Wheeler Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker El Segundo, CA EIN: 85-3587210

Wheeler Family Foundation is a private foundation based in El Segundo, California. Its 2024 filing reports 21 grants totaling $377,600 to charitable organizations, including organizations working with youth, children and families, people with disabilities, and churches.

Wheeler Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Wheeler Family Foundation gave $378K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in California. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$377,600
+22.8% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
21
-8.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$17,981
+34.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$6,374,780
+13.4% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
10% first-time grantees (2 of 21, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
California (73% 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 Wheeler Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 2221 Rosecrans Ave Suite 150, El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: (714) 334-8211

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 2024

Kidworks Community Development Corporation: $150KKidworks Community DevelopmentCorporation$150KThe World Bible Society: $50KThe World Bible Society$50KChildhelp Inc: $21KChildhelp Inc$21KCapable Kids Foundation Inc: $20KCapable Kids Foundation Inc$20KFellowship of Christian Athletes: $15KFellowship of ChristianAthletes$15KFocus on the Family: $15KFocus on the Family$15KFree Wheelchair Mission: $15KFree Wheelchair Mission$15KMultiplication Network Ministries: $15KMultiplication NetworkMinistries$15KThe Prayer Covenant: $11KThe Prayer Covenant$11KMariners Church Irvine: $10KMariners Church Irvine$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Kidworks Community Development Corporation ($150K). Together the top 10 received $322K.

Grant Size Distribution

101 grants across all recorded years

95<$50K3$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 101 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is based in El Segundo, California. In 2024, California recipients received 73% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Arizona (6%), Texas (5%), Missouri (4%), and Colorado (4%).

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

IrvineOrangeSanta AnaTustinChinoCity Of IndustryColorado SpringsNew AlbanyKansas CityLong BeachLos AngelesSan Juan CapistranoSauk VillageEdinburgJacksonvilleScottsdaleCosta MesaMcallenSherman OaksDuarte

Is Wheeler Family Foundation open to new grantees?

10%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 21 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $28K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 61% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 127% 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$600K16 grants2020 20 grants2021 21 grants2022 23 grants2023 21 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2020) to $429K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $378K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Kidworks Community Development Corporation Santa Ana, CATo Help Provide Academic Enrichment Programs.$150,000
The World Bible Society Newport Beach, CATo Support Transitional Home Programs.$50,000
Childhelp Inc Scottsdale, AZTo Help the Victims of Child Abuse.$21,100
Capable Kids Foundation Inc McAllen, TXTo help enrich the lives of families with special needs.$20,000
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Kansas City, MOTo support coaches and athletes enter into a growing relationship with jesus christ and his church.$15,000
Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, COTo Support Family Entertainment Center and Family Activities.$15,000
Free Wheelchair Mission Irvine, CATo support building cost-efficient wheelchairs for people with a disability.$15,000
Multiplication Network Ministries Sauk Village, ILTo provide churches with the tools and resources to strengthen and multiply healthy churches.$15,000
The Prayer Covenant New Albany, OHTo help make disciples among the children and youth of the nations.$11,000
Mariners Church Irvine Irvine, CATo Sponser Church Related Programs.$10,000
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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$6,374,780$1,141,687$413,970$377,60021$382,651$258,118$300,630
2023$5,619,183$725,636$350,290$307,50023$309,600$202,133$259,685
2022$5,367,333$2,592,702$459,896$428,50021$443,700$759,218$223,794
2021$3,874,660$3,173,377$239,854$234,00020$235,250$43,993$78,453
2020$941,137$1,003,937$62,800$62,80016—$3,937$624

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wheeler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $301K 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 a range of organizations. For example, Kidworks Community Development Corp says its mission is to inspire purpose in youth, fuel their growth, and catalyze their impact in the community and the world. Childhelp says it meets the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected, and at-risk children. Capable Kids Foundation says it works to improve the quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.

Other 2024 grantees include Fellowship of Christian Athletes, whose mission is to lead coaches and athletes into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his church; Free Wheelchair Mission, which provides mobility to people with disabilities in developing nations; and HomeWord, which says it educates, equips, and encourages parents and churches to build God-honoring families.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave $377,600 through 21 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $150,000, with a median of $10,000.

The largest reported grants included $150,000 to Kidworks Community Development Corporation for academic enrichment programs; $50,000 to The World Bible Society for transitional home programs; $21,100 to Childhelp Inc to help victims of child abuse; and $20,000 to Capable Kids Foundation Inc to enrich the lives of families with special needs. Other grants included $15,000 each to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Focus on the Family, Free Wheelchair Mission, and Multiplication Network Ministries.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists David Wheeler as president and voting director, Mable Wheeler as secretary and voting director, and Chasen Wheeler as COO, CFO, and voting director.

Wheeler Family Foundation is led by David Wheeler, President & Voting Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • David Wheeler

    President & Voting Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chasen Wheeler

    COO, CFO & Voting Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mable Wheeler

    Secretary & Voting Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 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 Wheeler Family Foundation

How much does Wheeler Family Foundation give each year?

Wheeler Family Foundation gave $378K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $308K across 23 grants.

What is Wheeler Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Wheeler Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,981, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wheeler Family Foundation that year got $28K on average.

Where does Wheeler Family Foundation give grants?

Wheeler Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arizona (6%) and Texas (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Ana, CA (3 grants), Irvine, CA (3 grants) and Orange, CA (2 grants).

Does Wheeler Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Wheeler Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Wheeler Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Wheeler Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Kidworks Community Development Corporation ($150,000), The World Bible Society ($50,000) and Childhelp Inc ($21,100), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Wheeler Family Foundation?

Wheeler Family Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $383K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $301K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Wheeler Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Kidworks Community Development Corp says its mission is to inspire purpose in youth, fuel their growth, and catalyze their impact in the community and the world. 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 states that it 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 85-3587210. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Wheeler Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wheeler-family-foundation-morg_f8050023536d40eda14884768e11f4a0

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853587210_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Wheeler Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/wheeler-family-foundation-morg_f8050023536d40eda14884768e11f4a0},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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.

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