Waitt Foundation
Waitt Foundation is a private foundation based in North Sioux City, South Dakota. It provides grants and other resources for ocean research, policy, marine protection, and Blue Prosperity initiatives around the globe.
Waitt Foundation at a glance
In short: Waitt Foundation gave $9.9M across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $235K), mostly in South Dakota. 59% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,878,414
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $235,200
- -30.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,290
- Total assets
- $136,326,231
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (24 of 41, 2024)
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (72% 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 Waitt Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. For ROC Grants, applicants submit a preliminary grant request through the foundation’s website after reviewing its guidelines and grantee requirements. Applicants must provide a US tax identification number and be prepared to provide a current IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter; applicants outside the US must provide proof of equivalent public charitable status. The filing says the foundation generally does not support work outside its key focus areas and does not accept proposals for individuals, event fundraisers or sponsorships, endowments, or lobbying.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that ROC preliminary grant requests are accepted year-round. The ROC FAQ says applications are reviewed monthly and responses take about six weeks.
- Deadline
- The filing states that ROC preliminary grant requests are accepted year-round.
- Contact
Application contact: Cherie Prothro-Shea
Mailing address: PO Box 1948, La Jolla, CA 92038
Phone: (858) 551-4400
Website: https://waittfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Waitt Foundation
Who Waitt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Waitt Institute ($7.1M). Together the top 10 received $9.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
214 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 158 grants of 214 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its ocean conservation work is not limited by geography. Its ROC program is restricted to projects in countries with Blue Prosperity Coalition partnerships; the listed locations are the Azores, Bermuda, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in South Dakota (72%) and California (17%), followed by Washington, DC (5%), an unspecified state category (4%), and Virginia (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Waitt Foundation open to new grantees?
59%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 24 of 41 grantees (59%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $555K. How we count
Medians: $575 first-time, $25K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 167% 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 $5.3M (2020) to $10.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $9.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Waitt Institute North Sioux City, SD | Ocean Conservation | $7,141,280 |
| Bren School of Environmental Science & Management (Ucsb) Santa Barbara, CA | Ocean Conservation | $692,444 |
| Seasketch Santa Barbara, CA | Ocean Conservation | $600,366 |
| Oceano Azul Foundation | Ocean Conservation | $300,000 |
| Regents of the University of California- SD La Jolla, CA | Ocean Conservation | $275,000 |
| The University of Queensland Washington, DC | Ocean Conservation | $250,000 |
| Global Fishing Watch Washington, DC | Ocean Conservation | $200,000 |
| Conservation International Foundation Arlington, VA | Ocean Conservation | $153,377 |
| Sustainable Ocean Alliance San Francisco, CA | Ocean Conservation | $100,000 |
| Barbudango | Ocean Conservation | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Waitt 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 | $136,326,231 | $5,074,165 | $12,020,275 | $9,878,414 | 42 | $11,251,883 | $6,393,631 | $6,751,775 |
| 2023 | $136,284,471 | $1,078,607 | $12,439,943 | $10,190,301 | 30 | $11,795,011 | $1,727,347 | $6,649,990 |
| 2022 | $130,699,893 | $5,062,551 | $11,350,303 | $8,365,436 | 34 | $10,781,379 | $4,482,328 | $6,976,192 |
| 2021 | $157,175,219 | $6,009,824 | $11,069,116 | $8,879,416 | 48 | $10,595,857 | $9,375,365 | $5,836,508 |
| 2020 | $152,186,431 | $741,922 | $7,470,700 | $5,308,966 | 60 | — | $1,974,828 | $6,091,813 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Waitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.8M 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 stated goal is sustainable ocean management that works in harmony with economic growth and innovation, fisheries management, and ocean protection. Its work includes efforts to end overfishing, establish Marine Protected Areas, advance Marine Spatial Planning, and increase public awareness about declining ocean health. It also emphasizes conservation finance and partnerships that help governments achieve “Blue Prosperity.”
The foundation says it provides direct grants to NGOs and works with a global network of partners. Its grantees include international environmental science and policy organizations, local conservation groups, public-private trusts, and academic institutions. For example, Global Fishing Watch describes its mission as advancing ocean governance through transparency about human activity at sea; Conservation International says it works to secure the benefits nature provides to humanity; and Sustainable Ocean Alliance says it empowers young people to lead in ocean conservation. Other 2024 recipients included organizations whose stated missions address disability inclusion, animal welfare, hunger, and services for children and families.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $9,878,414. Grant amounts ranged from $35 to $7,141,280, with a median of $1,290. The largest grant was $7,141,280 to Waitt Institute for ocean conservation. Other large 2024 grants included $692,444 to the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UCSB and $600,366 to SeaSketch, both for ocean conservation. Global Fishing Watch received $200,000, and Conservation International Foundation received $153,377, also for ocean conservation.
The ROC Grants program provides small grants for emerging conservation issues and ocean protection in support of island nations. Its criteria include projects supporting sustainable fishing and/or Marine Protected Areas, a six-month project duration, and an applicant’s affiliation with an academic institution or NGO. ROC grants are intended to be the sole or primary funding source for the proposed project. The program FAQ says it reviews proposals up to $20,000; the foundation’s 2024 filing states a maximum request of $15,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Theodore W. Waitt as chairman/director and Dave Russell as vice chairman/director. Other listed directors are Hailey Waitt, Shane Hartnett, and Max Waitt. David Stoos is listed as secretary, Josh Sherer as treasurer, and Cherie Prothro-Shea as managing director.
Waitt Foundation is led by Theodore W. Waitt, Chairman & Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Theodore W. Waitt
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cherie Prothro-Shea
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$176K (2020) → $215K (2024)
Dave Russell
Vice Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hailey Waitt
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Max Waitt
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shane Hartnett
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Sherer
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Stoos
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mark Dickey (2020–2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $215K, to Cherie Prothro-Shea (Managing Director).
Frequently asked questions about Waitt Foundation
How much does Waitt Foundation give each year?
Waitt Foundation gave $9.9M across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.2M across 30 grants.
What is Waitt Foundation's typical grant size?
Waitt Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,290, and its average grant was $235,200, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Waitt Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Waitt Foundation give grants?
Waitt Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sioux City, IA (5 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), San Diego, CA (3 grants) and Santa Barbara, CA (2 grants).
Does Waitt Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 62% of Waitt Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Ocean Conservation" (12 grants) and "Rapid Ocean Conservation Grant" (4 grants).
Who are Waitt Foundation's largest grantees?
Waitt Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Waitt Institute ($7,141,280), Bren School of Environmental Science & Management (Ucsb) ($692,444) and Seasketch ($600,366), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Waitt Foundation?
Waitt Foundation reported $136.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Waitt Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated goal is sustainable ocean management that works in harmony with economic growth and innovation, fisheries management, and ocean protection. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Waitt Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions 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 Waitt Foundation's EIN?
Waitt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0428166. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Waitt 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Waitt Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Waitt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/waitt-foundation-morg_fbb17c508d2e4cdb840f586dd702082e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460428166_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Waitt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/waitt-foundation-morg_fbb17c508d2e4cdb840f586dd702082e},
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 Waitt 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.
Waitt Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?