Ward Creek Foundation
Ward Creek Foundation is a private foundation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its 2024 filing describes support for scientific, health, education, public-information, journalistic, charitable, and other civic initiatives.
Ward Creek Foundation at a glance
In short: Ward Creek Foundation gave $444K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state New York. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $444,262
- +34.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -8.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,155
- +47.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $6,356,746
- +14.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ward Creek Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its filing states that proposals are by invitation and will be considered only if requested by foundation staff. Guidelines are available upon request.
- Contact
Application contact: The Ward Creek Foundation
Mailing address: 317 W Portal Ave Unit 035, San Francisco, CA 94127
Phone: (415) 323-3448
Email: enquiries@wardcreekfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ward Creek Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Foundation for AIDS Research ($104K). Together the top 10 received $369K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 85 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (45%) and Washington, D.C. (25%), followed by New Hampshire (11%), California (10%), and Pennsylvania (3%). The listed grants also included recipients in Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ward Creek Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 115% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $207K (2022) to $444K (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $444K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Foundation for AIDS Research New York, NY | General Purpose Grant. | $104,180 |
| Reporters Without Borders Inc Washington, DC | General Purpose Grant. | $60,326 |
| James W Foley Legacy Foundation Portsmouth, NH | General Purpose Grant. | $50,066 |
| Center for Technology & Innovation Inc Binghamton, NY | General Purpose Grant. | $49,156 |
| Common Good Ai Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Purpose Grant. | $30,263 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | General Purpose Grant. | $25,142 |
| Center for Creative Change Washington, DC | General Purpose Grant. | $19,865 |
| Reporters Committee for Freedom Washington, DC | General Purpose Grant. | $10,084 |
| The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Philadelphia, PA | General Purpose Grant. | $10,084 |
| University of California SF Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Purpose Grant. | $10,084 |
Ready to take the next step with Ward Creek 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,356,746 | $1,086,883 | $603,225 | $444,262 | 21 | $532,431 | $1,017,934 | $488,841 |
| 2024 | $5,555,177 | $268,638 | $500,924 | $330,525 | 23 | $442,102 | $216,326 | $473,279 |
| 2023 | $5,547,108 | $206,866 | $405,919 | $242,033 | 16 | $353,477 | $153,254 | $427,759 |
| 2022 | $5,567,922 | $185,645 | $346,248 | $207,024 | 13 | $295,148 | $133,145 | $429,124 |
| 2021 | $5,595,075 | $197,183 | $355,987 | $215,878 | 12 | $304,684 | $144,566 | $484,979 |
| 2020 | $5,630,754 | $193,960 | $285,761 | $260,792 | 24 | — | $186,756 | $413,292 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ward Creek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $489K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing lists the types of initiatives it supports but does not state a separate mission. Its grants include support for journalism and press freedom organizations, as well as organizations working in healthcare, education, technology, and humanitarian services.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Reporters Without Borders says it defends press freedom and denounces attacks on the right to inform and be informed. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation says it advocates for the freedom of innocent U.S. nationals held captive abroad and promotes journalist safety. The Center for Technology & Innovation says it documents and presents the inventions and industrial innovations of New York’s Southern Tier. Jupiter Medical Center says it provides healthcare to advance the well-being of the people it serves, including charity care and services for people covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $444,262. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $104,180, with a median of $10,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $104,180 to the Foundation for AIDS Research, $60,326 to Reporters Without Borders, $50,066 to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, $49,156 to the Center for Technology & Innovation, and $30,263 to Common Good AI. Other notable grants included $25,142 to the University of Southern California, $19,865 to the Center for Creative Change, and $10,084 each to the Reporters Committee for Freedom and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Craig Forman as Chairman & CEO and Kevin McClatchy as Managing Board Member.
Ward Creek Foundation is led by Craig Forman, Chairman & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Craig Forman
Chairman & CEO
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin McClatchy
Managing Board Member
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ward Creek Foundation
How much does Ward Creek Foundation give each year?
Ward Creek Foundation gave $444K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $331K across 23 grants.
What is Ward Creek Foundation's typical grant size?
Ward Creek Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $21,155, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ward Creek Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Ward Creek Foundation give grants?
Ward Creek Foundation's top state is New York, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (25%) and New Hampshire (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (6 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Sacramento, CA (2 grants).
Does Ward Creek Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ward Creek Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ward Creek Foundation's largest grantees?
Ward Creek Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Foundation for AIDS Research ($104,180), Reporters Without Borders Inc ($60,326) and James W Foley Legacy Foundation ($50,066), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ward Creek Foundation?
Ward Creek Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $532K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $489K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ward Creek Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing lists the types of initiatives it supports but does not state a separate mission. Its grants include support for journalism and press freedom organizations, as well as organizations working in healthcare, education, technology, and humanitarian services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ward Creek 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 Ward Creek Foundation's EIN?
Ward Creek Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6031373. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ward Creek 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ward Creek Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ward-creek-foundation-morg_f9556366d942438993cf33f7c264989b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416031373_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ward Creek Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ward-creek-foundation-morg_f9556366d942438993cf33f7c264989b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Ward Creek 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.
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