Wave Foundation
Wave Foundation is a private foundation, based in DENVER, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $643K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $82K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$643K
-20.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$82K
-9.9% YoY
Grant Count
13
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-9.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wave Foundation reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Wave Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Wave Foundation is a private foundation, based in DENVER, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $643K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $82K.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $642,752 | $812,060 | $996,304 |
| Revenue | $17,365 | $22,530 | $19,678 |
| Expenses | $185,460 | $203,175 | $175,824 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $142,472 | $159,468 | $131,609 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $35,655 | $43,503 | $52,497 |
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
77 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Camps Newfound and Owatonna ($20,000), Brearley School ($20,000), First Christian Church ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAMPS NEWFOUND AND OWATONNA HARRISON, ME | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| BREARLEY SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAGERSTOWN, MD | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| SPARK THE CHANGE CO DENVER, CO | GENERAL | $7,717 |
| SANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL | $6,087 |
| COMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC SANTA BARBARA SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL | $6,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA YOUTH SAILING SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL | $3,000 |
| WOMENS FUND OF SANTA BARBARA SANTA BARBARA, CA | GENERAL | $2,750 |
| CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WALTON, NE | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| RELEASE OMAHA, NE | GENERAL | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINE SMITH | PRESIDENT | 20 | $60,000 |
| CHRISTINE SMITH | SEC/TREAS | 1 | — |
| BLAKE WASSENAAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is Wave Foundation?
As of 2024, Wave Foundation holds $643K in total assets with $17K in annual revenue. It awarded 13 grants totaling $82K in 2024.
Where does Wave Foundation operate?
Wave Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, South Carolina, Washington.
What size grants does Wave Foundation award?
In 2024, Wave Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $82K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wave Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wave Foundation reported a distributable amount of $36K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wave Foundation's EIN?
Wave Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1134776. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wave Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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