Wright Foundation
The Wright Foundation is a private foundation based in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Its 2024 filing describes charitable gifts, contributions, and scholarships to charitable organizations and educational institutions.
Wright Foundation at a glance
In short: Wright Foundation gave $34K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Ohio. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $34,300
- -9.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- -16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,430
- +9.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,400
- Total assets
- $828,380
- -4.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wright Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It requests written requests indicating the amount desired, charitable purpose, and history of the organization. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- November 1 (the filing does not specify a year).
- Deadline
- November 1 (the filing does not specify a year).
- Contact
Application contact: Wright Foundation Deborah Dorsey Wr
Mailing address: 30700 Summit Lane, Pepper Pike, OH 44124
Phone: (216) 789-0258
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wright Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cleveland Museum of Art ($10K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 64 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 23% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wright Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2024) to $44K (2020). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $34K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Playhouse Square Foundation Cleveland, OH | General Operating | $10,000 |
| The Church at Rancho Bernardo San Diego, CA | General Operating | $3,000 |
| Creekside Elementary San Diego, CA | General Operating | $3,000 |
| Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Center Chagrin Falls, OH | General Operating | $2,800 |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History Cleveland, OH | General Operating | $2,000 |
| Avenue Church Sacramento, CA | General Operating | $1,800 |
| Bluecoats Inc Beachwood, OH | General Operating | $700 |
| University School Hunting Valley, OH | General Operating | $700 |
| Cleveland Botanical Gardens Cleveland, OH | General Operating | $300 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $828,380 | $20,974 | $59,852 | $34,300 | 10 | $34,300 | $10,950 | $43,193 |
| 2023 | $867,258 | $6,072 | $64,757 | $37,700 | 12 | $37,700 | $5,317 | $38,608 |
| 2022 | $925,943 | $56,414 | $67,846 | $40,700 | 12 | $40,700 | $46,354 | $39,116 |
| 2021 | $937,375 | $28,454 | $63,401 | $37,500 | 13 | $37,500 | $18,430 | $46,320 |
| 2020 | $972,322 | $13,164 | $69,251 | $43,600 | 17 | — | $10,992 | $41,738 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wright Foundation reported a distributable amount of $43K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as gifts, contributions, and scholarships to charitable organizations and educational institutions. Its 2024 grants included arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, a therapeutic center, and religious organizations.
The Cleveland Museum of Art describes its mission as bringing the pleasure and meaning of art to the broadest possible audience. Playhouse Square Foundation says it presents and produces performing arts, advances arts education, and strengthens the region’s economic vitality. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History says its mission includes inspiring a passion for nature and protecting natural diversity through science and education. University School describes its mission as developing promising and motivated boys into accomplished and independent young men. Bluecoats Inc. says it aids families of people in protective services who have died in the line of duty, become disabled, or face financial need beyond their control.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $34,300. Grants ranged from $300 to $10,000, with a median of $2,400. The largest awards were $10,000 each to the Cleveland Museum of Art and Playhouse Square Foundation. Other listed grants included $3,000 each to the Church at Rancho Bernardo and Creekside Elementary, and $2,800 to Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Center. All 10 listed grants had a stated purpose of general operating.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Deborah Wright Dorsey as president and Drew Wright and J David Wright III as vice presidents.
Wright Foundation is led by Deborah Wright Dorsey, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Deborah Wright Dorsey
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $13K (2024)
Drew Wright
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. David Wright III
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John D. Wright (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $13K, to Deborah Wright Dorsey (President).
Frequently asked questions about Wright Foundation
How much does Wright Foundation give each year?
Wright Foundation gave $34K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $38K across 12 grants.
What is Wright Foundation's typical grant size?
Wright Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,400, and its average grant was $3,430, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wright Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Wright Foundation give grants?
Wright Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (4 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does Wright Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wright Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wright Foundation's largest grantees?
Wright Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cleveland Museum of Art ($10,000), Playhouse Square Foundation ($10,000) and The Church at Rancho Bernardo ($3,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wright Foundation?
Wright Foundation reported $828K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $34K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $43K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Wright Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as gifts, contributions, and scholarships to charitable organizations and educational institutions. Its 2024 grants included arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, a therapeutic center, and religious organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wright Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wright Foundation's EIN?
Wright Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6520282. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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