Wholesome Wave Inc
Wholesome Wave Inc is a public charity based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Founded in 2007, it works to end food and nutrition insecurity by increasing affordable access to fruits and vegetables, and combines programs, research, and policy advocacy in its food-systems work.
Wholesome Wave Inc at a glance
In short: Wholesome Wave Inc gave $413K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $412,946
- +81.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +116.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,765
- -16.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $912,332
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Wholesome Wave Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3968, Bridgeport, CT 06605
Phone: (203) 226-1112
Website: https://wholesomewave.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wholesome Wave Inc
Who Wholesome Wave Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was About Fresh ($170K). Together the top 10 received $385K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 30 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant-dollar shares by recipient state were Massachusetts, 41%; Connecticut, 23%; New York, 12%; Minnesota, 5%; and New Mexico, 5%. The listed grants also included recipients in California, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and South Dakota. The organization’s evaluation-support project described in the past RFP was in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wholesome Wave Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2021) to $413K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $413K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| About Fresh Boston, MA | To support the purchase of food incentive cards to be distributed to the community | $169,696 |
| Hispanic Health Council Hartford, CT | Gusnip Subgrant for Community Partner | $95,750 |
| Buffalo Go Green Inc Buffalo, NY | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $20,000 |
| Hmong American Farmers Association West Saint Paul, MN | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $20,000 |
| La Semilla Food Center Anthony, NM | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $20,000 |
| The Corbin Hill Food Project Inc New York, NY | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $20,000 |
| Alamedia County RECIPE4HEALTH San Leandro, CA | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $10,000 |
| Green Rural Redevelopment Organization Henderson, NC | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $10,000 |
| Hebni Nutrition Consultants Inc Orlando, FL | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $10,000 |
| Melting Pot Foundation USA Inc Brooklyn, NY | BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $912,332 | $2,117,782 | $2,039,649 | $412,946 | 13 | — |
| 2023 | $909,494 | $2,347,863 | $1,978,160 | $226,956 | 6 | — |
| 2022 | $834,069 | $1,621,720 | $1,863,688 | — | — | $-88 |
| 2021 | $1,309,591 | $3,012,524 | $2,652,397 | $28,800 | 1 | $1,726 |
| 2020 | $1,210,973 | $5,106,512 | $4,792,411 | $383,025 | 10 | $1,341 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its 2024 filing, Wholesome Wave states that it inspires underserved consumers to make healthier food choices by increasing affordable access to fresh, local, and regional food. Its filing describes programs that pair incentives for culturally relevant fruits and vegetables with culturally responsive nutrition education, and research and policy work related to produce prescriptions. Its website also describes Food4Moms, a produce-prescription program for low-income pregnant women in Connecticut; the National Produce Prescription Collaborative; and OneKitchen, a network that supports chefs’ food-systems advocacy.
The 2024 grants included support for food incentive cards and for a BIPOC-led produce-prescription cohort expansion. The funded organizations describe a range of related community work. About Fresh says it works to connect families with healthy food and community food culture; Hispanic Health Council says it works to improve the health and social well-being of Puerto Rican/Latino and other underserved communities. Buffalo Go Green describes programming and training in agriculture and the green industry, while Hmong American Farmers Association describes work to advance Hmong American farmers’ prosperity. La Semilla Food Center says it works toward a fair and sustainable food system in the Paso del Norte region, and Corbin Hill Food Project describes increasing access to affordable fresh produce and creating opportunities for BIPOC growers and producers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Wholesome Wave reported 13 grants totaling $412,946. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $169,696, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards were $169,696 to About Fresh for food incentive cards for community distribution and $95,750 to Hispanic Health Council for a GusNIP subgrant for a community partner. Buffalo Go Green, Hmong American Farmers Association, La Semilla Food Center, and The Corbin Hill Food Project each received $20,000 for BIPOC-led produce-prescription cohort expansion.
A separate evaluation-support request for proposals sought a consultant for a Bridgeport produce-prescription research project. That past opportunity had a $35,000 budget and a June 27, 2024 deadline; it is not a current application cycle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Michel Nischan as co-founder and executive chairman; Ed Kelly as marcom committee chair; Ellen O’Connor as finance committee chair; Johanna Deans Martell as governance committee chair; and Dipa Shah Patel as a board member. It listed Brenton Ling as interim executive director and Natalia Feinstein as executive director until September 2024. Mariel Pica, Daniel Ross, and Benjamin Perkins were listed as board members until March, February, and June 2024, respectively.
Wholesome Wave Inc is led by Natalia Feinstein, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Natalia Feinstein
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $114K (2024)
Brenton Ling
Interim Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$134K (2024)
Michel Nischan
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman
Board Chairman → President, 2021
President → Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$193K (2020) → $168K (2024)
Ed Kelly
Marcom Committee Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen O'Connor
Finance Committee Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Johanna Deans Martell
Governance Committee Chair
Board Member → Governance Committee Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacy Hicks Herr
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Development Committee Chair → Director of Strategic Partnerships, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $132K (2024)
Benjamin Perkins
Board Member
CEO → Fed Committee Chair, 2023
Fed Committee Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$177K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Mariel Pica
Board Member
Board Member → Ww Junior Board Chair, 2021
Ww Junior Board Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Daniel Ross
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$156K (2023) → $0 (2024)
Dipa Shah Patel
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Brent Ling (2022–2023) — Director of External Affairs
- Former: Dipa Shah-Patel (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Nick Goggans (2020–2022) — Data Committee Chair
- Former: Amy Jolin (2022) — Director of Development
- Former: Denise Stevens (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joe Cahalan (2020–2021) — Board Member & Interim Executive
- Former: Wil Harkey (2020–2021) — Finance Committee Chair
- Former: Nora Moreno Cargie (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Debbie Shore (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Edward Kelly (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $168K, to Michel Nischan (Co-Founder and Executive Chairman). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wholesome Wave Inc
How much does Wholesome Wave Inc give each year?
Wholesome Wave Inc gave $413K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $227K across 6 grants.
What is Wholesome Wave Inc's typical grant size?
Wholesome Wave Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $31,765, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Wholesome Wave Inc give grants?
Wholesome Wave Inc's top state is Massachusetts, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Connecticut (23%) and New York (12%).
Does Wholesome Wave Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Wholesome Wave Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "BIPOC-Fed Produce RX Cohort Expansion" (10 grants).
Who are Wholesome Wave Inc's largest grantees?
Wholesome Wave Inc's largest 2024 grantees include About Fresh ($169,696), Hispanic Health Council ($95,750) and Buffalo Go Green Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wholesome Wave Inc?
Wholesome Wave Inc reported $912K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.1M.
What does Wholesome Wave Inc fund?
In its 2024 filing, Wholesome Wave states that it inspires underserved consumers to make healthier food choices by increasing affordable access to fresh, local, and regional food. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wholesome Wave Inc?
Wholesome Wave Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wholesomewave.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Wholesome Wave Inc's EIN?
Wholesome Wave Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0352899. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Wholesome Wave Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wholesome Wave Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wholesome Wave Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wholesome-wave-inc-morg_11d20969dfef40a69c13c2521f0eda96
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260352899_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wholesome Wave Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wholesome-wave-inc-morg_11d20969dfef40a69c13c2521f0eda96},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Wholesome Wave Inc'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.
Wholesome Wave Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?