The Wilson W Phelps Foundation is a private foundation located in Irvine, California. Established in 1997, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on educational scholarships and community support programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.1M
+2.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$599K
+1.6% YoY
Grant Count
19
-9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
+12.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilson W Phelps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $605K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds scholarships and supports educational initiatives. Beyond scholarships, the foundation's activities include:
- Kitchen and cafeteria renovations
- Providing recorders and music books for 4th grade students
- Supporting the Orange County Farm to Family program
- Funding Operation School Bell clothing assistance
Grantmaking
The foundation made 17 grants in 2024, including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in Orange County, California, with a particular emphasis on Irvine and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary
- Total Assets: $5,145,353
- Total Revenues: $721,318
- Total Expenses: $620,617
- Number of Employees: 0
The foundation operates with no paid staff, relying on volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,145,353 | $5,044,652 | $5,052,876 |
| Revenue | $721,318 | $596,391 | $630,449 |
| Expenses | $620,617 | $604,615 | $626,940 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $600,616 | $590,718 | $598,940 |
| Net Investment Income | $709,073 | $586,787 | $625,396 |
| Distributable Amount | $605,136 | $522,251 | $523,172 |
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
93 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fullerton School District ($178,119), Community Action Partnership ($75,000), Boys and Girls Club ($55,080).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club Fullerton, CA | New 11 passenger van | $55,080 |
| Cal State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA | Guardian Scholars -Scholarships for 2 Foster Youths and Emergency Fund | $40,000 |
| Crittenton Services Fullerton, CA | Fund a tech initiative | $25,000 |
| YMCA Fullerton, CA | Installing LED Light fixtures | $10,000 |
| Friends of Jazz Fullerton, CA | Recorders and music books for 4th Grade Students | $5,000 |
| Assistance League of Fullerton Fullerton, CA | Operation School Bell Clothing & School Supplies for Children | $1,000 |
| Fullerton School District Fullerton, CA | Books, 6th grade 2 nights science camp, building & learning trades for 2nd Tiny home, develope Culturally responsive Mariachi,Update Media Center, Outdoor Furniture, Various other assistance | $178,119 |
| Little Eagle Free Fullerton, CA | Native American Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Fullerton Inc Fullerton, CA | Meal subsidies for low income homebound individuals | $20,000 |
| Fullerton Kiwanis Club Foundation Fullerton, CA | Replace roofs on training center and free standing patio | $11,573 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John W Phelps - Chief Executive Officer
- James Phelps - Chief Financial Officer
- Louise Phelps Shamblen - Representative/Contact
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John W Phelps | CEO | 2 | — |
| James Phelps | CFO | 2 | — |
| Louise Shamblen | Director | 1 | — |
| Carol B Phelps | Director | 1 | — |
| Marlene McGlensey | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Becky McGlensey | Director | 1 | — |
| Torane Phelps | Director | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wilson W Phelps Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds scholarships and supports educational initiatives. Beyond scholarships, the foundation's activities include: • Kitchen and cafeteria renovations • Providing recorders and music books for 4th grade students • Supporting the Orange County Farm to Family program • Funding Operation School Bell clothing assistance
How do I apply for a grant from Wilson W Phelps Foundation?
**Recent Grant Activity (2024)** The foundation made 17 grants in 2024, including: • Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAPOC) - $75,000 for the Orange County Food Bank's Farm to Family Program • Fullerton Museum Center Association - $35,000 for Union Pacific Car Transportation Upgrades • Young Lives Redeemed - $25,000 to house homeless foster youths **Historical Giving** Total giving has been documented at $599,432 across the foundation's grantmaking history.
Where does Wilson W Phelps Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in Orange County, California, with a particular emphasis on Irvine and surrounding communities.
What size grants does Wilson W Phelps Foundation award?
In 2024, Wilson W Phelps Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $599K — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wilson W Phelps Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wilson W Phelps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $605K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wilson W Phelps Foundation's EIN?
Wilson W Phelps Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0743687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Wilson W Phelps Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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