Wendell Family Foundation
Wendell Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Ramon, California. It gives grants to charitable organizations, including universities, schools, cultural institutions, and organizations serving communities.
Wendell Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Wendell Family Foundation gave $903K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state California. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $902,950
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- +27.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,705
- -20.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $2,880,410
- +19.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (16 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wendell Family 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: 830 Sutter Creek Ln, San Ramon, CA 94583-2671
Phone: (650) 854-1000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wendell Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Princeton University ($260K). Together the top 10 received $760K.
Grant Size Distribution
289 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 268 grants of 289 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 43% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 31% to New Jersey, 13% to Massachusetts, 6% to Maryland, and 3% to Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wendell Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 51 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 440% 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 $602K (2020) to $903K (2025). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $903K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | General Purposes | $260,000 |
| Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy San Francisco, CA | General Purposes | $185,000 |
| St Paul's Episcopal Church Bedford, MA | General Purposes | $78,500 |
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Purposes | $51,000 |
| Season of Sharing Fund San Francisco, CA | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Johns Hopkins Medical School Baltimore, MD | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Harvard Business School Boston, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Harvard Buisness School MBA Class of 1976 Inc Woolwich, ME | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| The Exploratorium San Francisco, CA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Princeton in Africa Princeton, NJ | General Purposes | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wendell Family 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 | $2,880,410 | $1,377,910 | $915,608 | $902,950 | 51 | $902,950 | $2,208,249 | $204,997 |
| 2024 | $2,418,108 | $744,162 | $892,478 | $886,581 | 40 | $886,581 | $742,062 | $190,338 |
| 2023 | $2,566,424 | $924,277 | $751,764 | $721,627 | 56 | $721,627 | $778,277 | $160,027 |
| 2022 | $2,393,911 | $1,893,312 | $803,161 | $795,546 | 66 | $795,546 | $1,347,990 | $181,575 |
| 2021 | $4,303,760 | $1,728,777 | $661,557 | $658,977 | 76 | $658,977 | $770,932 | $228,218 |
| 2020 | $3,236,540 | $913,831 | $651,618 | $602,466 | 87 | — | $791,755 | $173,051 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wendell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $205K 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
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy describes itself as a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service supporting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Exploratorium describes its work as creating inquiry-based learning experiences through science, art, and human perception. The San Francisco Education Fund says it advances equitable education through learning programs, community support, and financial resources for teachers, students, and schools.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 51 grants totaling $902,950. Grants ranged from $100 to $260,000, with a median of $4,000. The largest grants included $260,000 to Princeton University, $185,000 to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, $78,500 to St Paul’s Episcopal Church, and $51,000 to UCSF Foundation. Each was listed for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter Wendell as president, director, and secretary. It lists Lynn Wendell, Christopher Wendell, Brian Wendell, Jennifer Lentz, Emily Wendell, Patrick Wendell, and Carolyn A. Wendell as directors.
Wendell Family Foundation is led by Peter Wendell, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter Wendell
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Wendell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn A. Wendell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Wendell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Wendell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Lentz
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Wendell
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Wendell
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 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 Wendell Family Foundation
How much does Wendell Family Foundation give each year?
Wendell Family Foundation gave $903K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $887K across 40 grants.
What is Wendell Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Wendell Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $17,705, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wendell Family Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Wendell Family Foundation give grants?
Wendell Family Foundation's top state is California, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Jersey (31%) and Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (16 grants), Princeton, NJ (6 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Wendell Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wendell Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (51 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wendell Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Wendell Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Princeton University ($260,000), Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy ($185,000) and St Paul's Episcopal Church ($78,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wendell Family Foundation?
Wendell Family Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $903K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $205K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wendell Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy describes itself as a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service supporting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wendell Family 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 Wendell Family Foundation's EIN?
Wendell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3374830. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Wendell Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 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 July 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Live grants for the work Wendell Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wendell Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation funds education, climate and conservation, the arts, democracy, gender equity, racial justice, and efforts to strengthen nonprofits and philanthropy, with work spanning the San Francisco Bay Area, the U.S. West, and locations including East and West Africa and Mexico. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $150,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, but sometimes invites proposals through open processes.
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Direct Relief
Santa Barbara, CA
Direct Relief supports healthcare providers serving people affected by poverty or emergencies, including community health centers, clinics, and grassroots organizations, with medicines, supplies, and funding for health access and equity. In 2025, its grants had a median award of about $65,000, and its work spans all 50 U.S. states and countries around the world; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,367
Total Given
$337.4M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation funds nonprofits working to improve lives and alleviate poverty, with initiatives including early childhood development, homelessness, refugees, safe water, and support for foster and opportunity youth. Its work is global, and its 2024 grants had a median award of $76,000. It generally does not accept unsolicited requests, except through its Good Neighbor Program for eligible local nonprofits and Title 1 schools.
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wendell Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wendell-family-foundation-morg_4d8c862e5ca64bed9f43759b98925d37
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943374830_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wendell Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wendell-family-foundation-morg_4d8c862e5ca64bed9f43759b98925d37},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Wendell 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.
Wendell Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?