Wheless Foundation
The Wheless Foundation is a private foundation based in Shreveport, Louisiana, established in 1945. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on health, human services, and Christian charitable giving.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.8M
+1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$689K
+12.2% YoY
Grant Count
47
+17.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-4.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wheless Foundation reported a distributable amount of $682K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Health and human services
- Christian churches
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Primary geographic focus areas are Louisiana, Georgia, and New Mexico.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributed grants to organizations including:
Grant Range
(recent): $5,000–$50,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in:
- Louisiana
- Georgia
- New Mexico
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets: $10.4–$10.8 million
- Total annual giving: $605,000–$688,500
- Number of grants awarded: 35–37 annually
- Revenue (2024): $1.04 million
- Expenses (2024): $713,000
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Giving Trends:
| Year | Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10.4M | $605K | 37 |
| 2023 | $10.5M | $625K | 36 |
| 2022 | $10.5M | $504K | 36 |
| 2021 | $10.2M | $539K | 35 |
| 2020 | $10.4M | $313K | 23 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,811,865 | $10,709,251 | $10,376,371 |
| Revenue | $902,714 | $1,037,332 | $535,917 |
| Expenses | $806,109 | $713,353 | $698,442 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $689,134 | $614,114 | $605,034 |
| Net Investment Income | $805,671 | $941,150 | $450,174 |
| Distributable Amount | $682,277 | $633,629 | $571,324 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include St Mark's Episcopal Cathedral ($45,000), Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana ($35,000), Gleason Initiative Foundation ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST SANTA FE, NM | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| CADDO COUNCIL ON AGING SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| CHASTAIN PARK THERAPEUTIC RIDING ATLANTA, GA | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
| CHIMP HAVEN KEITHVILLE, LA | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
| COMMUNITY RENEWAL INTERNATIONAL SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE OF NW LA SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
| DURHAM ACADEMY INC DURHAM, NC | EDUCATIONAL | $30,000 |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY ATLANTA, GA | EDUCATIONAL | $10,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA SHREVEPORT, LA | CHARITABLE | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barbara York, Regions Bank Trust Department, serves as a contact person for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELISE W SCHMIDT | BOARD OF CON | 1 | — |
| JAMES E DEVAN | BOARD OF CON | 2 | — |
| TRACEY E HOGAN | BOARD OF CON | 1 | — |
| W HOBSON HOGAN | BOARD OF CON | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 29129, Shreveport, LA 71149-9129
- Phone: 318-429-2118
- EIN: 72-6017724
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wheless Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Health and human services • Christian churches • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking Primary geographic focus areas are Louisiana, Georgia, and New Mexico.
How do I apply for a grant from Wheless Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$75,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Grant range (recent): $5,000–$50,000 • Does not accept applications **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation distributed grants to organizations including: • American Red Cross ($50,000) • St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral ($40,000) • Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana ($35,000) • Gleason Initiative Foundation ($35,000) • Chastain Park Therapeutic Riding ($30,000) • Church of the Holy Cross ($30,000) •…
Where does Wheless Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in: • Louisiana • Georgia • New Mexico
What size grants does Wheless Foundation award?
In 2025, Wheless Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $689K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wheless Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Wheless Foundation reported a distributable amount of $682K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wheless Foundation's EIN?
Wheless Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-6017724. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wheless Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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