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The Wollenberg Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Wollenberg Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$2.5M
Granted FY2024still arriving
80
Grants FY2024still arriving
16
States reached
$450k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$8.4MArts & Culture$2.6MHealth$1.7MEnvironment$763kPhilanthropy$598kScience & Tech$560kHuman Services$389kHousing & Shelter$368kOther$0
02FY2024 · 80 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k34 grants · $130k
  • $10k–50k29 grants · $490k
  • $50k–250k16 grants · $1.4M
  • $250k+1 grant · $450k
$10,000
Median grant
16
States reached
$32M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
REED COLLEGE$450,000
OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY$210,000
FILOLI HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDEN$151,000
SMITH COLLEGE$125,000
COLUMBIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS$125,000
OREGON ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES$100,000
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY$100,000
LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE HEAD START$88,500
INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON$75,000
STANFORD UNIVERSITY GSB$75,000
UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION$60,000
THE CHILDRENS HEALTH COUNCIL$50,000
STANFORD LIVE - LITTLEFIELD CENTER$50,000
PEACEHEALTH ST JOHN MEDICAL CENTER$50,000
JAMES MADISON UNIV FNDN INC$50,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $880k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 95% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%CAPITAL HOSPICE: $5k → 6%CAPITAL HOSPICE: $5k → 6%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $60k → 14%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $30k → 14%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $30k → 14%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $30k → 14%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $30k → 14%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $30k → 14%COMMUNITY HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE: $103k → 13%UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $30k → 14%CAPITAL CARING: $5k → 6%CAPITAL CARING: $5k → 6%CAPITAL CARING: $5k → 6%CAPITAL CARING: $5k → 6%CAPITAL CARING: $5k → 6%CAPITAL CARING: $5k → 6%YOUTHCARE: $3k → 9%YOUTHCARE: $3k → 9%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $75k → 13%YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $33k → 13%YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $33k → 13%YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $33k → 13%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $28k → 13%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $28k → 13%YOUTHCARE: $3k → 9%YOUTHCARE: $3k → 9%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $25k → 13%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $25k → 13%YOUTHCARE: $3k → 9%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $25k → 13%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $25k → 13%YOUTH & FAMILY LINK: $25k → 13%YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $20k → 13%YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $20k → 13%LIFEWORKS: $10k → 13%LIFE WORKS: $10k → 13%LIFEWORKS: $10k → 13%LIFEWORKS: $10k → 13%LIFEWORKS: $10k → 13%LIFEWORKS: $10k → 13%LIFEWORKS: $10k → 13%LIFE WORKS: $10k → 13%COMMUNITY HOUSE: $10k → 13%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

AK
ME
WA
MN
NY
MA
OR
IA
RI
CA
CO
MO
VA
MD
AR
TN
SC
DC
HI
OK
LA
MS
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

95%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$12M · 103 repeat orgs$688k to everyone else

103 repeat relationships: 73 still active in FY2024, 30 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

103
17

Total granted

$12M
$541k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+29%
+42%

Still filing today

59%
47%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $147k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationArts & CultureHuman ServicesHealthRecreation & SportsEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • IC
    INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON
    8× · 2017–2024 · $600k · revenue +70%
  • OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
    6× · 2017–2024 · $480k · revenue +29%
  • CH
    CHILDREN'S HEALTH COUNCIL INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $415k · revenue +117%

Funded once

  • CF
    COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SW WASHINGTON
    one grant, 2017 · $115k
  • CH
    Community Home Health & Hospice
    one grant, 2017 · $103k · revenue -98%
  • Oregon State University Foundationgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $100k · revenue +42%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The University of British Columbia

Pursuing excellence in research learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia Canada and the world.

Education
2
University Cooperative School

We take a joyful, community-oriented approach to raising engaged citizens, deep learners, and brave adventurers with the skills, creativity, and heart needed to better the world.

—
3
Augustana College

Rooted in the liberal arts & sciences & lutheran expression of the christian faith, & is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit, & body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership & service…

Education
4
Columbia College

Columbia college improves lives by providing quality education to both traditional and nontraditional students, helping them achieve their true potential.

