Wyncote Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established in 2009 using funds from the Otto and Phoebe Haas Charitable Trusts, at the direction of John C. Haas. The foundation is named after the Pennsylvania town where founder John C. Haas and his wife Chara raised their family. The foundation maintains a secondary office in Seattle and operates with a staff of four employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$604.9M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.3M
+5.0% YoY
Grant Count
139
-9.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$189K
+15.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wyncote Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is "to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community, and the natural environment."
The foundation focuses on three primary funding areas:
- Arts and Culture — Supporting cultural institutions and artistic endeavors
- Environment — Supporting environmental conservation and sustainability efforts
- Journalism — Supporting public media and journalism initiatives, with particular emphasis on local news
The foundation has been identified as one of four principal local funders in Philadelphia journalism, alongside the Lenfest Institute, Independence Public Media Foundation, and the William Penn Foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 126+ grants totaling approximately $24.1 million, including:
Grant Range
$5,000 to $3.8 million
Average Grant
Approximately $75,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Primary funding area
- Seattle/Pacific Northwest — Secondary funding area with dedicated staff presence
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $604.9 million (2024)
- $581.3 million (2023)
Annual Giving:
- $33.3 million in total revenues (2024)
- $28.4 million in total expenses (2024)
- $26 million in revenues (2023)
- $20.3 million in expenses (2023)
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since July 2009; EIN: 26-3535044
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $604,878,245 | $581,268,608 | $548,416,966 |
| Revenue | $33,262,488 | $26,044,341 | $15,600,216 |
| Expenses | $28,355,050 | $20,324,015 | $24,890,591 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $27,257,637 | $26,044,013 | $30,928,179 |
| Net Investment Income | $35,272,294 | $27,470,677 | $19,591,508 |
| Distributable Amount | $28,848,876 | $27,373,034 | $28,667,939 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Earthjustice ($1,000,000), Brown University ($800,000), Fringearts ($550,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1812 PRODUCTIONS INC PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $55,000 |
| ACT II PLAYHOUSE LTD AMBLER, PA | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY INC BROOKLYN, NY | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $232,850 |
| AMERICAN ORGAN ACADEMY HARTVILLE, OH | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $220,000 |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT FOR CURRENT | $297,500 |
| ARDEN THEATRE COMPANY PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $75,000 |
| AYITI DEMEN NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $60,000 |
| BALLARD FOOD BANK SEATTLE, WA | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| BALLETX PHILADELPHIA, PA | SUPPORT FOR ONGOING PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT FOR SPECIFIC PICTURES | $120,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by:
- Kristin Ross — Executive Director
- Feather Houstoun — Senior Advisor for Public Media & Journalism
- Kate Holdsworth — Northwest Grants & Operations Manager
- Sara Schreffler — Operations Manager
- Hazel Eaton — Operations Assistant
Board: Following founder John C. Haas's death in 2011, his four sons comprise the board: Leonard Haas, David Haas, Duncan Haas, and Frederick Haas.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUNCAN A HAAS | BOARD CHAIR | 4 | — |
| DAVID W HAAS | VICE CHAIR/SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| FREDERICK R HAAS | VICE CHAIR | 4 | — |
| LEONARD C HAAS | VICE CHAIR | 4 | — |
| KRISTIN ROSS ROBINSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ASST. TREASURER | 40 | $300,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced the 2025 Wyncote Fellows program through AmDoc (Association of American Documentary Filmmakers), with twelve fellows nominated by PBS Indies.
Exclusive: AmDoc Announces Twelve 2025 Wyncote Fellows ...In November 2024, the foundation awarded $2 million to the Philadelphia Film Society.
Wyncote Foundation awards $2 million to the Philadelphia Film ...The foundation continues to play an increasingly important role in supporting media organizations in the Philadelphia region as part of broader philanthropic initiatives to strengthen local news.
Wyncote Foundation awards $2 million to the Philadelphia Film ...Contact Information
Philadelphia Office:
- Address: 1717 Arch Street, Suite 1430, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone: 215.557.9577
- Email: info@wyncotefoundation.org
- Website: www.wyncotefoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wyncote Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is "to support efforts that strengthen and enrich culture, community, and the natural environment." The foundation focuses on three primary funding areas: • **Arts and Culture** — Supporting cultural institutions and artistic endeavors • **Environment** — Supporting environmental conservation and sustainability efforts • **Journalism** — Supporting public media and journalism initiatives, with particular emphasis on local news The foundation has been identified as one o…
How do I apply for a grant from Wyncote Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $3.8 million • Average grant: Approximately $75,000 • Application method: Invitation only — does not accept unsolicited proposals **Recent Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 126+ grants totaling approximately $24.1 million, including: • $6,322,500 to The Philadelphia Foundation for Community Foundation Donor Advised Funds • $1,145,000 to Philadelphia Film Society for Capital Improvements and Ongoing Programs • $1,100,000 to The Santa Fe …
Where does Wyncote Foundation make grants?
• **Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania** — Primary funding area • **Seattle/Pacific Northwest** — Secondary funding area with dedicated staff presence
What size grants does Wyncote Foundation award?
In 2024, Wyncote Foundation awarded 139 grants totaling $26.3M — an average of about $189K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wyncote Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wyncote Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wyncote Foundation's EIN?
Wyncote Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3535044. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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