Widger Family Foundation
The Widger Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Greater Philadelphia, established in 2019 by Charles and Barbara Widger. It supports organizations and programs that embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership, with grantmaking focused on mental and behavioral health, education, and economic revitalization.
Widger Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Widger Family Foundation gave $3.6M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $404K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,638,796
- +11.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -30.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $404,311
- +61.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $230,000
- Total assets
- $21,759,207
- +21.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Virginia (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Widger Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and invites organizations to apply.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Harp-Weaver 8033 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Phone: (610) 937-0044
Website: https://widgerfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Widger Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Stand Together Foundation ($1.7M). Together the top 9 received $3.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 46 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Greater Philadelphia as a focus for its education and economic revitalization grantmaking, while describing its mental and behavioral health support as local and national. In 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 25% to recipients in Pennsylvania; 1% each went to New Jersey and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Widger Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 516% 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 $244K (2020) to $3.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Stand Together Foundation Arlington, VA | General Operating Support | $1,700,000 |
| 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 |
| Elwyn Elwyn, PA | Clarks Manor General Operating Support | $247,296 |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support | $230,000 |
| Freire Foundation Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Mindful Philanthropy Philadelphia, PA | Forum Support | $95,000 |
| Hopeworks N Camden Inc Camden, NJ | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| One Mind Institute Rutherford, CA | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
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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 | $21,759,207 | $8,817,304 | $4,429,944 | $3,638,796 | 9 | $4,691,707 | $783,651 | $909,700 |
| 2023 | $17,900,008 | $2,920,985 | $4,140,643 | $3,254,179 | 13 | $3,899,141 | $213,637 | $655,152 |
| 2022 | $16,249,863 | $3,229,887 | $2,915,660 | $2,611,359 | 5 | $2,611,359 | — | $890,269 |
| 2021 | $20,063,663 | $1,186,129 | $3,213,857 | $3,101,753 | 13 | $3,101,753 | $555,292 | $673,856 |
| 2020 | $16,839,076 | $12,227,491 | $488,931 | $244,227 | 6 | — | $427,737 | $305,388 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its work as creating value for people through philanthropy that reflects essential aspirations and experiences. Its focus areas are:
- Mental and behavioral health: Supporting initiatives that enhance well-being, increase organizational capacity, and foster innovation grounded in evidence-based practices.
- Education: Supporting equitable access to opportunities for students in Greater Philadelphia, including pathways to transformative outcomes.
- Economic revitalization: Supporting community-centered initiatives that strengthen Greater Philadelphia’s economic health and promote shared prosperity.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. Stand Together Foundation describes itself as a philanthropic community supporting changemakers and social entrepreneurs through funding, training, operational support, and networks. Philadelphia Youth Basketball describes its work as youth empowerment through basketball and related activities. Freire Foundation holds real estate for Freire Charter School and supports charter schools using the Freire academic model. Mindful Philanthropy works to activate funding for systems change in mental health, addiction, and well-being. Hopeworks ’N Camden focuses on education, technology, and entrepreneurship to support young people in Camden and Philadelphia.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 9 grants totaling $3,638,796. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $1,700,000, with a median grant of $230,000. The largest grants were $1,700,000 to Stand Together Foundation for general operating support and $916,500 to Virginia Student Aid Foundation, doing business as Virginia Athletics Foundation, for women’s lacrosse, leadership coaching, and scholarships. Other grants included $250,000 to Philadelphia Youth Basketball, $247,296 to Elwyn for Clarks Manor general operating support, and $230,000 to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles Widger as president; Barbara C. Widger and Jonathan Kaplow as directors; and Ashley Elizabeth Widger as secretary/treasurer.
Widger Family Foundation is led by Charles Widger, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles Widger
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara C. Widger
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Kaplow
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Elizabeth Widger
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 Widger Family Foundation
How much does Widger Family Foundation give each year?
Widger Family Foundation gave $3.6M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 13 grants.
What is Widger Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Widger Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $230,000, and its average grant was $404,311, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Widger Family Foundation give grants?
Widger Family Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (4 grants).
Does Widger Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of Widger Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Widger Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Widger Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Stand Together Foundation ($1,700,000), Virginia Student Aid Foundation DBA Virginia Athletics Foundation ($916,500) and Philadelphia Youth Basketball ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Widger Family Foundation?
Widger Family Foundation reported $21.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $910K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Widger Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its work as creating value for people through philanthropy that reflects essential aspirations and experiences. Its focus areas are: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Widger Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Widger Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Widger Family 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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