Wold Foundation

CASPER, WY EIN: 74-2406069 Website

The Wold Foundation is a private family foundation based in Casper, Wyoming, created in 1985 by John and Jane Wold. The foundation exists to assist, encourage, and promote charitable, scientific, literary, and educational endeavors. It supports institutions and programs that promote traditional values and free enterprise, with a strong preference for projects benefiting Wyoming citizens and Wyoming youth.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$53.1M

-1.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.8M

-1.5% YoY

Grant Count

128

+13.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$22K

-13.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wold Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

Primary funding priorities include:

Education: Growth and development of education from pre-school through university, including public, independent, and private schools
Human Services Organizations and Youth Programs: Programs aimed at helping people help themselves, realize their potential, and lead productive lives; youth programs that develop mental and physical well-being, life skills, self-confidence, and self-reliance
Cultural and Historic Activities: Preservation of historic sites and buildings, with priority given to facilities used by community-based organizations
Health Care: Health programs that are preventive in nature, promote wellness, or demonstrate a reduction in health care costs
Scientific Endeavors: Support for scientific research and advancement

Grantmaking

The foundation operates two annual funding cycles with online applications:

Grant Range

s:**

Average Grant

$24,781–$31,000

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wyoming and Colorado, which account for a significant portion of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 18 states, with Wyoming being the preferred funding region and the continental United States eligible for support.

Grant Distribution by State

Colorado $3.6M (57%)

Wyoming $1.9M (30%)

Oregon $520K (8%)

California $51K (1%)

New York $38K (1%)

Tennessee $37K (1%)

Montana $20K (0%)

Virginia $20K (0%)

+18 more states

Cities

AlcovaAuroraAustinBig HornBillingsBooklineBostonBrooklineBuffaloCambridgeCasperCentennialCheyenneCodyColorado SpringsColumbia FallsDenverDorchesterEasthamptonElsah

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2023):

Total assets: $54,115,438
Total revenues: $3,975,999
Total expenses: $3,465,349
Investment income and dividends: $1,382,257
Annual giving: $2,800,253

Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $1.3 million in 2011 to over $54 million in 2023.

Historical Giving Trend: Annual giving decreased from $6.5 million in 2022 to $2.8 million in 2023.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$53,111,603	$54,115,438	$53,604,788
Revenue	$2,476,095	$3,975,999	$689,112
Expenses	$3,479,930	$3,465,349	$4,070,537
Qualifying Distributions	$2,867,597	$2,908,026	$3,352,478
Net Investment Income	$1,928,641	$3,449,949	$934,929
Distributable Amount	$2,657,716	$2,737,158	$2,942,605

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

250 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Wold Foundation

Foundation

Wold Foundation Grant

WOLD FOUNDATION

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation ($445,000), Casper College Foundation & Alumni Association ($175,000), Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation ($75,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL INC AUSTIN, TX	BAT CONSERVATION	$5,000
CHILDREN OF FALLEN PATRIOTS FOUNDATION RESTON, VA	SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WYOMING GOLD STAR STUDENTS (GENERAL)	$10,000
GREATER WYOMING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LARAMIE, WY	YOUTH MENTORING	$1,000
JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BUFFALO, WY	FIRE RELIEF FUND	$20,000
ANGEL FLIGHT WEST SANTA MONICA, CA	WINGS OVER WYOMING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND SERVICES	$1,000
MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION MOUNT VERNON, VA	EDUCATION AND PRESERVATION MISSION	$10,000
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - DENVER AREA COUNCIL DENVER, CO	ANNUAL SUPPORT	$1,000
ADVENTURE WEST COUNCIL - BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CASPER, WY	SCOUTING IN WYOMING	$10,000
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO	K-12 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KIDS	$23,250
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHEYENNE, WY	RELAY FOR LIFE/CANCER RESEARCH	$7,500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Board of Directors:

Peter Wold
Jack Wold
Priscilla Wold Longfield

Staff:

Glenda Thomas, Executive Director

Founder: John Schiller Wold (1916–) was a petroleum geologist, inventor, entrepreneur, rancher, and U.S. Congressman (1969–1971). He was the first professional geologist to serve in Congress and was named Wyoming's "Citizen of the Century" in the minerals, gas, and oil category in 1999.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
JOHN P WOLD	TRUSTEE, PRESIDENT	0.75	—
PETER I WOLD	TRUSTEE, TREASURER	1.5	—
PRISCILLA LONGFIELD	TRUSTEE, SECRETARY	0.75	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2020

The Wold Foundation has demonstrated continued active grantmaking with growth in the number of awards, increasing from 81 grants in 2020 to 112 grants in 2023. Recent notable grants include:

2023

$750,000 to OHSU Foundation for the Cei Wold Family Macular Degeneration Center—New Octa Device (2023)

2023

$445,000 to Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation for Proton Therapy (2023)

2023

$250,000 to Wyo Sports Ranch for Wold Turf Field #1 (2023)

The foundation has also established new funding initiatives, including support for student success in oil and gas education at the University of Wyoming.

Wold Foundation Supports Student Success in Oil and Gas with New UW Excellence

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Wold Foundation fund?

The Wold Foundation promotes charitable, scientific, and educational programs by supporting institutions and programs that preserve western values, promote free enterprise, and conservative public policies. **Primary funding priorities include:** • **Education**: Growth and development of education from pre-school through university, including public, independent, and private schools • **Human Services Organizations and Youth Programs**: Programs aimed at helping people help themselves, realize…

How do I apply for a grant from Wold Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • In 2023, the foundation awarded 112 grants totaling $2.8 million • Total grants made: 337 grants totaling $9.3 million (based on available records) • Supported 113 unique organizations across 18 states **Grant Sizes:** • Smallest grant: $250 • Median grant: $5,000 • Average grant: $24,781–$31,000 • Largest grant: $750,000 • Typical award range: $50,000–$750,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates two annual funding cycles with online applications: • **Spring C…

Where does Wold Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Wold Foundation award?

In 2024, Wold Foundation awarded 128 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Wold Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wold Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.