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
**
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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
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Forefront ($116,393), Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($50,000), Star Farm Chicago ($20,350).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADA S MCKINLEY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| ADVOCATES FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $7,500 |
| ALLIES FOR COMMUNITY BUSINESS CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $7,500 |
| AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $1,100 |
| BABSON COLLEGE WELLESLEY, MA | SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| BASIL'S HARVEST CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,000 |
| BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY LEWISBURG, PA | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| CAROLINA BALLET RALEIGH, NC | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| CHAT LOMBARD, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $3,000 |
| CHELSEA THEATRE CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Walter S Mander Foundation fund?
The foundation has four major areas of focus: 1. **Chicago Community Development** — Programs that provide employment training, financial literacy, and job opportunities that focus on higher-paying and skilled industries. 2. **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 prod…
How do I apply for a grant from Walter S Mander Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $538,351 (2025) • Total assets: $7,748,391 (2025) • Grant count: 58 grants (2025) • Average grant size: approximately $9,000 • Typical award range: $300–$117,784 **Application Process:** 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 Types:** The foundation makes general operating grants.
Where does Walter S Mander Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Walter S Mander Foundation award?
In 2025, Walter S Mander Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $538K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Walter S Mander Foundation's EIN?
Walter S Mander Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3961599. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walter S Mander Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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