Wells Family Foundation Inc
Wells Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including Florida, Washington, DC, Georgia, Virginia, New York, Illinois, and Texas.
Wells Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Wells Family Foundation Inc gave $180K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), top state Florida. 55% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $180,000
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,364
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,073,408
- -4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (39% 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 Wells Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9113 Hampshire Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Phone: (612) 333-4740
Website: https://thewellsfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wells Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Smithsonian Archives American Art ($45K). Together the top 10 received $175K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 98 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Florida received 39% of grant dollars, Washington, DC 25%, Georgia 17%, Virginia 6%, and New York 6%. The listed grants also included recipients in Illinois and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wells Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 9% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% 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 $135K (2023) to $335K (2021). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $180K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Smithsonian Archives American Art Washington, DC | Art preservation | $45,000 |
| Christ for all People Hiawassee, GA | Support religious teachings | $30,000 |
| Hanley Center Foundation West Palm Beach, FL | Healthcare for individuals | $30,000 |
| Palm Beach Academy Palm Beach, FL | Support Childrens education | $20,000 |
| Alliance for Eating Disorder West Palm Beach, FL | Dietary education | $10,000 |
| Foxcroft School Middleburg, VA | Education support | $10,000 |
| New York Cares New York, NY | K-12 school support | $10,000 |
| Ryan Lytch Sang Foundation Chicago, IL | Education awareness support | $10,000 |
| Dunklin MEmorial Church Okeechobee, FL | Support church | $5,000 |
| John Hagee Ministries San Antonio, TX | Church support | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,073,408 | $228,717 | $443,609 | $180,000 | 11 | $443,609 | — | $416,099 |
| 2023 | $5,288,300 | $104,899 | $405,815 | $135,000 | 11 | $124,455 | — | $643,007 |
| 2022 | $5,591,210 | $137,976 | $419,300 | $300,000 | 27 | $414,788 | $130,899 | $382,000 |
| 2021 | $5,872,534 | $227,331 | $470,672 | $335,000 | 23 | $410,511 | $1,371,301 | $392,325 |
| 2020 | $4,911,740 | $156,115 | $401,974 | $285,000 | 26 | — | $106,089 | $351,580 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wells Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $416K 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
The foundation states that its mission is to provide support, education, and resources to improve quality of life in a culturally sensitive environment where people can achieve self-sufficiency. Its website describes tutoring and mentorship for BIPOC youth, particularly on Chicago’s South Side, as well as classes in budgeting and financial literacy. It also describes startup funding for local entrepreneurs; this is described as support for entrepreneurs, not as a grant program for outside applicants.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in art preservation, religious teaching, health care, children’s education, dietary education, and school support. Among the grantees, Hanley Center Foundation says its mission is to break the cycle of addiction through prevention, advocacy, treatment, and recovery support. Foxcroft School says it helps girls develop their voices, skills, confidence, and courage, emphasizing respect, integrity, kindness, and service. New York Cares says it meets community needs by mobilizing New Yorkers in volunteer service.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 11 grants totaling $180,000 in 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $45,000, with a median of $10,000. It reported 11 grants totaling $135,000 in 2023 and 27 grants totaling $300,000 in 2022.
Notable 2024 grants included $45,000 to Smithsonian Archives American Art for art preservation; $30,000 each to Christ for all People for religious teachings and Hanley Center Foundation for health care; and $20,000 to Palm Beach Academy for children’s education. Other grants included $10,000 each to Alliance for Eating Disorder, Foxcroft School, New York Cares, and Ryan Lytch Sang Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adele S Merck as president; George Merck and Caroline G Merck as directors; and John J Knip III as treasurer.
Wells Family Foundation Inc is led by Adele S Merck, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adele S Merck
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline G Merck
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Merck
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John J Knip III
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John J Knip Jr. (2020–2021) — Treasurer
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.
Frequently asked questions about Wells Family Foundation Inc
How much does Wells Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Wells Family Foundation Inc gave $180K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $135K across 11 grants.
What is Wells Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Wells Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,364, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wells Family Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does Wells Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Wells Family Foundation Inc's top state is Florida, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (25%) and Georgia (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were West Palm Beach, FL (3 grants).
Does Wells Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Wells Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Wells Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Wells Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Smithsonian Archives American Art ($45,000), Christ for all People ($30,000) and Hanley Center Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wells Family Foundation Inc?
Wells Family Foundation Inc reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $444K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $416K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wells Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to provide support, education, and resources to improve quality of life in a culturally sensitive environment where people can achieve self-sufficiency. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wells Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wells Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Wells Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1732563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wells Family Foundation Inc 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 April 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wells Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wells-family-foundation-inc-morg_c496398527124921a307499bb0a0b90f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411732563_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wells Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wells-family-foundation-inc-morg_c496398527124921a307499bb0a0b90f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Wells Family Foundation Inc'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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