Wsfs Cares Foundation
The WSFS CARES Foundation is the charitable giving arm of WSFS Bank, a regional financial institution serving the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware regions. Established through the 2021 merger of the WSFS Foundation (founded in 2003) and the WSFS Community Foundation (founded in 2007), the foundation operates as a corporate foundation dedicated to strengthening communities across its service area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
+31.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
323
+32200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-99.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wsfs Cares Foundation reported a distributable amount of $625K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support qualified nonprofit service organizations within its regional footprint that are invested in improving communities, fostering a spirit of inclusion and diversity, and whose focus aligns with the WSFS CARES Foundation's transformational vision.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations across five key pillars:
- Community Investment — Events, initiatives and activities that enhance quality of life, promote cultural diversity, involve civic leadership, and provide citizen education
- Affordable Housing — Providing shelter to those experiencing homelessness
- Revitalization and Business Economic Empowerment
- Education and Leadership Development
- Strengthening Those in Need — Health and human services initiatives
Grants are awarded for initiatives that are innovative, creative, sustainable, and replicable.
Grantmaking
No specific application process details are provided in available sources.
Grant Range
approximately $12,000
Average Grant
approximately $12,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves ten counties across three states:
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
The foundation has a significant presence in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware regions, with funding activity documented in cities including Wilmington, Philadelphia, and Newark.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023):
- Total Assets: $9,350,263
- Total Revenue: $3,305,158
- Total Expenses: $2,946,940
- Total Giving: $2,719,328
- Giving Rate: 29.6%
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $3,076,726
- Investment income and dividends: $258,621
- Net gain/loss from sale of non-inventory assets: -$30,189
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,253,619 | $9,350,263 | $9,037,633 |
| Revenue | $5,697,368 | $3,305,158 | $3,117,359 |
| Expenses | $2,794,012 | $2,946,940 | $2,632,790 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,711,908 | $2,719,328 | $2,499,367 |
| Net Investment Income | $310,509 | $201,945 | $225,555 |
| Distributable Amount | $625,121 | $459,195 | $472,814 |
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
160 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wsfs Cares Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Be Ready Community Development Corporation ($100,000), Chester County Economic Development Council ($33,334), Brighter Horizon Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMIA ANTONIA ALONSO CHARTER SCHOOL NEWARK, DE | EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $10,000 |
| AFFORDABLE HOUSING CENTERS OF PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA, PA | AFFORDABLE HOUSING | $10,000 |
| AIM ACADEMY CONSHOHOCKEN, PA | REVITALIZATION AND BUSINESS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT | $5,000 |
| ALICIA ROSE VICTORIOUS FOUNDATION VOORHEES, NJ | STRENGTHENING THOSE IN NEED (HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES) | $7,500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - PA BLUE BELL, PA | STRENGTHENING THOSE IN NEED (HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES) | $11,500 |
| AMERICAN CATHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA, PA | EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $3,500 |
| ANGEL FLIGHT EAST BLUE BELL, PA | STRENGTHENING THOSE IN NEED (HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES) | $2,500 |
| ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION VOORHEES, NJ | EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $2,500 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUEEASTERN PA REGIONAL OFFICE PHILADELPHIA, PA | STRENGTHENING THOSE IN NEED (HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES) | $6,000 |
| ASOCIACION PUERTORRIQUENOS EN MARCHA INC (APM) PHILADELPHIA, PA | COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS (ART, COMMUNITY CENTERS, GREEN SPACES) | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a board of directors who serve without compensation:
- Patrick J. Ward — President/Chairman
- Vernita Dorsey — Vice President
- Michael Griffe — Treasurer
- Robert Juliano — Secretary
- Jennifer Davis — Director
- Terence Young — Director
- Malina Robbins — Director
- Karen Bucholz — Director
- Robert Schneider — Director
- Candice Caruso — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK WARD | PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| VERNITA DORSEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| ROBERT JULIANO | SECRETARY | 0.5 | $5,502 |
| MICHAEL GRIFFE | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| RON DUTTON | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JUSTIN DUNN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JENNIFER DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ELIZABETH WAGNER | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ROBERT SCHNEIDER | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| KAREN BUCHOLZ | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JOHN OLSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| TERENCE YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| CANDICE CARUSO | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MALINA ROBBINS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| REBECCA ACEVADO | DIRECTOR (THRU 03/24) | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025:**
Announced $3.4 million in grants and donations to over 500 organizations
WSFS CARES Foundation Provides Third Quarter Grants to Organizations in DelawareAwarded $50,000 grant to Social Finance, Inc. for the Family HOPE Project, supporting families experiencing homelessness in New Castle County, Delaware
WSFS CARES Foundation Provides Third Quarter Grants to Organizations in DelawareProvided grants to organizations including the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula ($25,000) and other Delaware and Pennsylvania nonprofits
WSFS CARES Foundation Provides Third Quarter Grants to Organizations in Delaware**2024:**
Provided $2.7 million in grants to more than 390 community organizations across Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
WSFS CARES Foundation Provides Third Quarter Grants to Organizations in Delaware**2023:**
Provided $2.7 million in grants to more than 390 community organizations
WSFS CARES Foundation Provides Third Quarter Grants to Organizations in DelawareWSFS Bank contributed $2.0 million to the foundation to support future investments
WSFS CARES Foundation Supports Community Organizations with ...Contact Information
Address: 500 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 571-7279
Website: wsfsbank.com/about/community/the-wsfs-cares-foundation/
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wsfs Cares Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support qualified nonprofit service organizations within its regional footprint that are invested in improving communities, fostering a spirit of inclusion and diversity, and whose focus aligns with the WSFS CARES Foundation's transformational vision. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations across five key pillars: • **Community Investment** — Events, initiatives and activities that enhance quality of life, promote cultural diversity, involve civic leaders…
How do I apply for a grant from Wsfs Cares Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • In 2025, the foundation distributed $3.4 million in grants and donations to over 500 organizations • In 2024, the foundation provided $2.7 million in grants to more than 390 community organizations • In 2023, the foundation provided $2.7 million in grants to more than 390 community organizations and made a $2.0 million contribution to support future investments **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $100,000 • Average grant size approximatel…
Where does Wsfs Cares Foundation make grants?
The foundation serves ten counties across three states: • **Delaware** • **New Jersey** • **Pennsylvania** The foundation has a significant presence in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware regions, with funding activity documented in cities including Wilmington, Philadelphia, and Newark.
What size grants does Wsfs Cares Foundation award?
In 2024, Wsfs Cares Foundation awarded 323 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wsfs Cares Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wsfs Cares Foundation reported a distributable amount of $625K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wsfs Cares Foundation's EIN?
Wsfs Cares Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4229063. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wsfs Cares Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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