Wheeler Foundation
The Wheeler Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2005 in Rankin, Illinois, following the deaths of Charles and Maxine Wheeler. The foundation was created to continue the legacy of the Wheelers, who dedicated their lives to enriching and empowering students with learning and behavioral challenges. From 1964 to 2002, Charles and Maxine Wheeler operated the Wheeler Home Farm School in Rankin, Illinois, a residential facility serving students with special needs. Maxine was a special education teacher and Charles was a psychologist. The foundation carries forward their vision of supporting individuals with disabilities.
Key facts about Wheeler Foundation
- EIN
- 61-1445596
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,306,542
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- Average grant
- $121,397
- Median grant
- $43,182
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (10 of 19, 2024)
- Total assets
- $22,690,389
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications are invitation-only as of recent changes. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wheeler Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wheeler Foundation's 19 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Danville, IL (4 grants) and Hoopeston, IL (3 grants). None of its 19 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Education Purposes" (4 grants).
Is Wheeler Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 19 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $99K; repeat grants $146K. How we count
Medians: $44K first-time, $26K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 961% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 141% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Wheeler Foundation
- How to evaluate Wheeler Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Wheeler Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.7M
-1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+68.9% YoY
Grant Count
19
+35.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$121K
+24.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wheeler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to fund educational initiatives and support for individuals with special needs and learning challenges. Key funding areas include:
- Special education programs and services
- Educational scholarships and student support
- Charitable education purposes
- Support for organizations serving individuals with developmental and behavioral challenges
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000–$748,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $97,518
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Wheeler Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in east central Illinois and west central Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 19 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $23,109,345
- Total revenue: $13,546,542
- Total expenses: $1,797,186
- Total liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $22,690,389
- Total giving: $2,306,542
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,690,389 | $23,109,345 | $20,010,920 |
| Revenue | $2,244,406 | $13,546,542 | $12,904,443 |
| Expenses | $2,662,766 | $1,797,186 | $1,073,435 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,334,048 | $1,373,719 | $598,592 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,879,919 | $1,819,617 | $12,429,600 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,652,492 | $1,484,380 | $833,388 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Illinois State University Foundation ($748,000), Carle Health Center for Philanthropy ($462,874), Vermilion Association for Special Education ($377,964).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Normal, IL | SCHOLARSHIPS AND PULSE PROGRAM | $748,000 |
| CARLE HEALTH CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY Peoria, IL | TUITION SUPPORT | $462,874 |
| VERMILION ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION Danville, IL | GREENHOUSE GRANT | $377,964 |
| CROSSPOINT HUMAN SERVICES Danville, IL | CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND COMMUNITY DAY SERVICE PROGRAM EXPENDITURES | $202,419 |
| DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION Danville, IL | DSP PROGRAM PILOT AND SCHOLARSHIPS | $175,000 |
| IROQUOIS SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Gilman, IL | PROGRAM GRANT | $73,592 |
| DANVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT Danville, IL | VEHICLE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION | $52,358 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION Chicago, IL | ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP GRANT | $45,000 |
| EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Charleston, IL | SCHOLARSHIPS | $45,000 |
| DONOVAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Donovan, IL | CHARITABLE EDUCATION PURPOSES | $43,182 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christine McTaggert | Director | 1 | $200 |
| Lynn Magers | Treasurer | 2 | $1,300 |
| Dennis Weber | Director | 1 | $300 |
| Heather Lane | Secretary | 2 | $1,800 |
| Bob Swires | President | 5 | $1,300 |
| Sarah Wilson | Director | 1 | $300 |
| Jerry McGlaughlin | Director | 1 | $250 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wheeler Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to fund educational initiatives and support for individuals with special needs and learning challenges. Key funding areas include: • Special education programs and services • Educational scholarships and student support • Charitable education purposes • Support for organizations serving individuals with developmental and behavioral challenges
How do I apply for a grant from Wheeler Foundation?
Applications are invitation-only as of recent changes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Wheeler Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in east central Illinois and west central Indiana.
What size grants does Wheeler Foundation award?
In 2024, Wheeler Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $121K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wheeler Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wheeler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wheeler Foundation's EIN?
Wheeler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1445596. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wheeler Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.