Whole Systems Foundation
Whole Systems Foundation is a private foundation based in Port Townsend, Washington. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2024 filing reports 19 grants totaling $29,000, including grants for energy and the environment, habitat preservation, environmental education, and other stated purposes.
Whole Systems Foundation at a glance
In short: Whole Systems Foundation gave $29K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), top state Oregon. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $29,000
- -7.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,526
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $453,975
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Oregon (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Whole Systems Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 Cub Road, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Phone: (541) 660-4927
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Whole Systems Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Oregon League of Conservation Voter ($1K).
Organizations only. It also paid 18 grants to individuals ($28,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 85 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Washington. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon (45%), California (17%), and Colorado (10%). Other listed recipient-state shares were Washington, D.C. (7%) and Maryland (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
How Whole Systems Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2022) to $32K (2023). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 18 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $28,000 |
| Oregon League of Conservation Voter Portland, OR | Environmental Education | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $453,975 | $55,333 | $30,732 | $29,000 | 19 | $29,000 | $14,456 | $24,620 |
| 2023 | $429,378 | $25,621 | $32,946 | $31,500 | 20 | $31,500 | $10,249 | $20,825 |
| 2022 | $436,699 | $17,331 | $31,468 | $24,000 | 17 | $24,000 | $11,018 | $26,522 |
| 2021 | $450,836 | $19,485 | $28,272 | $26,553 | 16 | $26,553 | $9,790 | $27,192 |
| 2020 | $459,623 | $-52,971 | $26,181 | $24,500 | 13 | — | $19,859 | $25,394 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Whole Systems Foundation reported a distributable amount of $25K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions address environmental and sustainability topics, Indigenous rights, and climate-friendly solar cooking. For example, Solar Cookers International describes its mission as improving health, economic well-being, women’s empowerment, and the environment by promoting solar cooking for vulnerable populations worldwide. An individual recipient says it advocates for Indigenous people’s rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures, and political resilience. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $29,000 through 19 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000.
Among the larger reported grants were $5,000 to an individual recipient, for energy and the environment; $4,500 to an individual recipient, for wilderness/habitat preservation; and $2,000 each to Post Carbon Institute, an individual recipient, and Animas Valley Institute. Other reported recipients included an individual recipient, which received $1,500, and Solar Cookers International, which received $1,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Norton Smith as treasurer, Zachary Smith as vice president, Melanie Smith as president, and Adam Smith as secretary.
Whole Systems Foundation is led by Melanie Smith, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melanie Smith
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Adam Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Norton Smith
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Zachary Smith
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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 Whole Systems Foundation
How much does Whole Systems Foundation give each year?
Whole Systems Foundation gave $29K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $32K across 20 grants.
What is Whole Systems Foundation's typical grant size?
Whole Systems Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,526, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Whole Systems Foundation give grants?
Whole Systems Foundation's top state is Oregon, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (17%) and Colorado (10%).
Does Whole Systems Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Whole Systems Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environmental Education" (7 grants) and "Energy and the Environment" (4 grants).
How large is Whole Systems Foundation?
Whole Systems Foundation reported $454K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $29K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Whole Systems Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose own missions address environmental and sustainability topics, Indigenous rights, and climate-friendly solar cooking. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Whole Systems Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Whole Systems Foundation's EIN?
Whole Systems Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7346102. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Whole Systems Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Whole Systems 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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