Education
5
The George Washington University

The mission of the george washington university (gw) is to educate individuals in liberal arts, languages, sciences, learned professions, and other courses and subjects of study, and to conduct scholarly research and publish the findings…

Education
6
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
7
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
8
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
9
Association of Washington Cities

The association of washington cities builds connections between our state's diverse cities and towns, while providing our members with the support needed to thrive through delivery of data-driven education, nationally recognized pooling…

—
10
The Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences

Seattle academy is a dynamic community that challenges students to question, imagine, and create in order to contribute to a changing world.

Education
11
Columbia College Chicago

The organization's mission is to educate students for creative occupations in diverse fields of arts and media.

Education
12
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities accredits institutions of higher education by applying evidence-informed standards and processes to support continuous improvements and promote equitable student achievement and success.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges & Universities; the most unlike its peers is Wolf Pack Support Services. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

83 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 83 of the 131 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
14
Early backer (in before they grew)
79/83
Grantees still filing
54/83
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

OSU SCHOOL OF FORESTRY: $600,000 · OtherOSU SCHOOL OF FORESTRYOREGON ALLIANCE INDEPENDENT COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY: $600,000 · OtherOREGON ALLIANCE INDEPENDENT COLLEGE & UNIVERSITYLOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE HEAD START: $546,000 · OtherLOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE HEAD STARTWASHINGTON PULP & PAPER FOUNDATION INC: $525,000 · OtherWASHINGTON PULP & PAPER FOUNDATION INCFILOLI HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDEN: $501,000 · OtherFILOLI HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDENPEACEHEALTH ST JOHN MEDICAL CENTER: $475,000 · OtherPEACEHEALTH ST JOHN MEDICAL CENTERUNITED WAY OF COWLITZ COUNTY: $400,000 · OtherUNITED WAY OF COWLITZ COUNTYFRIENDS OF FALLS CHURCH: $310,000 · OtherCOLUMBIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: $250,000 · Other+68 more: $3,059,250 · Other+68 moreREED INSTITUTE: $3,550,000 · EducationREED INSTITUTEINDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON: $600,000 · EducationINDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTONTeach for America Inc: $240,000 · Education+20 more: $2,008,500 · Education+20 moreOREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: $480,000 · Arts & CultureCORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS: $200,000 · Arts & CultureCHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $105,000 · Arts & CultureOREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: $80,000 · Arts & CultureTHE EXPLORATORIUM: $80,000 · Arts & CultureSOUTHWEST WASHINGTON SYMPHONY: $40,000 · Arts & Culture+6 more: $121,000 · Arts & CultureYouth and Family Link: $255,000 · Human ServicesUNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $240,000 · Human ServicesTHE YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $140,000 · Human ServicesCommunity Home Health & Hospice: $102,500 · Human ServicesLIFE WORKS: $80,000 · Human ServicesCapital Hospice: $40,000 · Human Services+2 more: $22,500 · Human ServicesCHILDREN'S HEALTH COUNCIL INC: $415,000 · HealthSUTTER BAY MEDICAL FOUNDATION: $80,000 · HealthNational Capital Poison Center: $40,000 · HealthWolf Pack Support Services: $33,000 · Health+2 more: $12,500 · HealthRebuilding Together Peninsula: $290,000 · Housing & ShelterLOWER COLUMBIA SCHOOL GARDENS: $123,630 · EnvironmentWORLD FORESTRY CENTER: $59,000 · EnvironmentThe Spikenard Farm Inc: $19,000 · Environment+1 more: $5,000 · Environment
Other$7,266,250Education$6,398,500Arts & Culture$1,106,000Human Services$880,000Health$580,500Housing & Shelter$290,000Environment$206,630

