Wilpon Foundation Inc
Wilpon Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1982 and located in Great Neck, New York. The foundation was founded by Fred Wilpon, majority owner of the New York Mets and founder and chairman of Sterling Equities, a real estate development and investment firm. The foundation operates as a family foundation supporting educational and charitable initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$158K
+2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-56.6% YoY
Grant Count
13
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$90K
-53.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilpon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not provide a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, primary funding focuses on:
- Education, particularly support for first-generation, low-income college students
- Educational support programs at colleges and universities
- Human services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
Recent grants made by the foundation include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking has a geographic focus that includes Rhode Island, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, though recent major gifts have been made to institutions in Michigan and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3,681,209 |
| Total Expenses | $3,818,071 |
| Total Assets | $154,554 |
| Total Liabilities | $8,320 |
| Number of Employees | 4 |
Tax Status
- EIN: 11-2626618
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), designated May 1983
- Filing Requirement: Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $158,069 | $154,554 | $345,575 |
| Revenue | $2,477,909 | $3,681,209 | $1,759,890 |
| Expenses | $2,512,355 | $3,818,071 | $1,483,894 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,512,357 | $3,817,486 | $1,250,713 |
| Net Investment Income | $14 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $28,300 | $27,595 | $11,918 |
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
41 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bates College ($112,500), Brown University ($112,500), Centre College of Kentucky ($112,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bates College Lewiston, ME | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| Brown RISD Hillel Providence, RI | to create opportunities for students to connect with Judaism and each other indentifying plus supporting sudent leaders embracing an entrepreneuial mindset cultivating the arts and exploring Jewish culture | $20,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| Centre College of Kentucky Danville, KY | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, IN | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| The Ohio State University Columbus, OH | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| University of California Riverside Riverside, CA | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| University of Dayton Dayton, OH | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
| University of Pittsburg Pittsburg, PA | For execution of an educational support program on behalf of first-generation, low-income college students | $112,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Fred Wilpon – Founder
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRED WILPON | CEO | — | — |
| JUDITH WILPON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JEFFREY WILPON | DIRECTOR/Treasurer | — | — |
| ROBIN WILPON WACHTLER | President/Director | 40 | $154,500 |
| Kimberly Wachtler Steinman | Director/Secretary | 40 | $63,645 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a significant $40 million gift to the University of Michigan to endow a program supporting first-generation students. This major commitment reflects the foundation's strategic focus on expanding educational access and opportunity for underrepresented student populations in higher education.
$40M Wilpon gift endows program for first-generation studentsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Wilpon Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation does not provide a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, primary funding focuses on: • Education, particularly support for first-generation, low-income college students • Educational support programs at colleges and universities • Human services • Philanthropy and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Wilpon Foundation Inc?
Recent grants made by the foundation include: | Grantee | Purpose | Year | Amount | |---------|---------|------|--------| | Saint Mary's College | Educational Support Program for First-Generation, Low-Income College Students | 2023 | $237,500 | | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Educational Support Program for First-Generation, Low-Income College Students | 2023 | $237,500 | | Washington University in St. Louis | Educational Support Program for First-Generation, Low-Income College …
Where does Wilpon Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking has a geographic focus that includes Rhode Island, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, though recent major gifts have been made to institutions in Michigan and North Carolina.
What size grants does Wilpon Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Wilpon Foundation Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $90K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wilpon Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wilpon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $28K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wilpon Foundation Inc's EIN?
Wilpon Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-2626618. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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