Willow Creek Charitable Foundation
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Marion, Massachusetts. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 filing states that it does not limit giving to a preselected group of organizations.
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Willow Creek Charitable Foundation gave $128K across 95 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state Massachusetts. 49% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $127,837
- -21.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 95
- +10.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,346
- -29.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,312,786
- +0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (35 of 72, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (30% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Willow Creek Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts letter requests for funds. Its filing names Elizabeth R Shields as the application contact. It reports no deadline and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Elizabeth R Shields
Mailing address: PO Box 576, Marion, MA 02738
Phone: (508) 748-0800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Willow Creek Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Woods Hole Oceanographic ($11K). Together the top 10 received $69K.
Grant Size Distribution
361 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 361 grants of 361 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (30%), Pennsylvania (15%), New York (13%), Washington, DC (9%), and Connecticut (9%). Listed 2024 grantees also include organizations in Virginia, Maryland, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 95 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Willow Creek Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 35 of 72 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 46% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 333% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2021) to $163K (2023). In 2024 it made 95 grants totaling $128K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Woods Hole Oceanographic Woodshole, MA | Unrestricted | $11,471 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| The Parish of St John Henry Newman Reston, VA | Unrestricted | $5,800 |
| The Bowery Mission New York, NY | Unrestricted | $5,800 |
| Our Saviour New York New York, NY | Unrestricted | $5,800 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| WPKN Inc Bridgeport, CT | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Schoerke Foundation Westtown, PA | Unrestricted | $4,000 |
| Germantown Friends School Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted | $3,700 |
| Barnabas International Elkhorn, WI | Unrestricted | $3,220 |
Ready to take the next step with Willow Creek Charitable Foundation?
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 | $2,312,786 | $189,827 | $169,071 | $127,837 | 95 | $127,962 | $243,592 | $155,962 |
| 2023 | $2,292,030 | $363,379 | $199,517 | $163,273 | 86 | $163,523 | $110,712 | $134,253 |
| 2022 | $2,128,168 | $848,021 | $192,467 | $160,025 | 80 | $160,150 | $8,352 | $114,583 |
| 2021 | $1,472,812 | $451,652 | $55,826 | $29,542 | 38 | $29,277 | $45,704 | $88,885 |
| 2020 | $1,075,443 | $54,775 | $68,027 | $45,046 | 62 | — | $31,829 | $70,709 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willow Creek Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $156K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a formal mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as ocean research, education, community services, health, and the arts. For example, WPKN describes its mission as strengthening and enriching the community through independent, listener-supported, commercial-free programming. New Bedford Symphony Orchestra says it provides arts education and low-cost concerts, while Providence Country Day School describes its mission as fostering engaged citizenship in an inclusive community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 95 grants totaling $127,837. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $11,471, with a median of $1,000. Its largest grants included $11,471 to Woods Hole Oceanographic, $10,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation, and $5,800 each to the Parish of St John Henry Newman, The Bowery Mission, and Our Saviour New York. The listed grants had an unrestricted purpose.
Other 2024 awards included $5,000 to WPKN Inc., $3,000 to Providence Country Day School, $2,280 to Alliance for the Great Lakes, and grants to New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, including listed awards of $2,000 and $1,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists six trustees: Stephen S Arms, Alexander D Bogel, Lynda DW Bogel, Jeffrey H Parcells MD, Steven J Parcells, and Elizabeth R Shields.
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alexander D. Bogel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth R. Shields
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey H. Parcells MD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynda Dw Bogel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen S. Arms
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven J. Parcells
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Myron A Arms (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about Willow Creek Charitable Foundation
How much does Willow Creek Charitable Foundation give each year?
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation gave $128K across 95 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $163K across 86 grants.
What is Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,346, across 95 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Willow Creek Charitable Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Willow Creek Charitable Foundation give grants?
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (15%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Bedford, MA (18 grants), Marion, MA (13 grants), Philadelphia, PA (11 grants) and New York, NY (5 grants).
Does Willow Creek Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (93 of 95) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Woods Hole Oceanographic ($11,471), Planned Parenthood Federation ($10,000) and New Bedford Symphony Orchestra ($8,700 across 7 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Willow Creek Charitable Foundation?
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $128K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $156K (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 does Willow Creek Charitable Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a formal mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as ocean research, education, community services, health, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Willow Creek Charitable Foundation?
The foundation accepts letter requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 10-0003568. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Willow Creek Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
The Ludes Family Foundation
Marion, MA
The Ludes Family Foundation supports organizations in health, education, humanitarian aid, arts and culture, and conservation, with most of its grant dollars going to Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median of $1,000. The foundation’s filing says to request funds by sending a letter to John Ludes; it lists no deadline.
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
91
Total Given
$139K
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Willow Creek Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/willow-creek-charitable-foundation-morg_91894dfc02424f43920ca3d2d9f45928
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_100003568_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Willow Creek Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/willow-creek-charitable-foundation-morg_91894dfc02424f43920ca3d2d9f45928},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Willow Creek Charitable Foundation'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.
Willow Creek Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?