William & Florence Wheeler Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Bakersfield, CA EIN: 88-0233486

The William & Florence Wheeler Foundation is a private foundation established in 1987, based in Bakersfield, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations through grantmaking in education, human services, and youth development.

Key facts about William & Florence Wheeler Foundation

EIN
88-0233486
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$327,692
Grants made (2025)
22
Average grant
$14,895
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 22, 2025)
Primary geography
California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
No specific application deadlines or formal application procedures are detailed in available sources. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who William & Florence Wheeler Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for William & Florence Wheeler Foundation's 22 itemized 2025 grants were California (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bakersfield, CA (10 grants), Paso Robles, CA (3 grants) and San Luis Obispo, CA (3 grants). None of its 22 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

Is William & Florence Wheeler Foundation open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 0 of 22 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count

  • 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with William & Florence Wheeler Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$328K

+0.9% YoY

Grant Count

22

-15.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

+19.3% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary purpose is giving for human services and education. Specific areas of interest include:

  • Education: Higher education, research, and educational centers
  • Human Services: Family services and social services
  • Youth Development: Children and youth programs, including at-risk youth
  • Agricultural Education: Support for agricultural associations and youth agricultural programs (4-H and FFA)
  • Health: Programs providing assistance to children with cancer and special needs
  • Arts & Culture: Museum support
  • Sports & Recreation: Equestrian sports, athletic programs, collegiate rodeo, and reining sports

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$500–$117,500

Average Grant

amount varies by program

Review Cycle

or formal application procedures are detailed in available sources.

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations in Bakersfield, California, with some giving in California and New York.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of all 22 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

BakersfieldSan Luis ObispoPaso RoblesTemeculaBass LakeCarlsbadFresnoSan DiegoWashingtonForth WorthOmahaSanta MonicaStaten IslandVirginia BeachBoulderClevelandDavisIrvingLos AngelesLos Olivos

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total Assets: $4,932,358
  • Total Revenue: $527,284
  • Total Expenses: $497,803
  • Total Giving: $324,641
  • Giving Rate: 6.7%
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.12019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$87K$173K$260K$346K23 grants201928 grants202022 grants202118 grants202218 grants202326 grants202422 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Garces Memorial High School: $65KGarces Memorial High School$65KCMSF Heritage Foundation: $55KCMSF Heritage Foundation$55KHoffmann Hospice: $31KHoffmann Hospice$31KBakersfield College Foundation: $30KBakersfield College Foundation$30KJack's Helping Hand: $25KJack's Helping Hand$25KJunior League of Bakersfield: $20KJunior League of Bakersfield$20KMendiburu Magic Foundation: $15KMendiburu Magic Foundation$15KCalifornia Reining Horse Association: $12KCalifornia Reining HorseAssociation$12KAlano Pintado Equine Health Foundation: $10KAlano Pintado Equine HealthFoundation$10KBoys & Girls Club of Kern County: $10KBoys & Girls Club of KernCounty$10K

Grant Size Distribution

106 grants across all recorded years

99<$50K6$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Garces Memorial High School ($64,750), CMSF Heritage Foundation ($55,072), Hoffmann Hospice ($31,120).

RecipientPurposeAmount
GARCES MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Bakersfield, CATO HELP NURTURE STUDENTS' SPIRITUALITY, DEVELOP THEIR INTELLECT AND THEIR CHARACTER.$64,750
CMSF HERITAGE FOUNDATION Paso Robles, CATO PRESERVE AND ENRICH THE HERITAGE OF THE 16TH DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION AND SHOWCASE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES TO THE COMMUNITY; TO OFFER SUPPORT TO THE 4-H AND FFA PROJECTS AND CREATE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES; MAINTAIN A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FACILITIES AND CREATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TO SERVE AS AN ARM OF THE CALIFORNIA MID-STATE FAIR THAT CAN ACCEPT CHARITABLE DONATIONS.$55,072
HOFFMANN HOSPICE Bakersfield, CATO CELEBRATE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE END-OF-LIFE CARE, AND COMFORT THE GRIEVING.$31,120
BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE FOUNDATION Bakersfield, CATO SUPPORT THE COLLEGIATE RODEO TEAM.$30,000
JACK'S HELPING HAND San Luis Obispo, CATO PROVIDE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER OR SPECIAL NEEDS.$25,000
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BAKERSFIELD Bakersfield, CATO ADVANCE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH VOLUNTEER ACTION, COLLABORATION, AND TRAINING.$20,000
MENDIBURU MAGIC FOUNDATION Bakersfield, CATO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE UNMET NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT MAY BE FACING CANCER AND/OR OTHER CATASTROPHIC OR LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS.$15,000
CALIFORNIA REINING HORSE ASSOCIATION Temecula, CATO ADVANCE THE SPORT OF REINING WITH DEDICATION AND PASSION.$11,500
ALANO PINTADO EQUINE HEALTH FOUNDATION Olivos, CATO FURTHER EQUINE VETERINARY MEDICINE WITH NEW ADVANCEMENTS AND IMPACTFUL THERAPIES TO IMPROVE CLINICAL OUTCOMES.$10,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF KERN COUNTY Bakersfield, CATO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE IMPROVE SCHOLARTICALLY, DEVELOP SOCIALLY, AND PREPARE PROFESSIONALLY.$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Nancy L Wheeler: Trustee, working 8 hours per week with compensation of $49,000

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Nancy L Wheeler — Trustee: $49KNancy L WheelerTrustee$49K

From 2025 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Nancy L WheelerTrustee8$49,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

The foundation continues active grantmaking with recent awards in 2024-2025 focused on youth development, cancer support programs, and community services in the Bakersfield area.

Wheeler Health Expands Services for LGBTQ+ Community with $110,000 Grant

Frequently Asked Questions

What does William & Florence Wheeler Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary purpose is giving for human services and education. Specific areas of interest include: • **Education:** Higher education, research, and educational centers • **Human Services:** Family services and social services • **Youth Development:** Children and youth programs, including at-risk youth • **Agricultural Education:** Support for agricultural associations and youth agricultural programs (4-H and FFA) • **Health:** Programs providing assistance to children with cancer…

How do I apply for a grant from William & Florence Wheeler Foundation?

No specific application deadlines or formal application procedures are detailed in available sources. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does William & Florence Wheeler Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations in Bakersfield, California, with some giving in California and New York.

What size grants does William & Florence Wheeler Foundation award?

In 2025, William & Florence Wheeler Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $328K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is William & Florence Wheeler Foundation's EIN?

William & Florence Wheeler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0233486. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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