Wender Foundation
Wender Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2024, it reported 14 grants totaling $15,095, including support for universities, music and opera organizations, and cultural institutions.
Wender Foundation at a glance
In short: Wender Foundation gave $15K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Massachusetts. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,095
- -29.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -22.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,078
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $925
- Total assets
- $292,071
- -1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (81% 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 Wender 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: 10 Dana Street Suite 10, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 258-4107
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wender Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Boston Lyric Opera ($3K). Together the top 10 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Massachusetts recipients received 81% of grant dollars. Recipients in Missouri received 9%, New York 6%, Indiana 3%, and Pennsylvania 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wender Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $969. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $850 repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $15K (2024) to $24K (2022). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Lyric Opera Boston, MA | Special Event Support | $3,000 |
| Bay Path University Longmeadow, MA | General Support | $2,500 |
| Longy School of Music Cambridge, MA | General Support | $2,000 |
| Boston Symphony Orchestra Boston, MA | General Support | $1,500 |
| Opera Theatre of St Louis St. Louis, MO | Special Event Support | $1,350 |
| Celebrity Series of Boston Boston, MA | Special Event Support | $1,250 |
| WGBH Boston, MA | General Support | $1,000 |
| Metropolitan Opera House New York, NY | General Support | $850 |
| St Anthony Educational Foundation Indianapolis, IN | General Support | $500 |
| MIT Music Library Cambridge, MA | Special Event Support | $400 |
Ready to take the next step with Wender 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $292,071 | $20,748 | $23,930 | $15,095 | 14 | $15,095 | $20,748 | $19,146 |
| 2023 | $296,350 | $24,416 | $27,300 | $21,273 | 18 | $21,308 | $24,416 | $17,918 |
| 2022 | $303,218 | $18,167 | $32,374 | $24,295 | 19 | $24,834 | $17,663 | $18,434 |
| 2021 | $308,124 | $65,135 | $28,966 | $21,504 | 23 | $22,215 | $64,468 | $20,366 |
| 2020 | $271,955 | $13,789 | $21,638 | $16,670 | 16 | — | $13,239 | $18,021 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wender Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations in education, music, opera, and the arts. Bay Path University describes its mission as serving traditional undergraduate women at its Longmeadow campus and women and men through online undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The Boston Symphony Orchestra says its mission is to foster an organization devoted to musical art and to provide performances, educational programs, and training. Opera Philadelphia describes its mission as producing grand opera and educational programs that nurture the art form.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $15,095. Grant amounts ranged from $70 to $3,000, with a median of $925. Larger awards included Boston Lyric Opera ($3,000, special event support), Bay Path University ($2,500, general support), Longy School of Music ($2,000, general support), and Boston Symphony Orchestra ($1,500, general support). Opera Philadelphia received $100.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter J. Wender and Carl H. Karandjeff as co-trustees.
Wender Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carl H. Karandjeff
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter J. Wender
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.9 hrs/week
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 Wender Foundation
How much does Wender Foundation give each year?
Wender Foundation gave $15K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $21K across 18 grants.
What is Wender Foundation's typical grant size?
Wender Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $925, and its average grant was $1,078, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wender Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Wender Foundation give grants?
Wender Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Missouri (9%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (7 grants) and Cambridge, MA (2 grants).
Does Wender Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Wender Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Special Event Support" (5 grants).
Who are Wender Foundation's largest grantees?
Wender Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Boston Lyric Opera ($3,000), Bay Path University ($2,500) and Longy School of Music ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wender Foundation?
Wender Foundation reported $292K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Wender Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations in education, music, opera, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wender 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 Wender Foundation's EIN?
Wender Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3532331. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wender 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wender Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc
New York, NY
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music supports organizations advancing public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American concert music and jazz, including ensembles, presenters, music-service organizations, and record companies. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $90,000, with a median of $5,000; funding went primarily to New York, with grants also made across the United States. It accepts preliminary applications for General Support and Project Support, but only invited applicants may submit to the main round; Legacy grants are by invitation only.
Assets
$18.4M
Grants
203
Total Given
$1.5M
Alchemy Foundation
Cambridge, MA
Alchemy Foundation supports charitable organizations, with recent grants for general support to organizations in California and Colorado. Its 2025 grants were $10,000 each, though it made much larger numbers of grants in 2023 and 2024. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$8.1M
Grants
2
Total Given
$20K
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
New York, NY
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supports arts and cultural organizations, higher education, and humanities-focused work, primarily through grants to organizations in the United States, with some support for eligible organizations abroad. In 2024, its grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.56 million, with a median of $500,000. Most grants are by invitation, but it accepts inquiries for some opportunities, including rolling inquiries for Humanities in Place.
Assets
$7.8B
Grants
848
Total Given
$555.0M
The Amphion Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Amphion Foundation supports professional nonprofit performing, presenting, and music-service organizations advancing contemporary concert music, especially by American composers, and significant projects involving Elliott Carter’s music; it generally excludes jazz and Broadway-style musical theater. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,500 to $28,000, with a median of $3,000. The Amphion Grant Program is not accepting applications at this time; the Elliott Carter Special Grant Program lists a November 19, 2026 deadline.
Assets
$12.9M
Grants
205
Total Given
$789K
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Wender 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.
Wender Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?