Wieboldt Foundation
The Wieboldt Foundation is a private foundation established in 1921 by William A. and Anna K. Wieboldt, German-born entrepreneurs who built a successful department store business in Chicago. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting community change and empowerment in low-income neighborhoods.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.2M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$765K
-11.0% YoY
Grant Count
30
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-2.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's highest priority is supporting multi-issue community organizations that work in low-income neighborhoods, are accountable to neighborhood residents, and empower people to have a major voice in shaping decisions that affect their lives.
A secondary priority is given to organizations that support community organizations through training, technical assistance, legal strategies, coalition building, advocacy, and policy development.
The foundation recognizes community organizing and community action as its prime concern, operating from the conviction that powerlessness, apathy, and alienation are at the root of many social ills. It believes that funding efforts giving people hope and involving them in working together toward jointly defined ends contributes importantly to resolving social problems.
Primary funding areas include:
- Community Development (approximately 41% of grants)
- Community Organizing
- Civic Engagement
- Social & Human Services (approximately 34% of grants)
- Education (approximately 8% of grants)
- Leadership Development
- Social Justice and systemic change
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. However, it is open to hearing about the work of organizations working in its area of interest and provides information about past grantmaking to help current grantseekers understand the types of organizations it supports.
Grant Range
approximately $32,400
Average Grant
approximately $32,400
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves the Chicago metropolitan area, with 87% of grants staying in Illinois. Four other states receive a significant number of grants: Indiana, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and California.
The foundation supports initiatives in various cities including Bolingbrook, Chicago, Durham, San Francisco, Washington, and Waukegan, and operates in states including California, District of Columbia, Illinois, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $21.6 million (2023); $22.1 million (2024); $24.3 million (reported in one source)
- Total Revenue: $999,914 (2023); $3.3 million (2024)
- Total Expenses: $1.4 million (2023); $1.5 million (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $109,000 (2023)
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since December 1967
- EIN: 36-2167955
- Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,154,217 | $21,626,743 | $20,450,720 |
| Revenue | $3,387,173 | $999,914 | $1,073,205 |
| Expenses | $1,528,660 | $1,398,496 | $1,568,768 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,341,150 | $1,276,409 | $1,492,720 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,049,663 | $710,136 | $621,628 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,018,992 | $1,144,472 | $1,054,686 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John Darrow – President
- Anne Wieboldt – Vice President
- Nancy Wieboldt – Treasurer
- Brian K Malone – Executive Director (compensated staff member, earning $95,295 annually)
The foundation operates with 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN DARROW | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| BILL DAVIS | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| NANCY WIEBOLDT | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER CORRIGAN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JESSICA DARROW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELLEN DARROW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES FIELD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $13,823 |
| KEITH GREEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL KOEHLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAUREEN LOUGHNANE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRIAN MALONE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $118,896 |
Contact Information
Address: 53 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 1060, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 786-9377
Website: www.wieboldt.org
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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