Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation
The Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation is a private foundation based in Clinton Township, Michigan. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including a university, food and education nonprofits, schools, arts and cultural institutions, and community organizations.
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation at a glance
In short: Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation gave $3.9M across 35 grants in 2024 (avg $111K), mostly in Michigan. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,895,157
- +4.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 35
- +12.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $111,290
- -7.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $29,392,805
- -6.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (10 of 35, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 44710 Morley Drive, Clinton Township, MI 48036
Phone: (586) 465-3800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Regents of the University of Michigan ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 151 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. The reported shares for other recipient states were Texas, 4%; Tennessee, 1%; Florida, 1%; and Arizona, 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 35 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $84K; repeat grants $122K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 47% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 228% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $959K (2022) to $7.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 35 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Funds | $1,000,000 |
| Gleaners Community Food Bank Detroit, MI | Food Distribution Center | $677,620 |
| Beyond Basics Southfield, MI | Tutoring | $592,300 |
| Loyola High School Detroit, MI | Funds for Teacher Salaries and Benefits Building Improvements | $275,000 |
| Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit, MI | General | $250,000 |
| New Day Foundation Mt Clemens, MI | General | $150,000 |
| Salvation Army Southfield, MI | General | $150,000 |
| Living Water Stafford, TX | General | $150,000 |
| Various Elementary Schools Detroit, MI | Coats, boots, hats, gloves, and socks | $59,722 |
| St Jude's Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | General | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Reported grantmaking by filing year:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $29,392,805 | $2,197,642 | $4,243,662 | $3,895,157 | 35 | $4,057,096 | $2,011,076 | $1,782,531 |
| 2023 | $31,438,825 | $893,880 | $4,099,842 | $3,733,598 | 31 | $3,896,232 | $920,809 | $1,756,325 |
| 2022 | $34,644,787 | $1,068,842 | $1,382,763 | $959,425 | 29 | $1,114,456 | $867,831 | $1,714,413 |
| 2021 | $34,958,708 | $9,275,748 | $8,108,913 | $7,358,867 | 27 | $7,540,632 | $3,757,870 | $1,926,975 |
| 2020 | $33,791,873 | $8,763,039 | $2,065,554 | $1,551,974 | 29 | — | $8,465,468 | $1,619,898 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as healthcare, food access, education, arts and culture, youth development, and services for people experiencing homelessness.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Gleaners Community Food Bank says it provides households with access to sufficient, nutritious food and related resources in Southeast Michigan. Beyond Basics describes reading, writing, art, and enrichment programs for students in metropolitan Detroit and throughout Michigan. Racquet Up Detroit says it supports Detroit youth through a long-term program combining squash, academics, and community service. Other supported organizations describe work that includes transitional housing and assistance for veterans (Vets Returning Home), holistic services for people experiencing homelessness (Pope Francis Center), and hunger relief and food-waste prevention in Metro Detroit (Forgotten Harvest).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $3,895,157. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $1,000,000, with a median of $25,000. Among the largest were $1,000,000 to the Regents of the University of Michigan for Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Funds; $677,620 to Gleaners Community Food Bank for a Food Distribution Center; $592,300 to Beyond Basics for tutoring; and $275,000 to Loyola High School for teacher salaries and benefits and building improvements. The Detroit Institute of Arts received $250,000 for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cynthia Helisek as president/director, David Larsen as secretary/treasurer, and Demetrios Papageorgiou as director.
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation is led by Cynthia Helisek, President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cynthia Helisek
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $135K (2024)
Demetrios Papageorgiou
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Larsen
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$61K (2021) → $6K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: David Stone (2020) — Director
- Former: Joan Webber (2020) — Secretary & Director
- Former: Wayne Webber (2020) — Treasury & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $135K, to Cynthia Helisek (President/Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation
How much does Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation give each year?
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation gave $3.9M across 35 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.7M across 31 grants.
What is Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's typical grant size?
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $111,290, across 35 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation that year got $84K on average.
Where does Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation give grants?
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (9 grants), Southfield, MI (2 grants), Mt Clemens, MI (2 grants) and Traverse City, MI (2 grants).
Does Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 74% of Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's largest grantees?
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Regents of the University of Michigan ($1,000,000), Gleaners Community Food Bank ($677,620) and Beyond Basics ($592,300), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation?
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation reported $29.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as healthcare, food access, education, arts and culture, youth development, and services for people experiencing homelessness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's EIN?
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3390733. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wayne and Joan Webber 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Detroit, MI
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan funds nonprofits working in economic opportunity, health equity, youth and education, arts and culture, and public space and the environment across seven southeast Michigan counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though awards varied widely; organizations begin with a brief proposal, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
938
Total Given
$105.1M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
United Jewish Foundation
Bloomfield Hills, MI
United Jewish Foundation funds Jewish community continuity, including Jewish organizations, human services, education, and related community programs. Its 2025 grants had a median of $18,000, though awards ranged widely; 87% of grant dollars went to Michigan, with some support elsewhere. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$761.7M
Grants
274
Total Given
$43.6M
Consumers Energy Foundation
Jackson, MI
Consumers Energy Foundation funds Michigan projects focused on basic needs, education and workforce readiness, environmental protection, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and arts and culture, mainly in Lower Peninsula communities served by Consumers Energy. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $5,000; its 2026 Community Impact program offers up to $20,000 per project. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$67.1M
Grants
296
Total Given
$7.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The Skillman Foundation
Detroit, MI
The Skillman Foundation funds Detroit organizations working on education systems change, youth development, and community services that support Detroit youth. Its 2024 grants had a median of $10,000 and ranged from $50 to $500,000; it generally proactively invites partnership applications, though it welcomes connections from organizations and currently accepts applications to its $2,500–$10,000 President’s Discretionary Fund.
Assets
$418.5M
Grants
416
Total Given
$17.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wayne-and-joan-webber-foundation-morg_c201a796484e4902a4deb4ceca82bf5e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383390733_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wayne-and-joan-webber-foundation-morg_c201a796484e4902a4deb4ceca82bf5e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Wayne and Joan Webber 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.
Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?