Wolters Foundation - the Way
Wolters Foundation - the Way is a private foundation based in Mahomet, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations and individuals, including support for healthcare and contributions to further recipients’ exempt purposes.
Key facts about Wolters Foundation - the Way
In short: Wolters Foundation - the Way gave $15K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 93-3718242
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,705
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $1,471
- Median grant
- $1,750
- Total assets
- $164,125
- Primary geography
- Illinois (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$164K
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$15K
+43.4% YoY
Grant Count
10
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
+29.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wolters Foundation - the Way reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Wolters Foundation - the Way gives
- 30% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 169% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $14,705 through 10 grants. Grants ranged from $52 to $2,650, with a median of $1,750. Its largest grants included $2,650 to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Mahomet, Illinois; $2,500 to Lili Odum for healthcare support; and $2,000 each to Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Champaign, Illinois, Tina Smith for healthcare support, and Jayme Bajer for healthcare support.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Wolters Foundation - the Way?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 3% to recipients in Colorado, and less than 1% to recipients in Delaware. Listed recipients were in Illinois, Colorado, and Delaware.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2024) to $15K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $15K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church ($3K). Together the top 10 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 19 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church Mahomet, IL | To Further the Organization's Exempt Purpose | $2,650 |
| Lili Odum Mahomet, IL | Healthcare Support | $2,500 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Champaign, IL | To Further the Organization's Exempt Purpose | $2,000 |
| Tina Smith Mahomet, IL | Healthcare Support | $2,000 |
| Jayme Bajer Mahomet, IL | Healthcare Support | $2,000 |
| Atticus Bohm Dewey, IL | Healthcare Support | $1,500 |
| Elizabeth Potter Champaign, IL | Healthcare Support | $1,003 |
| The Navigators Colorado Springs, CO | To Further the Organization's Exempt Purpose | $500 |
| Catholic Diocese of Peoria Peoria, IL | To Further the Organization's Exempt Purpose | $500 |
| Felines & Canines Wilmington, DE | To Further the Organization's Exempt Purpose | $52 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $164,125 | $27,381 | $17,125 | $14,705 (10 grants) |
| 2024 | $153,869 | $65,024 | $11,155 | $10,251 (9 grants) |
| 2023 | $100,000 | $101,450 | $1,450 | 0 grants |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $164,125 | $153,869 | $100,000 |
| Revenue | $27,381 | $65,024 | $101,450 |
| Expenses | $17,125 | $11,155 | $1,450 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,705 | $10,251 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $19,961 | $1,141 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $8,724 | $6,144 | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ella Wolters as president, Blake Wolters as vice president, Douglas Wolters as secretary, and Angela Wolters as treasurer.
Wolters Foundation - the Way is led by Ella Wolters, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ella Wolters
President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Angela Wolters
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Blake Wolters
Vice President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Douglas Wolters
Secretary
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 455 County Road 2425N, Mahomet, IL 61853
Phone: (217) 377-7537
Frequently asked questions about Wolters Foundation - the Way
How much does Wolters Foundation - the Way give each year?
Wolters Foundation - the Way gave $15K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $10K across 9 grants.
What is Wolters Foundation - the Way's typical grant size?
Wolters Foundation - the Way's median grant in 2025 was $1,750, and its average grant was $1,471, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wolters Foundation - the Way give grants?
Wolters Foundation - the Way gives mostly in Illinois: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mahomet, IL (4 grants) and Champaign, IL (2 grants).
Who are Wolters Foundation - the Way's largest grantees?
Wolters Foundation - the Way's largest 2025 grantees include Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church ($2,650), Lili Odum ($2,500) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wolters Foundation - the Way?
Wolters Foundation - the Way reported $164K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
How do I apply for a grant from Wolters Foundation - the Way?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wolters Foundation - the Way's EIN?
Wolters Foundation - the Way's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-3718242. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Does Wolters Foundation - the Way accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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