Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly
Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in La Jolla, California. The organization is also known as The Anthony Cerami and Ann Dunne Foundation for World Health. As a 501(c)(3) private foundation, it has been tax-exempt since July 2011.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-43.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+25.0% YoY
Grant Count
45
-6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
+33.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to protect and promote vitality and innate wisdom in ecosystems, their inhabitants and all species with equality. The organization views wild forests, landscapes, watersheds and biodiverse ecosystems as wellsprings that replenish diversity, resilience and health.
The foundation supports partners and initiatives that follow nature as the highest source of wisdom, with a particular emphasis on early intervention for maximum impact. The organization values and supports indigenous intelligence and prioritizes seed funding to allow projects the bandwidth to progress.
Primary Program:
The Sage Garden Project is the foundation's flagship initiative, currently serving 27,000 California elementary school children. The program has been a focus for 11 years and provides hands-on gardens, cooking classes, and nutritional science education to elementary schools. The program aims to reduce obesity and diabetes in children by providing tools, insight and inspiration for a lifetime of optimal health. The overarching goal is to prove the value of this type of education through metrics that governmental agencies value, so that it will eventually be included for all schools and students.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants across various focus areas including education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. Recent grantees have included Oceanside Museum of Art ($66,041), Wildcoast ($63,500), and The Nature Collective.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across numerous cities and states, with documented giving in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Virginia. Major urban areas including Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco have received funding.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,239,740
- Total Revenues: $22,381
- Total Expenses: $2,541,639
- Number of Employees: 1
Previous Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $5.76 Million
- Total Revenues: $306,000
- Total Expenses: $2.25 Million
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation made 56 grants in the most recent reporting period, with total giving of $2,110,966. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $1,000,000.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,239,740 | $5,758,998 | $7,704,257 |
| Revenue | $22,381 | $305,564 | $302,877 |
| Expenses | $2,541,639 | $2,250,823 | $2,364,520 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,441,020 | $2,130,055 | $2,124,312 |
| Net Investment Income | $42,625 | $51,112 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $235,716 | $316,482 | $419,777 |
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
243 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Raymond James Charitable (annie Dunne Fund) ($1,000,000), Raymond James Charitable (gloriana Fund) ($400,000), Oceanside Museum of Art ($66,041).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| BOYS TO MEN SPRING VALLEY, CA | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| CADMAN PTA SAN DIEGO, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $20,000 |
| CLAIREMONT CANYONS ACADEMY SAN DIEGO, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $15,000 |
| COMMON VISION BERKELEY, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $20,000 |
| CURIE ELEMENTARY SAN DIEGO, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $10,000 |
| ENCINITAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (CAPRI) ENCINITAS, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $20,000 |
| FIELD PTA SAN DIEGO, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $10,000 |
| FOSTER ELEMENTARY SAN DIEGO, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $20,000 |
| FRIENDS OF VALENCIA PARK SAN DIEGO, CA | SAGE GARDEN PROJECT | $18,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ann Dunne - President (full-time, $49,000 compensation)
- Dr. Michael Brines - Director (serves without compensation)
- Sage Dunne-Cerami - Director (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANN DUNNE | PRESIDENT | 40 | $49,000 |
| DR MICHAEL BRINES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SAGE DUNNE-CERAMI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly fund?
The foundation's mission is to protect and promote vitality and innate wisdom in ecosystems, their inhabitants and all species with equality. The organization views wild forests, landscapes, watersheds and biodiverse ecosystems as wellsprings that replenish diversity, resilience and health. The foundation supports partners and initiatives that follow nature as the highest source of wisdom, with a particular emphasis on early intervention for maximum impact. The organization values and supports …
How do I apply for a grant from Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly?
The foundation makes grants across various focus areas including education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. Recent grantees have included Oceanside Museum of Art ($66,041), Wildcoast ($63,500), and The Nature Collective. The foundation maintains intimate relationships with entities it partners with, either as an advisor or as a Board Member. This approach provides an atmosphere of trust for seed funding and allows for better involvement and accountability.
Where does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly make grants?
The foundation funds projects across numerous cities and states, with documented giving in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New York, Oregon, and Virginia. Major urban areas including Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco have received funding.
What size grants does Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly award?
In 2024, Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly awarded 45 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wild Wisdom Foundation Inc (formerly reported a distributable amount of $236K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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