Wright Family Foundation Inc
The Wright Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1997 and based in Schenectady, New York. The foundation was created to provide funding in support of neighborhood revitalization, jobs and career support, education, and social needs within Schenectady County. Initial funding for the foundation was provided through a generous donation from SI Group, Inc.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.0M
+14.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+349.2% YoY
Grant Count
27
+17.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$114K
+282.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide funding in support of neighborhood revitalization, jobs and career support, education, and social needs. The foundation supports organizations and programs that create opportunities for long-term and sustainable impact.
Primary focus areas include:
- Neighborhoods: Transforming distressed areas into neighborhoods of opportunity by leveraging private, public and community resources
- Jobs & Career Support: Empowering people to overcome adverse circumstances and to gain job skills that provide access to sustainable career opportunities
- Education: Striving to inspire hope in urban youth by supporting not-for-profit educational and empowerment programs
- Social Needs: Supporting non-profits that serve the social needs of communities within Schenectady County
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants available for both capital projects and program support.
Average Grant
amount varying by funding cycle.
How to Apply
** Organizations interested in applying should visit the foundation's website for current guidelines and eligibility requirements.
Ready to take the next step with Wright Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Wright Family Foundation focuses its grantmaking on Schenectady County, New York. The foundation collaborates with other community resources, both private and public, in common areas of interest to further leverage impact to communities in the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year ending September 2024:
- Total Assets: $22,046,199
- Total Giving: $1,983,059
- Total Revenues: $4,881,762
- Total Expenses: $3,241,010
- Investment Income and Dividends: $412,394
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $1,117,484
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,046,199 | $19,311,748 | $17,430,907 |
| Revenue | $4,881,762 | $2,769,339 | $-2,856,258 |
| Expenses | $3,241,010 | $1,743,515 | $646,418 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,983,059 | $726,758 | $883,059 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,368,723 | $322,278 | $742,547 |
| Distributable Amount | $990,465 | $950,004 | $998,198 |
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
89 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wright Family Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Heather Ward: Chairman
- Ashley Palm: Vice Chairman/Treasurer
- Linda Nizolek: Secretary
- Robert McQueen: Assistant Treasurer
- Meghan Frazier and Chad Kilbourne: Board members
The foundation was originally established under the leadership of Adeline Graham, who served as the first chairwoman of the family-run foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley G Palm | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Heather M Ward | President | 2 | — |
| Linda Nizolek | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Meghan Frazier | Vice President | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to carry on the philanthropic tradition established by W. Howard Wright, founder of Schenectady International Group. The foundation's work reflects the values of community care and employee welfare that characterized Wright's leadership, including his commitment to maintaining employment during the Great Depression.
The foundation remains actively engaged in supporting community organizations and programs throughout Schenectady County, with recent grants supporting healthcare infrastructure, early childhood education, and environmental sustainability initiatives.
Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation awards $227,000 in grantsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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