THE WLS SPENCER FOUNDATION
https://HTTPS://WWW.WLSSPENCERFOUNDATION.ORGTotal Given 2016–2023
$11.2M
265 grants · $1.4M avg/year
based on 8 yrs of IRS 990-PF records on file
$1M+/yr
mid-tier
capacity
$25K
typical mid grants · $10K–$50K
grant size
62%
deep partner · 58/93 multi-year
repeat
$14.8M
Assets · 2021
93
Distinct recipients
Focus Areas
Application Information
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
Unknown
Contact Person
PACIFIC FOUNDATION SERVICES
Phone
2125573900
Deadlines
NO SUBMISSION DEADLINES
How to Apply
AN APPLICATION SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING
Restrictions
NO RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS
Financial Trends
Giving Over Time
Total Assets Over Time
View financial data as table
| Year | Total Giving | Total Assets | Revenue | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $1.2M | $11.1M | $2.5M | 39 |
| 2017 | $2.2M | $12.3M | $2.6M | 42 |
| 2018 | $1.2M | $10.8M | $1.8M | 33 |
| 2019 | N/A | $11.8M | $894K | N/A |
| 2020 | $966K | $12.0M | $1.5M | 36 |
| 2021 | $1.7M | $14.8M | $2.7M | 41 |
| 2022 | $2.3M | $11.5M | $1.1M | 42 |
| 2023 | $1.7M | $12.2M | $1.8M | 32 |
Grant Size Distribution
Based on 265 grants on record
Minimum
$500
25th Pctl
$10K
Median
$25K
Average
$42K
75th Pctl
$50K
Maximum
$600K
Geographic Distribution
Key Personnel
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| BETTE SUE WADSWORTH | CEO EMERITUS | — |
| JOHN S WADSWORTH JR | CIO EMERITUS | — |
| CHRISTOPHER WADSWORTH | DIRECTOR | — |
| SHANNON WADSWORTH | DIRECTOR | — |
| PAUL WILLIAM PEPPIS | VICE PRESIDENT | — |
| ELIZABETH JANE WADSWORTH | CEO | — |
| JOHN S WADSWORTH III | TREASURER | — |
Grants Awarded (265 total)
| Purpose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | BOULDER, CO | $600,000 | TO TRANSFORM GLOBAL ENERGY USE TO CREATE A CLEAN, PROSPEROUS AND SECURE LOW-CARBON FUTURE | 2017 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $400,000 | FOR CORE PROGRAM AND ENDOWMENT/CURRENT SPENDING | 2022 |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $301,052 | FOR JSMA WADSWORTH CONTEMPORARY CHINESE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION | 2022 |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $260,000 | FOR JSMA WADSWORTH CONTEMPORARY CHINESE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION | 2022 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $245,000 | SUPPORT FOR CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART AND PERFORMING ARTS | 2017 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | FOR ARTIST AWARDS AND GENERAL SUPPORT | 2023 |
| FRESHGRASS FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200,000 | FOR $100,000 FOR COVID RELIEF AND $100,000 DISCRETIONARY | 2021 |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $192,632 | FOR JSMA WADSWORTH CONTEMPORARY CHINESE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION | 2023 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $190,000 | SUPPORT FOR CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART AND PERFORMING ARTS | 2018 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $175,000 | FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS | 2023 |
| FRESHGRASS FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $150,000 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT AND TO SUPPORT THE STEVE MARTIN BANJO PRIZE | 2020 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $125,000 | FOR MASS MOCA DIGITAL MASTER PLAN | 2022 |
| KLCC PUBLIC RADIO FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $125,000 | FOR FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL KLCC REPORTER | 2021 |
| MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $120,000 | SUPPORT FOR CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART AND PERFORMING ARTS | 2016 |
| FRESHGRASS PUBLIC FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $102,500 | FOR IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTIST AWARD FUND | 2022 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | FOR BEYOND RECOVERY: SUPPORTING TEACHERS TO HELP BAY AREA STUDENTS THRIVE AFTER CRISIS | 2022 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | FOR BEYOND RECOVERY: SUPPORTING TEACHERS TO HELP BAY AREA STUDENTS THRIVE AFTER CRISIS | 2023 |
| SURFRIDER FOUNDATION | SAN CLEMENTE, CA | $100,000 | FOR PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE | 2023 |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF ARTS | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | SUPPORT OF THE ARTS | 2016 |
| FRESHGRASS FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | SUPPORT MUSIC AND THE ARTS | 2016 |
| FRESHGRASS FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | FOR COVID-19 RELIEF FOR ARTISTS AT WORK | 2021 |
| SURFRIDER FOUNDATION | SAN CLEMENTE, CA | $100,000 | FOR PLASTIC POLLUTION INITIATIVE | 2022 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | FOR BEYOND RECOVERY: SUPPORTING TEACHERS TO HELP BAY AREA STUDENTS THRIVE AFTER CRISIS | 2022 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | FOR SUPPLYING TALENT TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF GREAT SCHOOLS | 2021 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT TO SUPPORT TFA IN THEIR EFFORTS TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF GREAT SCHOOLS IN... | 2020 |