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetREED INSTITUTE: $3,550,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetINDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON: $600,000 over 8y, 4.5% of budgetOREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: $480,000 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetCHILDREN'S HEALTH COUNCIL INC: $415,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetUNITED WAY OF COWLITZ COUNTY: $400,000 over 8y, 16% of budgetRebuilding Together Peninsula: $290,000 over 8y, 2.6% of budgetYouth and Family Link: $255,000 over 8y, 4.2% of budgetUNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION: $240,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $240,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS: $200,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetOREGON ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES: $200,000 over 2y, 10% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $200,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetBOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WHITMAN COLLEGE: $200,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetLiteracy Council of Northern Virginia Inc: $200,000 over 8y, 5.0% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE: $195,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetDONORSCHOOSEORG: $160,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetJAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $150,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetSTATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION: $150,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSAINT LOUIS BALLET COMPANY: $145,000 over 8y, 2.4% of budgetTHE YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON: $140,000 over 5y, 2.3% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $130,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE: $125,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetLOWER COLUMBIA SCHOOL GARDENS: $123,630 over 8y, 7.2% of budgetCHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $105,000 over 6y, 40% of budgetCommunity Home Health & Hospice: $102,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetOregon State University Foundation: $100,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY: $100,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFALLS CHURCH EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetSUTTER BAY MEDICAL FOUNDATION: $80,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetOREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION: $80,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetTHE EXPLORATORIUM: $80,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCASA of San Mateo County: $80,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetLOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $80,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetYOSEMITE FOUNDATION: $80,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetLIFE WORKS: $80,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $75,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBRING ME A BOOK FOUNDATION: $70,000 over 7y, 5.2% of budgetPRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES OF BATES COLLEGE: $70,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetBROWN UNIVERSITY: $70,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD FORESTRY CENTER: $59,000 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetVIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUnited Saints Recovery Project: $50,000 over 5y, 12% of budgetOPERATION SMILE INC: $40,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCapital Hospice: $40,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetLIFT FOR LIFE ACADEMY INC: $40,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetNational Capital Poison Center: $40,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetHEROES Inc: $40,000 over 8y, 1.3% of budgetALLIANCE FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE: $40,000 over 7y, 1.9% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds REED INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON ↗
  • Who funds OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S HEALTH COUNCIL INC ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF COWLITZ COUNTY ↗
  • Who funds Rebuilding Together Peninsula ↗
  • Who funds Youth and Family Link ↗
  • Who funds UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION ↗
  • Who funds Teach for America Inc ↗
  • Who funds CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS ↗
  • Who funds OREGON ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WHITMAN COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds Literacy Council of Northern Virginia Inc ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds DONORSCHOOSEORG ↗
  • Who funds JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SAINT LOUIS BALLET COMPANY ↗
  • Who funds THE YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON ↗
  • Who funds THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds LOWER COLUMBIA SCHOOL GARDENS ↗
  • Who funds CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds Community Home Health & Hospice ↗
  • Who funds Oregon State University Foundation ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Health Care Found…United Way of Cowlitz…John M McClelland Sr …Puget Sound Energy Fo…The Honorable Frank L…United Way of the Nat…Nippon Dynawave Found…Evans-Kelly Family Fo…The Community Foundat…United Way of Greater…Employees Community F…Seattle Foundation
The Health Care FoundationWA24.2× affinity9 shared granteesties to 6 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Health Care Foundation · United Way of Cowlitz County · John M McClelland Sr Charitable Foundation · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · The Honorable Frank L & Arlene G Price Foundation · United Way of the National Capital Area · Nippon Dynawave Foundation · Evans-Kelly Family Foundation · The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Inc · United Way of Greater St Louis Inc · Employees Community Fund of the Boeing Company · Seattle Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Wollenberg Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Wollenberg Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Icivics Inc: 13% of income from government
  • Oregon Museum of Science and Industry: 4% of income from government
  • Willamette University: 1% of income from government
  • The Trustees of the Smith College: 1% of income from government
  • Reed Institute: 1% of income from government
  • Oregon Symphony Association: 0% of income from government
  • World Forestry Center: 0% of income from government
  • Adoptions Together Inc Dba As Paths for Families: 0% of income from government
  • Oregon State University Foundation: 0% of income from government
  • Capital Hospice: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
19report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 131 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Wollenberg’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home