Wyss Foundation
The Wyss Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1998 by Hansjörg Wyss. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the foundation is dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. The foundation operates from a restored historic building in Washington, D.C. that also houses offices for several other nonprofits.
Key facts about Wyss Foundation
- EIN
- 93-1010019
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,300,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 105
- Average grant
- $12,381
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $10,733,639
- Primary geography
- Oregon (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wyss Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wyss Foundation's 105 itemized 2025 grants were Oregon (55%) and California (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (55 grants), Los Angeles, CA (6 grants), Charlottesville, VA (4 grants) and Pasadena, CA (2 grants). None of its 105 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Organization Use" (25 grants) and "Ach" (5 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.7M
+13.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+32.2% YoY
Grant Count
105
+22.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+8.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Wyss Foundation's mission is to support innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. The foundation's work is organized around three primary pillars:
Protections: Conservation of land and ocean ecosystems. Since its establishment, the Wyss Foundation and its partners have helped permanently protect more than 130 million acres of land and 5.7 million square kilometers of ocean. In 2018, the foundation launched the Wyss Campaign for Nature with a $1.5 billion commitment aimed at conserving 30% of the Earth's lands and ocean by 2030.
Communities: Expanding economic opportunity and helping more Americans enter the middle class through programs and initiatives that develop innovative solutions and build the next generation of leaders.
Discovery: Supporting groundbreaking research, education, training, the arts, and medical exploration to shift paradigms, bridge divisions, and solve pressing global problems.
Grantmaking
The Wyss Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals; the application process is invitation-only. General inquiries may be submitted via the foundation's contact page.
Grant Range
** $2,000 to $22,100,000
Invitation Only
is invitation-only. General inquiries may be submitted via the foundation's contact page.
Ready to take the next step with Wyss Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds globally, with particular emphasis on the American West. Hansjörg Wyss's early experiences climbing and hiking the Rocky Mountains shaped the foundation's commitment to protecting America's open lands.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 105 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Endowment: $1.71 billion (as of 2023)
Annual Giving: $149,332,735 (2023); $220 million mobilized (2024)
Assets: $9.44 million to $10.73 million (varying by reporting source and fiscal year)
Annual Revenue: $19.7 million (operational revenue)
Staff: 6 employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,733,639 | $9,437,852 | $9,595,166 |
| Revenue | $2,596,427 | $684,932 | $314,942 |
| Expenses | $1,406,510 | $1,041,502 | $1,042,715 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,300,000 | $983,500 | $1,042,715 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,079,147 | $626,930 | $268,727 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
398 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Los Angeles Regional Food Bank ($75,000), American Friends of Nswas ($40,000), International Physicians for the Pr ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK LOS ANGELES, CA | CHECK 4033 | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NSWAS GLENDALE, CA | CHECK 4000 | $40,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS FOR THE PR MALDEN, MA | CHECK 4021 | $35,000 |
| MY FRIENDS PLACE HOLLYWOOD, CA | CHECK 4039 | $35,000 |
| WATER MUSIC SOCIETY SEAVIEW, WA | CHECK 4074 | $35,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA HAGERSTOWN, MD | CHECK 4010 | $30,000 |
| JOHNS CLOSET MILLBRAE, CA | CHECK 4025 | $30,000 |
| REED COLLEGE PORTLAND, OR | CHECK 4057 | $30,000 |
| LEWIS AND CLARK COLLEGE PORTLAND, OR | CHECK 4030 | $25,000 |
| MULTNOMAH ARTS CENTER PORTLAND, OR | CHECK 4037 | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Judith Wyss serves as President of the foundation.
The foundation was established by Hansjörg Wyss, a Swiss billionaire who graduated from Harvard Business School in 1965 and built a successful medical research and design company (Synthes USA). His early experiences working for the Colorado Highway Department and exploring the Rocky Mountains as a young man shaped his philanthropic vision.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISABEL WYSS | Director | 5 | — |
| EDMUND J WYSS | Director | 2 | — |
| EMILY A WYSS | Director | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER A WYSS | Director | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Wyss Scholars Program was selected as a grant in the spotlight, highlighting the foundation's commitment to building the next generation of leaders.
2026 Wyss Scholars SelectedThe 2026 Wyss Scholars were announced, continuing the foundation's education and leadership development initiatives.
Teton Youth and Family Services was featured as a grant in the spotlight, demonstrating the foundation's support for community-based organizations.
Grant in the Spotlight: Teton Youth and Family ServicesThe Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering was highlighted as a grant in the spotlight, reflecting the foundation's investment in medical research and innovation.
Grant in the Spotlight: Wyss Center for Bio and NeuroengineeringFrequently Asked Questions
What does Wyss Foundation fund?
The Wyss Foundation's mission is to support innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. The foundation's work is organized around three primary pillars: **Protections:** Conservation of land and ocean ecosystems. Since its establishment, the Wyss Foundation and its partners have helped permanently protect more than 130 million acres of land and 5.7 million square kilometers of ocean. In 2018, the foundation launched the Wyss Cam…
How do I apply for a grant from Wyss Foundation?
The Wyss Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals; the application process is invitation-only. General inquiries may be submitted via the foundation's contact page. **Grant Range:** $2,000 to $22,100,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the Wyss Foundation mobilized more than $220 million to support organizations working in conservation, economic opportunity, medical advancements, education, and the arts. Recent grantees have included the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank ($75,000…
Where does Wyss Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds globally, with particular emphasis on the American West. Hansjörg Wyss's early experiences climbing and hiking the Rocky Mountains shaped the foundation's commitment to protecting America's open lands.
What size grants does Wyss Foundation award?
In 2025, Wyss Foundation awarded 105 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Wyss Foundation's EIN?
Wyss Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1010019. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Wyss Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wyss 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.