Walton Family Foundation Inc
The Walton Family Foundation is a private, family-led grantmaking foundation based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Established in 1987 by Sam and Helen Walton following Walmart's 25th anniversary, the foundation formalizes the family's philanthropic commitment to addressing major social and environmental challenges. The foundation maintains offices in Bentonville, Arkansas; Washington, D.C.; Jersey City, New Jersey; and Denver, Colorado.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.1B
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$562.3M
-12.3% YoY
Grant Count
1,020
-9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$551K
-3.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walton Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $413.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The foundation is a family-led foundation that tackles tough social and environmental problems with urgency and a long-term approach to create access to opportunity for people and communities.
Vision: To live in a world where people can accomplish anything when they have opportunity and encouragement.
The foundation works in three primary areas:
- Education — Strengthening the connections between education and lifelong opportunity
- Environment — Protecting rivers, oceans and the communities they support
- Regional Development — Advancing the home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta
The foundation emphasizes a long-term, partnership-driven approach to philanthropy, funding organizations and initiatives aligned with its strategic program areas. Grantmaking focuses on collaboration with grantees and partners to advance systems-level change and lasting social and environmental outcomes.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded **$548.8 million in grants in 2024**. Based on recent filings, total giving was $521.7 million, with typical awards ranging from $500 to $39.7 million.
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are by invitation only.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in:
- Arkansas (particularly Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta)
- District of Columbia
- New York
- National initiatives
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6.14 billion
- Annual Giving: $548.8 million
- Revenue: $1.15 billion
- Expenses: $717 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Staff: 120 employees
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation; tax-exempt since February 1988; EIN: 13-3441466
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,143,971,109 | $5,714,135,948 | $5,687,544,544 |
| Revenue | $1,146,415,772 | $872,237,914 | $796,378,256 |
| Expenses | $716,580,611 | $801,215,799 | $692,126,736 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $650,720,929 | $732,997,281 | $656,769,066 |
| Net Investment Income | $561,446,619 | $295,795,809 | $224,082,214 |
| Distributable Amount | $413,549,252 | $349,226,165 | $379,238,944 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Walton Family Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include 50CAN Inc ($13,300,000), Advanced Education Research and Development Fund ($8,400,000), Accelerate - The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning ($3,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 40 Schools New Orleans, LA | To train emerging education leaders through an entrepreneurial-focused fellowship program. | $1,000,000 |
| 50CAN Inc Washington, DC | To support general operations. | $2,000,000 |
| 50CAN Inc Washington, DC | To Launch the State Implementation Fund, a project that will help governors and state education chiefs in 5 to 8 states implement education policy solutions required to address learning loss and improve student outcomes at scale within 2 to 3 years. | $13,300,000 |
| 904WARD Inc Jacksonville, FL | To provide transition funding to support the operations of 904Ward which are focused on advancing educational opportunity and equity for students in Jacksonville, FL. | $50,000 |
| A Plus Education Partnership Montgomery, AL | To advance K-12 focused program and support state-level policy implementation in Alabama. | $300,000 |
| Aaron E Henry Community Health Clarksdale, MS | To support the Asset Building Plan for the Sasse Street Community in Clarksdale, Mississippi. | $60,000 |
| Accelerate - The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning Nashville, TN | To provide subgrants to promising tutoring providers, researchers, and state departments of education to support successful implementation of high-impact tutoring in schools. | $3,000,000 |
| Accelerate - The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning Nashville, TN | To expand the evaluation capacity of researchers for state-approved tutoring providers working in Arkansas and help districts manage and implement effective use of out-of-school tutoring programs. | $1,305,374 |
| Activate STL St Louis, MO | to support Activate STL in ensuring the voices of parents, students, and educators are heard in order to create a more equitable and effective education system that represents the needs and aspirations of Missouri's diverse communities. | $614,470 |
| Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund New Orleans, LA | To analyze the long-term effects of charter schools' competitive effects on overall student and young adult outcomes across the nation in recent decades and disseminate findings. | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Caryl M. Stern
The foundation is family-led with multiple generations involved in governance, reflecting the family's legacy where diverse opinions are valued and no voice is louder than the next.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several Design Excellence projects supporting architectural and planning initiatives in Northwest Arkansas. Recent research from the foundation, conducted in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center and Gallup, found that 71% of teachers have a paid position beyond their primary teaching job, with one in five reporting difficulty getting by financially.
[PDF] Return of Private FoundationThe foundation has also invested in conservation efforts, including conservation easements in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley that help landowners preserve agricultural heritage while returning unproductive land to its natural state. Additionally, the foundation supports after-school programming, such as initiatives at the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County in the Arkansas Delta.
[PDF] Return of Private FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Walton Family Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** The foundation is a family-led foundation that tackles tough social and environmental problems with urgency and a long-term approach to create access to opportunity for people and communities. **Vision:** To live in a world where people can accomplish anything when they have opportunity and encouragement. The foundation works in three primary areas: 1. **Education** — Strengthening the connections between education and lifelong opportunity 2. **Environment** — Protecting rivers, oc…
How do I apply for a grant from Walton Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation awarded **$548.8 million in grants in 2024**. Based on recent filings, total giving was $521.7 million, with typical awards ranging from $500 to $39.7 million. **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are by invitation only. **Grantee Support:** The foundation provides resources for grantees, including evaluation documents and guidance on communicating about grants. **Notable Programs:** • **Design Excellence Program** — Promoting the …
Where does Walton Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in: • Arkansas (particularly Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta) • District of Columbia • New York • National initiatives
What size grants does Walton Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Walton Family Foundation Inc awarded 1,020 grants totaling $562.3M — an average of about $551K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Walton Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Walton Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $413.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Walton Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Walton Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3441466. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walton Family Foundation Inc'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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