Willens Family Foundation

SHORT HILLS, NJ EIN: 84-3831250

Willens Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Medical Research, based in SHORT HILLS, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $13.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $479K. Net investment income was $278K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$13.5M

+25.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$479K

+17.9% YoY

Grant Count

21

+16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$23K

+1.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willens Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $602K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Willens Family Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Willens Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Medical Research, based in SHORT HILLS, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $13.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 21 grants totaling $479K. Net investment income was $278K.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

18states
+10 more states

Cities

AlexandriaBemidjiBoca RatonBostonChicagoDallasEvanstonFranklin LakesHangerstownHillsideHoustonLas VegasLovelandMemphisMontgomeryNew YorkNewtownPalo AltoPasadenaPembrook Park

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$969K$2M$3M$4M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$13,535,105$10,761,702$8,809,633
Revenue$1,284,862$1,228,818$1,179,698
Expenses$482,155$409,679$366,590
Qualifying Distributions$478,500$405,950$363,800
Net Investment Income$277,883$223,777$183,965
Distributable Amount$602,083$473,498$405,584

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$120K$239K$359K$479K11 grants202015 grants202119 grants202218 grants202321 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Northwestern University$240KDoctors Without Borders …$27KCaltech$26KBoca Raton Regional Hosp…$25KIMAHELPS$18KBrain Behavior Research …$17KThe University of Texas …$15KMatthew Larson Foundatio…$14KCoalition for the Homeless$13KMinds Matter NYC$13K

Grant Size Distribution

84 grants across all recorded years

79<$50K2$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northwestern University ($240,000), Doctors Without Borders USA ($26,500), Caltech ($26,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
Northwestern University Evanston, ILEndowment Fund Willens Center for Nano Oncology$240,000
Caltech Pasadena, COCaltech Endowment Fund Ronald & JoAnne Willens Scholar$26,000
Boca Raton Regional Hospital Boca Raton, FLCharity$25,000
Feeding Palm Beach Florida Pembrook Park, FLCharity$2,000
Midwest Access Coalition Chicago, ILCharity$5,000
My Block My Hood My City Chicago, ILCharity$10,000
NAACP Legal Defense And Educational New York, NYCharity$6,500
PAWS Chicago Chicago, ILCharity$5,000
IMAHELPS Rancho Mirage, CACharity$17,500
TheatreWorks Development Department Palo Alto, CACharity$9,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Ronald WillensDirector Chairman;3
Kevin WillensDirector Treasure2
Nicole WillensDirector Secretary2
Joanne WillensDirector1
Steven WillensDirector1
Jaclyn WillensDirector1
Melissa WattooDirector1
Mark WillensDirector1
Kirk WillensDirector1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Willens Family Foundation?

Willens Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Medical Research, based in SHORT HILLS, NJ. It holds $13.5M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Willens Family Foundation?

As of 2024, Willens Family Foundation holds $13.5M in total assets with $1.3M in annual revenue. It awarded 21 grants totaling $479K in 2024.

Where does Willens Family Foundation operate?

Willens Family Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

What size grants does Willens Family Foundation award?

In 2024, Willens Family Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $479K — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Willens Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Willens Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $602K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Willens Family Foundation's EIN?

Willens Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3831250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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