Wy'east Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Hood River, OR EIN: 81-5366149

Wy'east Foundation is a private foundation based in Hood River, Oregon. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including education, climate and environmental protection, land conservation, locally grown food, human services, and arts and civic engagement.

Wy'east Foundation at a glance

In short: Wy'east Foundation gave $974K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), top state Oregon. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$974,167
-20.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
17
-5.6% vs 2024
Average grant
$57,304
-15.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$35,000
Total assets
$3,998,960
-5.6% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 17, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Oregon (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Wy'east Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 205, Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: (541) 490-5664

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

Who Wy'east Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Princeton University: $129KPrinceton University$129KEnvironmental Defense Fund: $125KEnvironmental Defense Fund$125KNatural Resources Defense Council: $125KNatural Resources DefenseCouncil$125KRocky Mountain Institute: $125KRocky Mountain Institute$125KBurning Man Project: $75KBurning Man Project$75KRare: $75KRare$75KColumbia Land Trust: $50KColumbia Land Trust$50KOur Children's Trust: $50KOur Children's Trust$50KGorge Grown Food Network: $35KGorge Grown Food Network$35KUnited Way of the Columbia Gorge: $35KUnited Way of the ColumbiaGorge$35K

The largest 2025 recipient was Princeton University ($129K). Together the top 10 received $824K.

Grant Size Distribution

84 grants across all recorded years

46<$50K15$50–100K23$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 84 (55%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, recipients in Oregon received 21% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Colorado (15%), New York (14%), New Jersey (13%), and Washington, DC (13%). The grants also included awards to organizations in other states, including California, Virginia, and Washington.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

Hood RiverBoulderNew YorkVancouverEugeneArlingtonSan FranciscoBeaconBostonPortlandPrincetonCambridgeWashingtonBrooklyn

Is Wy'east Foundation open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 0 of 17 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count

  • 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 380% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M10 grants2019 18 grants2020 14 grants2021 16 grants2022 19 grants2023 18 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $645K (2019) to $1.2M (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $974K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Princeton University Princeton, NJEducation$129,167
Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DCGeneral Operations to Support North America Carbon Reduction$125,000
Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NYClimate Work$125,000
Rocky Mountain Institute Boulder, COGeneral operations to support efficient and restorative uses of resources$125,000
Burning Man Project San Francisco, CAGeneral operations to support events for art, culture, education and civic engagement$75,000
Rare Arlington, VAGeneral operations to inspire change so people and nature thrive$75,000
Columbia Land Trust Vancouver, WALand Conservation$50,000
Our Children's Trust Eugene, ORGeneral Operations to Protect the Earth's Natural Systems$50,000
Gorge Grown Food Network Hood River, ORGeneral operations to support building access to locally grown food and support local farmers$35,000
United Way of the Columbia Gorge Hood River, ORHuman Services$35,000
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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$3,998,960$972,114$1,032,774$974,16717$976,936$729,730$257,390
2024$4,235,180$659,470$1,264,570$1,219,16718$1,221,660$616,750$276,993
2023$4,813,877$-79$1,070,993$1,024,16619$1,026,791$76,966$295,440
2022$5,889,585$-38,334$898,827$840,00016$842,965$8,958$337,891
2021$6,804,536$655,431$791,585$725,00014$727,739$591,847$399,048
2020$7,044,657$122,800$856,484$792,50018—$72,863$375,040
2019$7,502,918$72,453$710,909$645,00010—$125,903$387,044

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wy'east Foundation reported a distributable amount of $257K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations and activities in the areas listed above. Among the grantees, Rocky Mountain Institute says it works to scale energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, reduce energy waste, and expand access to affordable clean energy. Columbia Land Trust says it conserves landscapes and habitat with landowners and communities in the Columbia River region. Gorge Grown Food Network says its mission is to build access to locally grown food and support local farmers.

Other 2025 recipients describe work on climate and natural systems. Our Children’s Trust says it empowers youth to pursue legal protection for their rights to life and a livable climate. Western Environmental Law Center describes itself as a public interest law firm working through the law to support Western lands, waters, wildlife, and communities. United Way of the Columbia Gorge says it works to address human-service needs and community problems in the Columbia River Gorge.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $974,167. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $129,167, with a median of $35,000. Among the largest awards were $129,167 to Princeton University for education; $125,000 each to Environmental Defense Fund for North America carbon reduction and to Natural Resources Defense Council for climate work; and $125,000 to Rocky Mountain Institute for efficient and restorative resource use. Other notable grants included $75,000 each to Burning Man Project and Rare, and $50,000 each to Columbia Land Trust and Our Children’s Trust.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Jay F Sherrerd as president, Jane A Duncombe as vice president/secretary/treasurer, and Casey M Sherrerd as director.

Wy'east Foundation is led by Jay F. Sherrerd, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jay F. Sherrerd

    President

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Casey M. Sherrerd Director

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jane A. Duncombe

    Vice President, Secretary & T

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Wy'east Foundation

How much does Wy'east Foundation give each year?

Wy'east Foundation gave $974K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 18 grants.

What is Wy'east Foundation's typical grant size?

Wy'east Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $35,000, and its average grant was $57,304, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Wy'east Foundation give grants?

Wy'east Foundation's top state is Oregon, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (15%) and New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hood River, OR (4 grants), Boulder, CO (2 grants), Eugene, OR (2 grants) and Vancouver, WA (2 grants).

Does Wy'east Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 65% of Wy'east Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Wy'east Foundation's largest grantees?

Wy'east Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Princeton University ($129,167), Environmental Defense Fund ($125,000) and Natural Resources Defense Council ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Wy'east Foundation?

Wy'east Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $977K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $257K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Wy'east Foundation fund?

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations and activities in the areas listed above. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Wy'east Foundation?

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

What is Wy'east Foundation's EIN?

Wy'east Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-5366149. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Wy'east Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 9, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 27, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 11, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 10, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Wy'east Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wy-east-foundation-morg_14c127b13e8d421ead8c65d59a796b00

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_815366149_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Wy'east Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/wy-east-foundation-morg_14c127b13e8d421ead8c65d59a796b00},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Wy'east 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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