William Fries II Foundation
William Fries II Foundation is a private foundation, based in Lafayette, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $37.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $1.5M. Net investment income was $2.0M.
William Fries II Foundation at a glance
In short: William Fries II Foundation gave $1.5M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $170K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,530,000
- -4.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +28.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $170,000
- -25.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $37,393,255
- +5.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who William Fries II Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UFC Berkeley ($600K). Together the top 9 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 13 grants of 42 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How William Fries II Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $562K (2020) to $1.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UFC Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Unrestricted | $600,000 |
| UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals San Francisco, CA | Provide care for children and their families, train the next generation of clinician-scientist leaders, and pursue research breakthroughs that lead to new treatment options. | $400,000 |
| The San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $180,000 |
| San Francisco - Marin Food Bank San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund San Francisco, CA | To provide emergency assistance for bay area residents facing temporary crises. | $75,000 |
| St Anthony Foundation San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| San Francisco Education Fund San Francisco, CA | To empower students and build more equitable & inclusive public-school experience. | $50,000 |
| San Francisco Symphony San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| San Francisco Opera San Francisco, CA | To Provide transformative music education programs to students across the Bay Area and Northern California. | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,393,255 | $2,318,058 | $1,694,264 | $1,530,000 | 9 | $1,732,686 | $2,008,580 | $1,810,378 |
| 2023 | $35,430,724 | $1,393,453 | $2,754,408 | $1,600,000 | 7 | $1,745,104 | $1,057,011 | $1,673,483 |
| 2022 | $32,435,282 | $398,421 | $965,719 | $1,753,666 | 10 | $1,891,150 | $594,587 | $1,734,432 |
| 2021 | $39,763,024 | $2,331,473 | $2,708,237 | $1,511,667 | 11 | $1,636,768 | $2,076,055 | $1,897,806 |
| 2020 | $36,903,585 | $1,199,870 | $922,155 | $561,667 | 5 | — | $722,080 | $1,615,114 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William Fries II Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
William Fries II Foundation is led by Fred Wulff, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Fred Wulff
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$152K (2020) → $172K (2024)
James Ullako
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $17K (2024)
Michael Roosevelt
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $17K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $172K, to Fred Wulff (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about William Fries II Foundation
How much does William Fries II Foundation give each year?
William Fries II Foundation gave $1.5M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 7 grants.
What is William Fries II Foundation's typical grant size?
William Fries II Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $170,000, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does William Fries II Foundation give grants?
William Fries II Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (8 grants).
Does William Fries II Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of William Fries II Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are William Fries II Foundation's largest grantees?
William Fries II Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UFC Berkeley ($600,000), UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals ($400,000) and The San Francisco Foundation ($180,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William Fries II Foundation?
William Fries II Foundation reported $37.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is William Fries II Foundation's EIN?
William Fries II Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2557737. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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