Walter S Mander Foundation
The Walter S Mander Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1994 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation honors the legacy of Walter "Wally" Mander, a refugee from Nazi Germany who became a successful entrepreneur in the U.S. meatpacking industry during the 1960s and 1970s. The foundation's grantmaking reflects Mr. Mander's interests and values during his lifetime.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$538K
-2.6% YoY
Grant Count
58
+23.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-21.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has four major areas of focus:
Chicago Community Development — Programs that provide employment training, financial literacy, and job opportunities that focus on higher-paying and skilled industries.
Food and Agriculture — Support for urban agriculture and greening programs in Chicago that promote access to healthy food and provide job-related skills; work that advances local and sustainable food and agriculture in Chicago and Illinois, including reform of food production, processing, and delivery structures.
Cancer Research — Proposals accepted by invitation only.
Jewish Organizations and Causes — Support for Jewish-related organizations and issues specific to the communities and interests of Mr. Mander and his family. Proposals in this area are accepted by invitation only.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not invite unsolicited proposals. However, brief introductory letters are accepted for review. Grants are made on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Grant Range
approximately $9,000
Average Grant
approximately $9,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Walter S Mander Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Chicago and Cook County, Illinois area, with some grants extending to Illinois, New York, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $7,748,391
- Total Revenues: $688,826
- Total Expenses: $666,889
- Annual Giving: $538,351
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $7.65 million
- Revenue: $471,000
- Expenses: $650,000
- Total Liabilities: $11,900
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
240 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Walter S Mander Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| C B WOLF | PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| P E GOSCHI | SEC. / DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PETER BWOLF | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WALTER L WOLF | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Fostering Success
WAYNE, IL
Assets
$38K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Walter S Mander Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities