Wells Family Foundation
Wells Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Oswego, Oregon. It makes charitable contributions to organizations, including schools, universities, health and community organizations, and other nonprofits represented among its 2024 grantees.
Wells Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Wells Family Foundation gave $97K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Oregon. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $97,056
- -29.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +3.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,131
- -31.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $155,604
- -2.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (7 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (59% 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
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3900 Kruse Way Place 502, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Phone: (503) 305-5080
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wells Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was ALS Association or and SW WA ($15K). Together the top 10 received $64K.
Grant Size Distribution
129 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 129 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Oregon organizations received 59% of the foundation’s 2024 grant dollars, followed by recipients in Michigan (15%), Connecticut (6%), California (5%), and Texas (5%). The listed grants also include recipients in Massachusetts and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wells Family Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 31 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $83K (2020) to $138K (2023). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $97K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALS Association or and SW WA Portland, OR | Exempt Purpose | $15,000 |
| Library Foundation Portland, OR | Exempt Purpose | $10,000 |
| Greater Flint Health Coalition Flint, MI | Exempt Purpose | $8,000 |
| Shatterproof Norwalk, CT | Exempt Purpose | $5,500 |
| Adopt One Block Portland, OR | Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
| St Mary's Academy Portland, OR | Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
| Portland State Univ Foundation Portland, OR | Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
| Community Transitional School Portland, OR | Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
| Wers Emerson College Boston, MA | Exempt Purpose | $3,000 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation Glenview, IL | Exempt Purpose | $2,500 |
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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 | $155,604 | $101,601 | $104,841 | $97,056 | 31 | $97,056 | — | $6,661 |
| 2023 | $158,844 | $86,586 | $138,342 | $138,000 | 30 | $138,000 | $3,199 | $5,111 |
| 2022 | $210,600 | $97,028 | $90,466 | $90,000 | 15 | $90,000 | $1,528 | $6,516 |
| 2021 | $204,038 | $150,249 | $107,791 | $105,500 | 25 | $105,500 | $9 | $4,787 |
| 2020 | $161,580 | $60,519 | $84,547 | $83,000 | 28 | — | $279 | $5,966 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wells Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K 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 does not state a mission in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose missions include improving health care and community health, educating students, supporting children experiencing homelessness, neighborhood cleanup, and providing educational opportunities for caddies. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
For example, Greater Flint Health Coalition describes its mission as improving the health of Genesee County residents and the quality and cost effectiveness of local health care. Community Transitional School describes itself as an alternative school for children from kindergarten through eighth grade who are at risk due to homelessness. Adopt One Block says it supports community cleanup through local block ambassadors.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $97,056. Grant amounts ranged from $56 to $15,000, with a median of $2,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $15,000 to ALS Association OR and SW WA, $10,000 to Library Foundation, and $8,000 to Greater Flint Health Coalition. Other notable grants included $5,500 to Shatterproof and $5,000 each to Adopt One Block, St. Mary’s Academy, Portland State University Foundation, and Community Transitional School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists George M. Wells as president; James B. Wells as vice president and secretary; and Robert W. Wells and David B. Wells as vice presidents.
Wells Family Foundation is led by George M. Wells, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
George M. Wells
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David B. Wells
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James B. Wells
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert W. Wells
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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
How much does Wells Family Foundation give each year?
Wells Family Foundation gave $97K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $138K across 30 grants.
What is Wells Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Wells Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,131, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wells Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Wells Family Foundation give grants?
Wells Family Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (15%) and Connecticut (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (12 grants), Flint, MI (4 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).
Who are Wells Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Wells Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include ALS Association or and SW WA ($15,000), Library Foundation ($10,000) and Greater Flint Health Coalition ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wells Family Foundation?
Wells Family Foundation reported $156K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wells Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wells Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Wells Family Foundation's EIN?
Wells Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8584460. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wells Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wells Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wells-family-foundation-morg_2babcc77bc0b4bada8677605b7cebced
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208584460_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wells Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wells-family-foundation-morg_2babcc77bc0b4bada8677605b7cebced},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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'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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