Woodshouse Foundation
The Woodshouse Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and based in Greenwich, Connecticut. It operates as a grantmaking organization with no formal staff, functioning primarily through trustees and investment management. The foundation invests its assets to generate income for making grants and covering administrative expenses.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
-3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-5.5% YoY
Grant Count
26
-10.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
+5.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Woodshouse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $630K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Woodshouse Foundation demonstrates interests in:
- Education, particularly Waldorf education and organizations promoting Rudolf Steiner teachings
- Environment and Sustainable Agriculture, including climate-related initiatives and regenerative agriculture practices
- Democracy and Community Development, with emphasis on social justice and civil liberties
- Animal Welfare and Domesticated Animals
- Human Services
The foundation supports an eclectic mix of organizations and demonstrates a strong interest in social justice causes. Notable grantees have included the Center for Agricultural Resilience, the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, the Real Organic Project, the Biodynamic Demeter Alliance, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the Health Freedom Defense Fund, and the Backbone Campaign.
Grantmaking
The foundation tends to maintain long-term relationships with grantees, supporting the same organizations year after year. This makes it challenging for new applicants to gain the foundation's attention. Organizations working in Waldorf education or promoting Rudolf Steiner teachings have a reasonably good chance of receiving support.
Ready to take the next step with Woodshouse Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is national in scope, with support extending to multiple states including New York, Virginia, South Dakota, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and others. The foundation also supports some international locations, including Paris.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $5,442,283
- Total revenues: $922,688
- Total expenses: $1,144,695
- Total liabilities: $0
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $5,660,000
- Total revenues: $56,200
- Total expenses: $1,230,000
The foundation has no employees and operates with volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,442,283 | $5,664,290 | $6,833,965 |
| Revenue | $922,688 | $56,231 | $2,004,534 |
| Expenses | $1,144,695 | $1,225,906 | $1,493,103 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,070,650 | $1,145,173 | $1,419,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $848,643 | $47,329 | $930,758 |
| Distributable Amount | $629,931 | $565,002 | $591,107 |
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
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Anthroposophic Press Inc Dba Steiner Books ($160,850), North Branch School ($124,000), Chapel York Us Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHROPOSOPHIC PRESS INC DBA STEINER BOOKS HUDSON, NY | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $160,850 |
| ASHEVILLE WALDORF SCHOOL ASHEVILLE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $20,000 |
| ASSOCIATE CREER SON EC | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $50,000 |
| BONSENS ORG | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $50,000 |
| CHAPEL YORK US FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $100,000 |
| CHILDRENS VILLAGE DOBBS FERRY, NY | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $50,000 |
| CHORUS OF WESTERLEY WESTERLY, RI | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $7,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $20,000 |
| FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $50,000 |
| IDAHO OUTFITTERS & GUIDE ASSOC INC BOISE, ID | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Wende Ractliffe – Trustee (works without compensation)
- Gretchen Biggs – Trustee (works without compensation)
- Barton W. Biggs – Trustee (works without compensation)
- Thomas Frame – Investment Manager (works without compensation)
The foundation is also known by the name "Biggs Wende H Gretchen G Et Al Ttee."
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WENDE RACTLIFFE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GRETCHEN BIGGS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BARTON W BIGGS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| THOMAS FRAME | INVESTMENT MANAGER | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Woodshouse Foundation maintains a low public profile, does not operate a website, and does not actively publicize its grantmaking activities. The foundation continues to accept grant applications and is open to new applicants, though historical data suggests a relatively low percentage of new applicants receive funding.
Community Foundation awards $67,400 in Woods Family Music & Arts grants acrossFrequently Asked Questions
What does Woodshouse Foundation fund?
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Woodshouse Foundation demonstrates interests in: • **Education**, particularly Waldorf education and organizations promoting Rudolf Steiner teachings • **Environment and Sustainable Agriculture**, including climate-related initiatives and regenerative agriculture practices • **Democracy and Community Development**, with emphasis on social justice and civil liberties • **Animal Welfare and…
How do I apply for a grant from Woodshouse Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,070,650 (most recent filing) • Typical award range: $1,800–$350,000 • The foundation made 19 grants in its most recent reporting year • Recent grantees include Steiner Books ($160,850), North Branch School ($124,000), and King Baudouin Foundation United States **Grantmaking Approach:** The foundation tends to maintain long-term relationships with grantees, supporting the same organizations year after year. This makes it challenging for new applicants to ga…
Where does Woodshouse Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is national in scope, with support extending to multiple states including New York, Virginia, South Dakota, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and others. The foundation also supports some international locations, including Paris.
What size grants does Woodshouse Foundation award?
In 2024, Woodshouse Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Woodshouse Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Woodshouse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $630K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Woodshouse Foundation's EIN?
Woodshouse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6983078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Woodshouse Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Christine E Moser Foundation
NEW BRITAIN, CT
Assets
$767K
Grants
7
Total Given
$36K
The Ravengate Foundation
OLD GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
3
Total Given
$70K
Alderman Family Foundation
SALISBURY, CT
Assets
$33K
Grants
5
Total Given
$650
Calf Island Foundation
GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$172K
Grants
1
Total Given
$10K
Russel R Taylor Foundation
GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
3
Total Given
$224K
Nancy a Larson Foundation Inc
OLD LYME, CT
Assets
$9K
Grants
8
Total Given
$12K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Woodshouse Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Woodshouse Foundation to a real strategy.