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Westwind Foundation

NORWALK, CT EIN: 52-6358830 Website

Westwind Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1987 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, with a mailing address at 95 Rowayton Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06853-1405. The foundation is dedicated to protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems and the health of human communities through its grantmaking programs.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$87.9M

-3.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$5.9M

+1.0% YoY

Grant Count

161

+6.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$37K

-5.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Westwind Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation is dedicated to protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems and the health of human communities through its grantmaking programs. The foundation tends to provide more general support grants, but will also provide grants for project or program-specific requests.

Grantmaking

Westwind Foundation provides both general support grants and project or program-specific grants. The foundation's grantmaking approach is flexible, accommodating various types of funding requests from organizations aligned with its mission.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation has been identified with operations and interests in multiple locations, including Virginia and Connecticut.

Grant Distribution by State

21states
+13 more states

Cities

AlbanyAlexandriaAnchorageArlingtonArundelAshevilleAtlantaBathBethesdaBethlehemBirminghamBooneBoothbayBostonBoulderBronxBrooklineBrooklynBrunswickCambridge

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023 (most recent available data):

  • Total Assets: $91.4 million
  • Annual Revenue: $2,609,036
  • Annual Expenses: $6,909,220
  • Total Liabilities: $70

The foundation's expense level in 2023 exceeded its revenue, reflecting active grantmaking and distribution activities.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$87,879,404$91,397,147$94,635,340
Revenue$3,496,611$2,609,036$2,505,390
Expenses$7,016,376$6,909,220$7,098,262
Qualifying Distributions$6,053,591$5,987,321$6,247,265
Net Investment Income$2,553,651$1,544,508$1,149,679
Distributable Amount$6,799,234$5,899,327$5,850,609

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$3M$5M$6M130 grants2020142 grants2021143 grants2022151 grants2023161 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH$2.2MFOS FEMINISTA$225KDKT INTERNATIONAL$200KCENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE …$125KEARTHJUSTICE$125KACTION FOR THE CLIMATE E…$100KAPPALACHIAN VOICES$85KCHESAPEAKE CLIMATE ACTIO…$85K350ORG$70KCONSERVATION LAW FOUNDAT…$65K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

174<$50K42$50–100K27$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Advocates for Youth ($2,209,629), Fos Feminista ($225,000), Dkt International ($200,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
350ORG BROOKLYN, NYTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$70,000
ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY BOULDER, COTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$100,000
ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH WASHINGTON, DCTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$2,209,629
ALABAMA RIVER ALLIANCE BIRMINGHAM, ALTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$25,000
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DCTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$5,000
AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION ASHEVILLE, NCTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$2,000
AMERICARES STAMFORD, CTTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$1,000
APPALACHIAN VOICES BOONE, NCTO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$85,000
BEACON HILL NURSERY SCHOOL BOSTON, MATO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$5,831
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HARRISONBURG, VATO FUND OPERATING NEEDS$2,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Janet Miller serves as President of Westwind Foundation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

PAUL HESSPROGRAM MANA$274K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
PAUL HESSPROGRAM MANA40$274,007
JANET MILLERPRESIDENT40
EDWARD M MILLERCEO30

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Westwind Foundation fund?

The foundation is dedicated to protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems and the health of human communities through its grantmaking programs. The foundation tends to provide more general support grants, but will also provide grants for project or program-specific requests.

How do I apply for a grant from Westwind Foundation?

Westwind Foundation provides both general support grants and project or program-specific grants. The foundation's grantmaking approach is flexible, accommodating various types of funding requests from organizations aligned with its mission.

Where does Westwind Foundation make grants?

The foundation has been identified with operations and interests in multiple locations, including Virginia and Connecticut.

What size grants does Westwind Foundation award?

In 2024, Westwind Foundation awarded 161 grants totaling $5.9M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Westwind Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Westwind Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Westwind Foundation's EIN?

Westwind Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6358830. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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