Western Wind Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 46-5138494

Western Wind Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations including community foundations, food assistance programs, educational and arts organizations, and other nonprofits.

Western Wind Foundation at a glance

In short: Western Wind Foundation gave $349K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in California. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$349,250
-18.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
18
-35.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$19,403
+26.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$8,250
Total assets
$2,914,269
-11.9% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
28% first-time grantees (5 of 18, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
California (95% 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 Western Wind Foundation

How to Apply

The filing lists a letter of introduction, the applicant’s most recent financial statements, organizational budget, proposed project budget, and IRS tax-exempt letter as application materials. It lists no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Applications For Western Wind Fdn
Mailing address: 1000 N West St Suite 1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (866) 403-5272

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Western Wind Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Inland Empire Community Foundation: $128KInland Empire CommunityFoundation$128KFIND Food Bank: $50KFIND Food Bank$50KThe Foundation for PSUSD: $45KThe Foundation for PSUSD$45KThe Chijnaya Foundation: $25KThe Chijnaya Foundation$25KBoys & Girls Club of Palm Springs: $20KBoys & Girls Club of PalmSprings$20KThe LGBT Community Center of the Desert: $15KThe LGBT Community Center ofthe Desert$15KCapital & Main: $13KCapital & Main$13KPalm Springs Young Playwrights Festival: $10KPalm Springs Young PlaywrightsFestival$10KUniversity of Southern California: $10KUniversity of SouthernCalifornia$10KDesert Aids Project: $7KDesert Aids Project$7K

The largest 2024 recipient was Inland Empire Community Foundation ($128K). Together the top 10 received $322K.

Grant Size Distribution

138 grants across all recorded years

130<$50K6$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 130 grants of 138 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 3% to Illinois, 1% to Maine, and 1% to New York. The largest reported grant was to Inland Empire Community Foundation in California.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.

Cities

Palm SpringsPalm DesertCoachellaLos AngelesRiversideEdwardsvilleIndioRancho MirageChicagoNew YorkBridgeviewCathedral CityDesert Hot SpringsNew York CityOntarioBathCoronaHartfordIrvineLa Verne

Is Western Wind Foundation open to new grantees?

28%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 18 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $25K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 28% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 240% 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

$0$200K$400K$600K29 grants2020 31 grants2021 32 grants2022 28 grants2023 18 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $345K (2020) to $483K (2021). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $349K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Inland Empire Community Foundation Coachella, CAEconomic Development, Infrastructure Support, Community Development$128,000
FIND Food Bank Indio, CAFood Assistance Programs$50,000
The Foundation for PSUSD Palm Springs, CAProgram Grant- Education$45,000
The Chijnaya Foundation Palm Springs, CAScholarships, Economic, and Water Projects$25,000
Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs Palm Springs, CAEducation$20,000
The LGBT Community Center of the Desert Palm Springs, CAProgram grant - education$15,000
Capital & Main Los Angeles, CAProgram Grant - Education$12,500
Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival Palm Springs, CAPROGRAM GRANT - Education Arts/ Cultural$10,000
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAProgram grant - Education$10,000
Desert Aids Project Palm Springs, CAProgram Grant - Health Community Development$6,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$2,914,269$231,472$626,761$349,25018$541,021$145,732$225,253
2023$3,309,558$257,184$706,474$428,33028$605,398$153,107$269,080
2022$3,758,848$89,579$680,278$451,00032$602,913$21,770$291,513
2021$4,349,547$464,511$889,819$482,70031$765,383$341,574$320,801
2020$4,774,855$348,549$694,920$344,95629—$226,593$286,249

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Western Wind Foundation reported a distributable amount of $225K 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 include support for economic and community development, food assistance, education, health, and arts and cultural programming.

Grantee missions illustrate the work of some organizations it supports. Inland Empire Community Foundation says its mission is “Strengthening the Inland Empire through Philanthropy.” The Chijnaya Foundation describes work with rural communities in Peru on health, education, and economic development projects. Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs says it aims to help young people reach their potential as responsible citizens. Capital & Main says it educates the public through investigative reporting and analysis on issues including economic inequality, the environment, renewable energy, health care, housing, and immigration.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $349,250. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $128,000, with a median of $8,250. Notable grants included $128,000 to Inland Empire Community Foundation for economic development, infrastructure support, and community development; $50,000 to FIND Food Bank for food assistance programs; $45,000 to The Foundation for PSUSD for an education program grant; and $25,000 to The Chijnaya Foundation for scholarships, economic, and water projects. Other grants included $20,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs for education and $12,500 to Capital & Main for an education program grant.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Jeremy Hobbs as president, executive director, and treasurer; JoAnn Knoll as secretary; Jonathan R Hobbs as executive director and secretary; Victoria Willock as treasurer; and Bryan Irwin as president.

Western Wind Foundation is led by Bryan Irwin, President on the 2024 filing; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bryan Irwin

    President

    New on the 2024 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jonathan R Hobbsas of

    Executive Director & Secretary

    New on the 2024 filing

    35 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victoria Willock

    Treasurer

    New on the 2024 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Jeremy Hobbs (2020–2024) — President, Executive Director & Treasurer · Filing note: Term ended 12/12/2024
  • Former: JoAnn Knoll (2023–2024) — Secretary · Filing note: Term ended 12/12/2024
  • Former: Matthew Williams (2020) — Secretary

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 Western Wind Foundation

How much does Western Wind Foundation give each year?

Western Wind Foundation gave $349K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $428K across 28 grants.

What is Western Wind Foundation's typical grant size?

Western Wind Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,250, and its average grant was $19,403, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Western Wind Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does Western Wind Foundation give grants?

Western Wind Foundation gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Palm Springs, CA (9 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).

Does Western Wind Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Western Wind Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Grant- Education" (6 grants).

Who are Western Wind Foundation's largest grantees?

Western Wind Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Inland Empire Community Foundation ($128,000), FIND Food Bank ($50,000) and The Foundation for PSUSD ($45,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Western Wind Foundation?

Western Wind Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $541K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $225K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Western Wind Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for economic and community development, food assistance, education, health, and arts and cultural programming. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Western Wind Foundation?

The filing lists a letter of introduction, the applicant’s most recent financial statements, organizational budget, proposed project budget, and IRS tax-exempt letter as application materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Western Wind Foundation's EIN?

Western Wind Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5138494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Funders that support many of the same organizations

Inland Empire Community Foundation

Riverside, CA

The Inland Empire Community Foundation funds nonprofits through grants and scholarships, supporting areas including education, children and families, health and human services, arts and culture, economic development, and the environment. Its 2024 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,350 to $5 million, and its primary service area is Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. It accepts competitive proposals from nonprofits serving residents of those counties during specific grant cycles.

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California Community Foundation

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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.

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Regional Access Project Foundation

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Western Wind Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/western-wind-foundation-morg_8253f32da0f646e5b396da68531b08aa

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_465138494_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Western Wind Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/western-wind-foundation-morg_8253f32da0f646e5b396da68531b08aa},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Western Wind 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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