Wheeler Family Foundation
Wheeler Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Casper, Wyoming. In its 2025 filing, it reported 35 grants totaling $282,000 to charitable organizations.
Wheeler Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Wheeler Family Foundation gave $282K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Wyoming. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $282,000
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,057
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $3,569,225
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (3 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wheeler Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6025 River Park Dr, Casper, WY 82604-5319
Phone: (307) 472-1000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wheeler Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Food Lifeline ($16K). Together the top 10 received $137K.
Grant Size Distribution
163 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 163 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, reported grant dollars went to organizations in Wyoming (45%), Utah (28%), Washington (24%), Nevada (2%), and Illinois (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wheeler Family Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 34 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+20%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2019) to $282K (2025). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $282K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food Lifeline Shoreline, WA | General Fund | $16,000 |
| Utah Food Bank Salt Lake City, UT | General Fund | $16,000 |
| Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies Mills, WY | General Fund | $16,000 |
| Central Wyoming Rescue Mission Casper, WY | General Fund | $14,000 |
| Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions Casper, WY | General Fund | $13,000 |
| Natrona County Meals on Wheels Casper, WY | General Fund | $13,000 |
| Salt Lake Donated Dental Services Salt Lake City, UT | General Fund | $13,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Heart of WYO Casper, WY | General Fund | $12,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of SW Utah St George, UT | General Fund | $12,000 |
| Neighborcare Health Seattle, WA | General Fund | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wheeler 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 | $3,569,225 | $413,950 | $356,255 | $282,000 | 35 | $282,000 | $347,042 | $279,890 |
| 2024 | $3,511,530 | $647,649 | $318,044 | $257,000 | 33 | $257,000 | $586,605 | $253,167 |
| 2023 | $3,181,925 | $59,761 | $287,087 | $231,500 | 31 | $231,500 | $18,103 | $226,557 |
| 2022 | $3,409,251 | $102,506 | $313,685 | $235,500 | 32 | $235,500 | $45,945 | $235,873 |
| 2021 | $3,620,430 | $957,132 | $271,748 | $259,000 | 32 | $259,000 | $944,384 | $246,068 |
| 2020 | $2,935,046 | $119,291 | $238,050 | $202,000 | 30 | — | $83,241 | $206,999 |
| 2019 | $3,053,805 | $112,440 | $245,280 | $201,000 | 38 | — | $75,300 | $191,462 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wheeler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $280K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for organizations addressing hunger, dental care, meals for older and homebound people, housing assistance, and community health. For example, Food Lifeline describes its mission as feeding people experiencing hunger while working to end hunger; Salt Lake Donated Dental Services says it aims to eliminate dental pain and suffering for people without other access to care; and Natrona County Meals on Wheels says it prepares and delivers meals to older or homebound people in Natrona County.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $282,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $16,000, with a median of $7,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $16,000 each to Food Lifeline, Utah Food Bank, and Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies; $14,000 to Central Wyoming Rescue Mission; and $13,000 each to Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions, Natrona County Meals on Wheels, and Salt Lake Donated Dental Services. Each grant was listed for general fund support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard S. Wheeler as president; Richard E. Wheeler, Linda S. Wheeler, Paula M. Wheeler, Wendy Wheeler, David N. Wheeler, and Cathrine J. Wheeler as directors; and Michelle L. Wheeler as secretary.
Wheeler Family Foundation is led by Richard S. Wheeler, Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard S. Wheeler
Director & President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Cathrine J. Wheeler
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
David N. Wheeler
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Linda S. Wheeler
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Paula M. Wheeler
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Wendy Wheeler
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Michelle L. Wheeler
Secretary
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Steven L. Fenton (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Wendy W. Fenton (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Wheeler Family Foundation
How much does Wheeler Family Foundation give each year?
Wheeler Family Foundation gave $282K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $257K across 33 grants.
What is Wheeler Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Wheeler Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,000, and its average grant was $8,057, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wheeler Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Wheeler Family Foundation give grants?
Wheeler Family Foundation's top state is Wyoming, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Utah (28%) and Washington (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Casper, WY (13 grants), Salt Lake City, UT (7 grants), Seattle, WA (7 grants) and Las Vegas, NV (2 grants).
Does Wheeler Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wheeler Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wheeler Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Wheeler Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Food Lifeline ($16,000), Utah Food Bank ($16,000) and Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wheeler Family Foundation?
Wheeler Family Foundation reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $282K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $280K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wheeler Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for organizations addressing hunger, dental care, meals for older and homebound people, housing assistance, and community health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wheeler Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wheeler Family Foundation's EIN?
Wheeler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0331386. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Wheeler Family 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 2, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 17, 2024)
Live grants for the work Wheeler Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wheeler Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wheeler Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wheeler-family-foundation-morg_b09d51abc082427985a1fb914b96cd10
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830331386_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wheeler Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wheeler-family-foundation-morg_b09d51abc082427985a1fb914b96cd10},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Wheeler 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.
Wheeler Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?