Northcoast Marine Mammal Center says its work includes rescuing and rehabilitating sick, injured, or orphaned marine mammals. Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA describes its mission as supporting organizations working to conserve giraffes and their habitat in Africa.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 112 grants totaling $214,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $28,200, with a median grant of $1,000.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $28,200 to 3 an individual recipient for its medical fund; $9,400 to Pacific Marine Mammal Center for its emergency medical fund; $5,200 to Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute for its medical fund; and $5,000 to Giraffe Conservation Foundation USA for conservation efforts. Other grants included $4,100 to Noco Humane for its critter camps and medical funds, and $3,500 to Snow Leopard Trust for conservation efforts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cynthia Lee as president, director, secretary, and treasurer. The foundation’s website identifies Cindy Lee as president and Baxter Lee as CEO.
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation is led by Cynthia Lee, President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia Lee
President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation
How much does Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation give each year?
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation gave $215K across 112 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $226K across 110 grants.
What is Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's typical grant size?
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,915, across 112 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation give grants?
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's top state is California, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (22%) and Oregon (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Crescent City, CA (6 grants), Los Angeles, CA (6 grants), Rifle, CO (5 grants) and Cheyenne, WY (4 grants).
Does Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 112 grants with a stated purpose on Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Support of the Medical Fund" (23 grants), "Emergency Medical Care Fund" (8 grants) and "In Support of Medical Fund" (8 grants).
Who are Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's largest grantees?
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include 3 Sisters Equine Rescue ($28,200), Pacific Marine Mammal Center ($13,000 across 2 grants) and Journey Home Animal Care Center Inc ($10,000 across 5 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation?
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $246K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $55K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated goals include ending animal cruelty, helping abandoned or orphaned domestic and wild animals, and advancing education about humane treatment of animals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's EIN?
Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2447133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Wags and Menace Make a Difference 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wags-and-menace-make-a-difference-foundation-morg_885c5142d74946af80c8407d1103a7ec
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462447133_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wags and Menace Make a Difference Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wags-and-menace-make-a-difference-foundation-morg_885c5142d74946af80c8407d1103a7ec},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Wags and Menace Make a Difference 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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