Widger Family Foundation
The Widger Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 2019 by Charles and Barbara Widger, the foundation operates with an expanded board that includes family members and close affiliates. The foundation is committed to creating value for people through philanthropy that reflects essential aspirations and experiences, building on success in the field of investment management.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.8M
+21.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
+11.8% YoY
Grant Count
9
-30.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$404K
+61.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Widger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $910K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs and organizations that embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Its grantmaking focuses on three primary issue areas:
Mental/Behavioral Health: Supports organizations and initiatives at local and national levels that enhance the well-being of individuals facing mental and behavioral health challenges, increase operational capacity, and foster innovation within the field that builds on evidence-based practices.
Education: Supports organizations and initiatives that provide equitable access to opportunities for students in Greater Philadelphia that build educational pathways and lead to transformative outcomes.
Economic Revitalization: Supports strategic investments in community-centered initiatives that strengthen the economy.
The foundation employs actionable strategies that embrace innovative and disruptive models which address gaps, build capacity, surpass conventional approaches, and hold promise for greater impact. It seeks to leverage resources and create value to empower individuals and communities locally and beyond to fulfill their potential and purpose.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals at this time.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a primary focus on Greater Philadelphia, though it also supports organizations and initiatives at the national level.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $21,759,207
- Total Revenues: $8,817,304
- Total Expenses: $4,429,944
- Number of Employees: 0
The foundation made 13 grants in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,759,207 | $17,900,008 | $16,249,863 |
| Revenue | $8,817,304 | $2,920,985 | $3,229,887 |
| Expenses | $4,429,944 | $4,140,643 | $2,915,660 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,691,707 | $3,899,141 | $2,611,359 |
| Net Investment Income | $783,651 | $213,637 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $909,700 | $655,152 | $890,269 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stand Together Foundation ($1,700,000), Virginia Student Aid Foundation Dba Virginia Athletics Foundation ($916,500), Philadelphia Youth Basketball ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ELWYN ELWYN, PA | CLARKS MANOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $247,296 |
| FREIRE FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| MINDFUL PHILANTHROPY PHILADELPHIA, PA | FORUM SUPPORT | $95,000 |
| VIRGINIA STUDENT AID FOUNDATION DBA VIRGINIA ATHLETICS FOUNDATION CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | PROGRAMMATIC GRANT, VIRGINIA WOMEN'S LACROSSE LEGACY FUND, LEADERSHIP COACHING, AND VAF SCHOLARSHIP | $916,500 |
| PHILADELPHIA YOUTH BASKETBALL PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| HOPEWORKS N CAMDEN INC CAMDEN, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ONE MIND INSTITUTE RUTHERFORD, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| STAND TOGETHER FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,700,000 |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $230,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was established by Charles and Barbara Widger. The board includes family members and close affiliates.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES WIDGER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BARBARA C WIDGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ASHLEY ELIZABETH WIDGER | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN KAPLOW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2021, Charles Widger (Villanova University class of 1973) and Barbara Widger made a $13 million gift to Villanova University to enhance the Law School's efforts in preparing future leaders in the legal profession and beyond.
[PDF] resolutions adopted by the board of visitors - The University of VirginiaFrequently Asked Questions
What does Widger Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs and organizations that embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Its grantmaking focuses on three primary issue areas: **Mental/Behavioral Health:** Supports organizations and initiatives at local and national levels that enhance the well-being of individuals facing mental and behavioral health challenges, increase operational capacity, and foster innovation within the field that builds on evidence-based practices. **Education:** Supports organizatio…
How do I apply for a grant from Widger Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals at this time. Recent grants made include: • Stand Together Foundation: $1,700,000 (General Operating Support, 2024) • Virginia Athletics Foundation: $916,500 (Programmatic Grant, Virginia Women's Lacrosse Legacy Fund, Leadership Coaching, and VAF Scholarship, 2024) • Philadelphia Youth Basketball: $250,000 (General Operating Support, 2024) • Villanova University: $13,000,000 (gift to enhance the Law School's efforts in preparing future leader…
Where does Widger Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a primary focus on Greater Philadelphia, though it also supports organizations and initiatives at the national level.
What size grants does Widger Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Widger Family Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $404K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Widger Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Widger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $910K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Widger Family Foundation's EIN?
Widger Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2860358. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Widger Family 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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