Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California. Its stated mission is to protect and promote vitality and innate wisdom in ecosystems, their inhabitants, and all species with equality.
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly at a glance
In short: Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly gave $1.5M across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Florida. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,477,943
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- -13.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,896
- -19.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,705,748
- -47.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (7 of 39, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly
- Review Cycle
- Rolling applications; no deadlines.
- Deadline
- Rolling applications; no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Grant Application Department The An
Mailing address: C/O Jill Lombard 7755 Fay Ave Ste D, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 459-6284
Website: https://wildwisdomfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Raymond James Charitable ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
254 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 232 grants of 254 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida and 30% to recipients in California. The filing also lists grant recipients in Washington, DC, Colorado, and other states with shares rounded to 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 39 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $149K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2019) to $5.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Raymond James Charitable St Petersburg, FL | General Fund | $1,023,097 |
| Wildcoast Del Mar, CA | General Fund | $55,000 |
| ICA San Diego Encinitas, CA | General Fund | $40,000 |
| Oceanside Museum of Art Oceanside, CA | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Darnall Charter School San Diego, CA | Sage Garden Project | $20,000 |
| Encinitas Unified School District (Capri) Encinitas, CA | Sage Garden Project | $20,000 |
| Gage Elementary San Diego, CA | Sage Garden Project | $20,000 |
| Whitman Elementary San Diego, CA | Sage Garden Project | $17,500 |
| Friends of Valencia Park San Diego, CA | Sage Garden Project | $16,000 |
| Cadman PTA San Diego, CA | Sage Garden Project | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,705,748 | $385,660 | $1,919,684 | $1,477,943 | 39 | $1,832,601 | $123,577 | $131,972 |
| 2024 | $3,239,740 | $22,381 | $2,541,639 | $2,110,966 | 45 | $2,441,020 | $42,625 | $235,716 |
| 2023 | $5,758,998 | $305,564 | $2,250,823 | $1,688,158 | 48 | $2,130,055 | $51,112 | $316,482 |
| 2022 | $7,704,257 | $302,877 | $2,364,520 | $1,701,720 | 60 | $2,124,312 | — | $419,777 |
| 2021 | $9,765,900 | $897,472 | $6,029,352 | $5,201,695 | 62 | $5,792,844 | $485,660 | $679,877 |
| 2020 | $14,897,817 | $728,587 | $2,280,944 | $1,535,519 | 56 | — | $477,739 | $808,874 |
| 2019 | $16,450,174 | $1,646,449 | $2,001,842 | $1,302,069 | 88 | — | $1,342,638 | $879,074 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly reported a distributable amount of $132K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its work as supporting partners and initiatives that follow nature as a source of wisdom, with an emphasis on early intervention, seed funding, and close relationships with partner organizations. Its stated areas of support include experiential education, diabetes interventions, equal access to wild spaces, endangered-ecosystem health, ecological stewardship, mind-body health, public arts and engagement, and publications promoting community and individual wellness.
In 2025, the foundation supported organizations with varied missions. For example, Wildcoast describes its mission as conserving coastal and marine ecosystems and addressing climate change through natural solutions. Darnall Charter School says it is committed to academic excellence through a rigorous, student-centered learning environment. Common Vision describes its work as connecting education, food, and the environment to help healthy communities flourish.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 39 grants totaling $1,477,943. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $1,023,097, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest grant was $1,023,097 to Raymond James Charitable for its general fund. Other notable grants included $55,000 to Wildcoast and $40,000 to ICA San Diego, both for general funds, and $25,000 to Oceanside Museum of Art for its general fund. Multiple school and community recipients received grants for the Sage Garden Project, including $20,000 each to Darnall Charter School, Encinitas Unified School District (CAPRI), and Gage Elementary.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are asked to submit a letter with their name, address, and a detailed proposal, including the proposal’s effects on local public health. The filing lists no award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann Dunne as president and Dr Michael Brines and Sage Dunne-Cerami as directors.
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly is led by Ann Dunne, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann Dunne
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$80K (2019) → $49K (2025)
Michael Brines
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sage Dunne-Cerami
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anthony Cerami (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $49K, to Ann Dunne (President).
Frequently asked questions about Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly
How much does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly give each year?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly gave $1.5M across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 45 grants.
What is Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's typical grant size?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $37,896, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly that year got $149K on average.
Where does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly give grants?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly gives mostly in Florida: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (19 grants), Encinitas, CA (2 grants), Oceanside, CA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly give general operating support?
Yes: 54% of Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 39) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Sage Garden Project" (18 grants).
Who are Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's largest grantees?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's largest 2025 grantees include Raymond James Charitable ($1,023,097), Wildcoast ($55,000) and ICA San Diego ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $132K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly fund?
The foundation’s website describes its work as supporting partners and initiatives that follow nature as a source of wisdom, with an emphasis on early intervention, seed funding, and close relationships with partner organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wildwisdomfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's EIN?
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3183913. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wild-wisdom-foundation-inc-formerly-morg_38ed2116f3a14c0ab3f7040f7d1b1670
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273183913_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wild-wisdom-foundation-inc-formerly-morg_38ed2116f3a14c0ab3f7040f7d1b1670},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly'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.
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (Formerly down — hundreds of funders to go?