Working Theory Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 85-3325872

Working Theory Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports $462,500 in grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in health, aging services, domestic violence support, and affordable housing.

Working Theory Foundation at a glance

In short: Working Theory Foundation gave $463K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), top state Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$462,500
+1494.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
17
+466.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$27,206
+181.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$7,500
Total assets
$3,143,079
-9.5% vs 2024
Primary geography
Maryland (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Working Theory Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Working Theory Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Breakthrough T1D: $200KBreakthrough T1D$200KColorectal Cancer Alliance Inc: $50KColorectal Cancer Alliance Inc$50KStarting Point Services for Victims of Domestic an: $50KStarting Point Services forVictims of Domestic an$50KTown of Lancaster: $50KTown of Lancaster$50KConnie Rice Institute for Urban Peace: $25KConnie Rice Institute forUrban Peace$25KHonor Foundation: $15KHonor Foundation$15KThomas Jefferson University: $15KThomas Jefferson University$15KCommonweal: $10KCommonweal$10KCamc Foundation Inc: $8KCamc Foundation Inc$8KChildrens Hospital Los Angeles: $8KChildrens Hospital Los Angeles$8K

The largest 2025 recipient was Breakthrough T1D ($200K). Together the top 10 received $430K.

Grant Size Distribution

35 grants across all recorded years

26<$50K6$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 35 (74%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 grants were distributed across multiple states. Maryland received 44% of grant dollars, New Hampshire 22%, California 14%, the District of Columbia 12%, and Pennsylvania 3%. Other listed 2025 recipients were in West Virginia, Illinois, and Florida.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

Los AngelesPhiladelphiaWashingtonCharlestonArlingtonHagerstownBolinasBooneChicagoColumbiaConwayCooperstownEatonEaton CenterHillsboroLancasterNew YorkSan DiegoSan FranciscoSanta Barbara

How Working Theory Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 185% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 292% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 9 grants2022 6 grants2023 3 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2024) to $463K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $463K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Breakthrough T1D Hagerstown, MDCharitable Event$200,000
Colorectal Cancer Alliance Inc Washington, DC2025 Blue Hope Bash$50,000
Starting Point Services for Victims of Domestic an Conway, NHGeneral & Unrestricted$50,000
Town of Lancaster Lancaster, NHAffordable housing project$50,000
Connie Rice Institute for Urban Peace Los Angeles, CAGeneral & Unrestricted$25,000
Honor Foundation San Diego, CAGeneral & Unrestricted$15,000
Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA2026 Gozon Compassionate Awards fund$15,000
Commonweal Bolinas, CAGeneral & Unrestricted$10,000
Camc Foundation Inc Charleston, WVMedical Education$7,500
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAChildren's Fund$7,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$3,143,079$180,851$509,111$462,50017$480,336$155,476$164,718
2024$3,471,339$175,387$73,586$29,0003$46,637$149,338$169,378
2023$3,369,538$22,526$392,665$347,5006$365,331$48,122$175,115
2022$3,739,677$69,250$192,386$162,5009$180,540$57,404$190,297
2021$3,862,813$406$70,010——$15,130$406$191,625
2020$3,932,417$3,937,917$5,500———$3,864,616—

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Working Theory Foundation reported a distributable amount of $165K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated work included ending colorectal cancer and supporting patients and families (Colorectal Cancer Alliance); health, research, and environmental education (Commonweal); medical services (CAMC Foundation); and services for older adults (Iona Senior Services and Health in Aging Foundation). Other reported grants supported domestic violence victim services, an affordable housing project, and hospice care.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $462,500. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $200,000, with a median of $7,500. Notable grants included $200,000 to Breakthrough T1D for a charitable event; $50,000 each to Colorectal Cancer Alliance for its 2025 Blue Hope Bash, Starting Point Services for Victims of Domestic Violence for general and unrestricted support, and the Town of Lancaster for an affordable housing project; and $25,000 to the Connie Rice Institute for Urban Peace for general and unrestricted support. Other grants included $15,000 to Thomas Jefferson University for its 2026 Gozon Compassionate Awards fund and $10,000 to Commonweal for general and unrestricted support.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Philip Green was listed as director, president, secretary, and treasurer on the 2025 filing.

Working Theory Foundation is led by Philip Green, Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Philip Green

    Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Working Theory Foundation

How much does Working Theory Foundation give each year?

Working Theory Foundation gave $463K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 3 grants.

What is Working Theory Foundation's typical grant size?

Working Theory Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $27,206, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Working Theory Foundation give grants?

Working Theory Foundation's top state is Maryland, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (22%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).

Does Working Theory Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 59% of Working Theory Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Working Theory Foundation's largest grantees?

Working Theory Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Breakthrough T1D ($200,000), Colorectal Cancer Alliance Inc ($50,000) and Starting Point Services for Victims of Domestic an ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Working Theory Foundation?

Working Theory Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $480K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $165K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Working Theory Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Working Theory Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Working Theory Foundation's EIN?

Working Theory Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3325872. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Working Theory Foundation 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.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 21, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Working Theory Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/working-theory-foundation-morg_5c4076fccd8f4e1bb2f7ace97a4565ee

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_853325872_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Working Theory Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/working-theory-foundation-morg_5c4076fccd8f4e1bb2f7ace97a4565ee},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Working Theory Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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