Wessel Foundation
Wessel Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its most recent filing on record is for 2022, with no filings since; it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Wessel Foundation at a glance
In short: Wessel Foundation gave $25K across 36 grants in 2022 (avg $683.056), mostly in District of Columbia. 47% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $24,590
- +5.1% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 36
- -26.5% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $683
- +43.1% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $325
- Total assets
- $119,670
- -3.2% vs 2021
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (17 of 36, 2022)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (73% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wessel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Joan S Wessel as the contact and says any form is satisfactory, provided it includes a description of the charitable purpose and tax-exempt status. It states that there are no restrictions on awards except a preference for DC charities and organizations devoted to human welfare and the promotion of the arts.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists October 31. This is a past deadline; the filing does not establish a current application cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing lists October 31.
- Contact
Application contact: Joan S Wessel
Mailing address: 4101 Cathedral Avenue Nw 904, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: (202) 364-8291
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wessel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Edlavitch DCJCCC ($4K). Together the top 10 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 118 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC. The filing’s state distribution also lists Maryland, Virginia, and Tennessee at 5% each, and Minnesota at 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wessel Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 17 of 36 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $329; repeat grants $999. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $800 repeat.
- 47% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 253% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2020) to $25K (2022). In 2022 it made 36 grants totaling $25K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Edlavitch DCJCCC Washington, DC | Human Welfare and Promotion of the Arts. | $4,000 |
| Theatre J Washington, DC | Human Welfare & Promotion of the Arts. | $3,000 |
| Feeding America Washington, DC | Human Welfare and the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,700 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Human Welfare and the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,500 |
| Hias Washington, DC | Human Welfare and the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,300 |
| Care Merrifield, VA | Human Welfare and the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,000 |
| ADL Washington, DC | Human Welfare and the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,000 |
| International Rescue Comm Albert Lea, MN | Human Welfare & the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,000 |
| Vermont Insight Meditation Center Brattleboro, VT | Human Welfare & the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,000 |
| St Jude's Children's Hospital Memphis, TN | Human Welfare & the Promotion of the Arts. | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $119,670 | $22,858 | $26,872 | $24,590 | 36 | $24,590 | $20,994 | $9,721 |
| 2021 | $123,683 | $32,186 | $25,913 | $23,397 | 49 | $23,397 | $30,049 | $10,949 |
| 2020 | $131,460 | $24,224 | $16,069 | $14,130 | 33 | — | $22,285 | $10,315 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wessel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No separate mission statement is provided. The 2022 filing lists human welfare and promotion of the arts as a preferred area for awards. Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate some of the work supported: World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises; Bread for the World says it advocates for changes to address hunger and poverty; and Martha’s Table says it works to strengthen children, families, and communities through education, healthy food, and family supports.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation made 36 grants totaling $24,590. Grants ranged from $100 to $4,000, with a median grant of $325. Among the largest listed awards were $4,000 to EDLAVITCH DCJCCC, $3,000 to Theatre J, $1,700 to Feeding America, $1,500 to World Central Kitchen, and $1,300 to HIAS.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Joan S Wessel, Douglas C Wessel, Kenneth L Wessel, and Michael R Wessel as trustees.
Wessel Foundation's 2022 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Douglas C. Wessel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan S. Wessel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth L. Wessel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael R. Wessel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "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 Wessel Foundation
How much does Wessel Foundation give each year?
Wessel Foundation gave $25K across 36 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $23K across 49 grants.
What is Wessel Foundation's typical grant size?
Wessel Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $325, and its average grant was $683, across 36 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wessel Foundation that year got $329 on average.
Where does Wessel Foundation give grants?
Wessel Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (22 grants) and Greenfield, MA (2 grants).
Does Wessel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Wessel Foundation's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Welfare and the Promotion of the Arts." (25 grants), "Human Welfare & the Promotion of the Arts." (7 grants) and "Human Welfare and Promotion of the Arts." (3 grants).
Who are Wessel Foundation's largest grantees?
Wessel Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Edlavitch DCJCCC ($4,000), Theatre J ($3,000) and Feeding America ($1,700), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is Wessel Foundation?
Wessel Foundation reported $120K in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $25K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wessel Foundation fund?
No separate mission statement is provided. The 2022 filing lists human welfare and promotion of the arts as a preferred area for awards. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wessel Foundation?
The filing names Joan S Wessel as the contact and says any form is satisfactory, provided it includes a description of the charitable purpose and tax-exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wessel Foundation's EIN?
Wessel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6277807. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
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Wessel Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?