Private foundation · New York, NY

The Wls Spencer Foundation

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Typical grant size
$5K – $25K – $50K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
80
Repeat grantees
59
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

DeadlinesNO SUBMISSION DEADLINES
ContactPACIFIC FOUNDATION SERVICES · 4155616540
MaterialsAN APPLICATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING
RestrictionsNO RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

John S Wadsworth Jr
CIO EMERITUS
Bette Sue Wadsworth
CEO EMERITUS
John S Wadsworth III
TREASURER
Elizabeth Jane Wadsworth
CEO
Paul William Peppis
VICE PRESIDENT
Shannon Wadsworth
DIRECTOR
Christopher Wadsworth
DIRECTOR
John Wadsworth
DIRECTOR
Libby Wadsworth
DIRECTOR
Paul Peppis
DIRECTOR

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
15.2%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
414
Total grants awarded
$14.8M
Total amount
$36K
Average grant
$260K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$1.3M
22 grants
2023
$1.6M
29 grants
2022
$1.5M
39 grants
2021
$1.5M
39 grants
2020
$825K
32 grants
2019
$1.3M
37 grants
2018
$1.0M
30 grants
2017
$1.2M
34 grants
2016
$1.2M
39 grants
2015
$1.1M
35 grants
2014
$1.5M
39 grants
2013
$846K
39 grants

Top recipients

16 grants · MA · ✓ Exact match
$1.6M
12 grants · CA · ✓ Exact match
$1.1M
7 grants · OR · ✓ Exact match
$857K
8 grants · CA · ✓ Exact match
$713K
6 grants · CA · ✓ Exact match
$600K
8 grants · CA · ≈ likely match
$538K
Teach for America Inc
5 grants · CA
$500K
16 grants · OR · ✓ Exact match
$486K
Lane County School District 4j
8 grants · OR
$413K
6 grants · NY · ✓ Exact match
$410K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

Surfrider Foundation
FOR PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE
CA · TY 2024
$250K
University of Oregon Foundation
FOR CONTEMPORARY CHINESE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION
OR · TY 2024
$175K
Freshgrass Public Foundation
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2024
$125K
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS
MA · TY 2024
$125K
Freshgrass Public Foundation
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2024
$125K
Teach for America Inc
FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
CA · TY 2024
$100K
The Asia Society
FOR CURATOR OF LEARNING AND OUTREACH
NY · TY 2024
$100K
Ten Strands
FOR DATA INITIATIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION
CA · TY 2024
$50K
Klcc Public Radio Foundation
FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL KLCC REPORTER
OR · TY 2024
$50K
Lane County School District 4j
FOR AVID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS
OR · TY 2024
$49K
Maude I Kerns Art Center
FOR ACQUISITION OF THE WHITEAKER PRINTMAKERS STUDIO
OR · TY 2024
$30K
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
MA · TY 2024
$30K
Bay Area Scores
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2024
$20K
Eugene Southtowne Rotary Foundation
FOR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AVID GRADUATES
OR · TY 2024
$20K
The Breakthrough Collaborative Inc
FOR NATIONAL TEACHING FELLOW INITIATIVE
CA · TY 2024
$20K
Freshgrass Public Foundation
FOR FOLK ALLEY
CA · TY 2024
$20K
826 Valencia
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2024
$20K
Klcc Public Radio Foundation
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2024
$10K
Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2024
$10K
Burchfield Penney Art Center
FOR A GRAMMAR OF ANIMACY: CHARLES E. BURCHFIELD AND MIKE GLIER
NY · TY 2024
$10K
White Bird Clinic
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2024
$5K
Food for Lane County
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2024
$5K
Freshgrass Public Foundation
FOR ARTIST AWARDS AND GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2023
$200K
University of Oregon Foundation
FOR JSMA WADSWORTH CONTEMPORARY CHINESE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION
OR · TY 2023
$193K
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS
MA · TY 2023
$175K
Teach for America Inc
FOR BEYOND RECOVERY: SUPPORTING TEACHERS TO HELP BAY AREA STUDENTS THRIVE AFTER CRISIS
CA · TY 2023
$100K
Surfrider Foundation
FOR PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE
CA · TY 2023
$100K
Klcc Public Radio Foundation
FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL KLCC REPORTER
OR · TY 2023
$75K
The John G Shedd Institute for the Arts
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2023
$50K
Klcc Public Radio Foundation
FOR MULTIMEDIA EXPANSION PROJECT
OR · TY 2023
$50K
Peer Health Exchange Inc
FOR EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION
CA · TY 2023
$50K
Ten Strands
FOR DATA INITIATIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE ACTION IN CALIFORNIAS TK12 SCHOOLS
CA · TY 2023
$50K
Bay Area Scores
FOR SCORES GO!
CA · TY 2023
$50K
Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums
FOR JAPANESE PRINTS IN TRANSITION
CA · TY 2023
$50K
826 Valencia
FOR 826 VALENCIA IN-SCHOOLS PROGRAM
CA · TY 2023
$50K
California College of the Arts
FOR BUILDING THE BEHAVIORS OF BELONGING AT CCA
CA · TY 2023
$41K
The Robert W Woodruff Arts Center Inc
FOR WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER & HIGH MUSEUM OF ART DEI EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WITH FILM FORWARD.
GA · TY 2023
$40K
Smart Reading
FOR SMART READING PROGRAMS IN LANE COUNTY
OR · TY 2023
$40K
San Francisco Friends School
FOR HORIZONS AT SFFS PROGRAM EXPANSION 2021-24
CA · TY 2023
$35K
Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation
FOR THE AVANT-GARDE: EXPERIMENTAL ART IN SOUTH KOREA, 1960S-70S
NY · TY 2023
$30K
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
MA · TY 2023
$30K
Maude I Kerns Art Center
FOR CAPACITY BUILDING - PRINTMAKING STUDIO ACQUISITION
OR · TY 2023
$30K
Asian Art Museum Foundation of San Francisco
FOR TAKASHI MURAKAMI - EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS
CA · TY 2023
$25K
Lane Arts Council
FOR DESIGN ARTS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
OR · TY 2023
$25K
Freshgrass Public Foundation
FOR FOLK ALLEY
CA · TY 2023
$20K
Klcc Public Radio Foundation
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2023
$10K
White Bird Clinic
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2023
$10K
Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2023
$10K
Eugene Southtowne Rotary Foundation
FOR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AVID GRADUATES
OR · TY 2023
$10K
Food for Lane County
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
OR · TY 2023
$5K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.