Wakerly Family Foundation
The Wakerly Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Altos, California. Founded in California in 1996, it provides financial assistance to qualified public charitable organizations for community programs, with stated interests in education, social services, and economic development.
Key facts about Wakerly Family Foundation
In short: Wakerly Family Foundation gave $363K across 19 grants in 2026 (avg $19K), top state Illinois. 33% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 77-0441943
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026
- Annual giving (2026)
- $363,000
- Grants made (2026)
- 19
- Average grant
- $19,105
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2026; small sample)
- Total assets
- $7,899,954
- Primary geography
- Illinois (44% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2026 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.9M
+12.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$363K
+16.7% YoY
Grant Count
19
+18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-1.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wakerly Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $372K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Wakerly Family Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 60% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 40% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to assist qualified public charitable organizations, particularly in social services, education, and economic development. Its interests include private education; support for children in at-risk or economically disadvantaged households; low-income housing; emergency food and shelter; job skills training and entrepreneurship; services for immigrants; nutrition for low-income households; emotional and mental health resources; and support for older adults and their caregivers. It also says it is especially interested in relatively small, low-overhead organizations and programs that can achieve high leverage with its grants.
Its 2026 grants included educational, food assistance, health, family-service, and elder-care purposes. For example, an individual recipient High School received $40,000 for scholarships; Northern Illinois Food Bank received $25,000 for food for people in need; and Little Sisters of the Poor received $20,000 for equipment updates for older adults. Separately, the grantees describe their own work: An individual recipient High School says it raises funds to support its educational programs and facilities; Northern Illinois Food Bank says it works through a network of food pantries and programs to increase access to nutritious food; and Little Sisters of the Poor says it provides financial assistance to homes serving older adults.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $363,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $40,000, with a median of $20,000. Its largest listed grants included an individual recipient High School ($40,000), ABCD Inc ($35,000) for breast cancer patient support, Marquette University ($33,000) for scholarships, Northern Illinois Food Bank ($25,000) for food for people in need, and New Horizons Foundation ($25,000) for school construction.
The website says a board member may invite a qualified organization to request a grant. Typical grants are described as $1,000 to $10,000 for one year; selected applicants may request more than $10,000 for special projects, subject to additional review by the full board. Existing recipients may make a new request at any time. The foundation’s stated annual grantmaking budget is on the order of $300,000.
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. A board member invites organizations to apply, and the applicant submits a brief proposal—typically 1 to 2 pages—in PDF format by email to its designated board-member advocate. The proposal should describe the organization and requested program or project, the needs and population served, expected outcomes and evaluation, the project’s total cost, and the amount requested. Applicants may also be asked for proof of charitable status, board information, a projected budget, a program ratio, and an overview of financial statements. The foundation says its fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. No application deadline is stated.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says its initial service area included San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in California, and that it later broadened its focus to charities in areas where board members reside, in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. In filing year 2026, grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (44%), Wisconsin (39%), Colorado (7%), Georgia (6%), and Massachusetts (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $240K (2021) to $363K (2026). In 2026 it made 19 grants totaling $363K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was ABCD Inc ($35K). Together the top 10 received $238K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 80 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $75,000 |
| ABCD Inc Milwaukee, WI | Breast cancer patient support | $35,000 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Scholarships | $33,000 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | Food for needy | $25,000 |
| New Horizons Foundation Colorado Springs, CO | School construction | $25,000 |
| People's Resource Center Wheaton, IL | Food pantry and other pgms | $25,000 |
| Ozaukee Family Services Grafton, WI | Mental health Svcs | $20,000 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor Palatine, IL | Equipment updates for elderly | $20,000 |
| Bartow Family Resources Cartersville, GA | Parenting Pgm | $20,000 |
| Rosie's Place Boston, MA | Social programs | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7,899,954 | $1,044,155 | $365,560 | $363,000 (19 grants) |
| 2025 | $7,041,458 | $429,013 | $315,009 | $311,000 (16 grants) |
| 2024 | $6,359,482 | $467,067 | $283,575 | $282,000 (16 grants) |
| Metric | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,899,954 | $7,041,458 | $6,359,482 |
| Revenue | $1,044,155 | $429,013 | $467,067 |
| Expenses | $365,560 | $315,009 | $283,575 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $363,000 | $311,000 | $282,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $789,534 | $176,947 | $281,202 |
| Distributable Amount | $371,601 | $327,313 | $296,915 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists John F Wakerly as president and chair; Regina M Rich as vice chair and secretary; Ralph T Wakerly as treasurer; and Michael J Wakerly, Susanne D Robertson, and Marie Hoy as members. The foundation’s website identifies its founders as Kate Wakerly and her husband, John Wakerly, and says Kate Wakerly died in 2004.
Wakerly Family Foundation is led by John F Wakerly, President Chair on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
John F Wakerly
President Chair
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marie Hoy
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael J Wakerly
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ralph T Wakerly
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Regina M Rich
Vice Chair Secretary
Vice President Secretary → Vice Chair Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susanne D Robertson
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 24581 Summerhill Ct, Los Altos, CA 94024
Phone: (650) 968-9057
Frequently asked questions about Wakerly Family Foundation
How much does Wakerly Family Foundation give each year?
Wakerly Family Foundation gave $363K across 19 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $311K across 16 grants.
What is Wakerly Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Wakerly Family Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,105, across 19 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wakerly Family Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Wakerly Family Foundation give grants?
Wakerly Family Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Wisconsin (39%) and Colorado (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (7 grants) and Grafton, WI (2 grants).
Does Wakerly Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Wakerly Family Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (4 grants).
Who are Wakerly Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Wakerly Family Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include ABCD Inc ($35,000), Marquette University ($33,000) and Northern Illinois Food Bank ($25,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Wakerly Family Foundation?
Wakerly Family Foundation reported $7.9M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $363K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $372K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Wakerly Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to assist qualified public charitable organizations, particularly in social services, education, and economic development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wakerly Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wakerly Family Foundation's EIN?
Wakerly Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0441943. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does Wakerly Family 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.
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