Walder Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Walder Foundation is a private foundation in Wilmington, Delaware. In tax year 2024 it gave $24.4 million in 200 grants; the typical grant was $77,500 and the largest $2.3 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$24.4 million
- Number of grants200
- Typical grant$77,500
- Largest grant$2.3 million
- Assets$200 million
- New grantees35%
Giving in 2024 was up from $22.5 million the year before.
35% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $22.5 million | 208 | $216 million |
| 2024 | $24.4 million | 200 | $200 million |
How to apply
Walder Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What Walder Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 16 states, the most to Illinois. It also paid $573,000 in 2 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 128 | $17.2 million |
| New York | 34 | $2.8 million |
| New Jersey | 5 | $799,075 |
| District of Columbia | 8 | $635,000 |
| Maryland | 4 | $392,563 |
| Florida | 3 | $345,000 |
| Arizona | 1 | $300,000 |
| Ohio | 2 | $275,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $220,000 |
| California | 2 | $195,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago | Arie Crown Hebrew Day School Capital Project | $2.3 million |
| Lubavitch Girls High School Inc | Capital Expenses for Construction of a New School building | $1.5 million |
| Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School | Hillel Torah Campus Expansion and Renovation | $500,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society | Global expansion of Chicago-led urban biodiversity research and conservation network | $482,709 |
| Alliance for the Great Lakes | Chicago(land) Flooding and Sanitation Equity Initiative | $450,000 |
| Morton Arboretum | A Chicago Based Hub For Assessment, Planning, And Action For Saving Threatened Trees | $388,074 |
| Chicago Horticultural Society | Improving ex situ plant conservation: Scaling up zoo pedigree management approaches to critically rare plants in the Pacific | $387,049 |
| Shedd Aquarium Society | Maximizing Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation Through global partnerships | $373,382 |
| Yeshiva Shearis Yisroel-Veitzener Cheder Inc | Mortgage Reduction Funds | $360,000 |
| University of Guelph | Bioalfa: advancing knowledge of costa rican biodiversity through dna barcodes | $333,000 |
| Etzion Foundation Inc | Women's Shulchan Aruch and Halachic Writing Fellowship | $330,075 |
| Metropolitan Planning Council | Right Infrastructure, Right Place | $300,000 |
| Nijc NFP | Strengthening Legal Services for Chicago Immigrants | $300,000 |
| Research Corporation | Scialog Partnership to Support Chicago-Area Fellows research | $300,000 |
| Relief Resources Inc | Relief Global Midwest Division | $275,000 |
| Healthy Schools Campaign | Green + Resilient Chicago: A sustainable, equitable plan for public investment in Green Stormwater Infrastructure | $260,000 |
| American Friends of Hala | Support for Purchase of MRI Machine | $250,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative | $250,000 |
| Iff | America's Cultural Treasures Chicago | $250,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | The Walder Foundation Distinguished Professorship in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $250,000 |
| Shriver Center on Poverty Law | Migration and Immigrant Communities | $250,000 |
| Soulu | Upward Community Circle of Support | $250,000 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | Israel Emergency Response | $244,000 |
| The Jerusalem College of Technology | Tal Campus Bioinformatics Department and Conference center | $240,000 |
| Field Museum of Natural History | Magnifying Conservation Impact and Biodiversity Understanding in the Guiana Shield | $229,127 |
| Core I Inc | General support | $200,000 |
| Yeshiva University | Advancing Women's Learning and Leadership: THE GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED TALMUDIC STUDIES (GPATS) | $200,000 |
| Jewish Woman Entrepreneur | General support | $175,000 |
| Mesivta Shaarei Adirim | General Operating Support | $175,000 |
| American Friends of Nishmat | Kollel Fellowships at Nishmat: The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Studies for Women | $150,000 |
| Chicago Mezuzah and Mitzvah Campaign | CMC Senior Center Garden | $150,000 |
| Forefront | Fresh Taste - Illinois Regenerative Agriculture Initiative | $150,000 |
| Morton Arboretum | Chicago Region Trees Initiative Urban Forest Corporate Sustainability Partnership Program | $150,000 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre Co | Steppenwolf's LookOut Series | $150,000 |
| Welcoming America Inc | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Chicago State Foundation | Enhancing the impacts and footprints of the Illinois lsamp | $148,170 |
| American Friends of Matan Inc | International Advanced Educators Institute - Eshkolot and strategic planning | $125,000 |
| Map Fund Inc | MAP Fund Core Grant and SPA Program for Chicago-Based artists | $125,000 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project | $125,000 |
| Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School Inc | Equity & Excellence in Education Initiative | $120,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Kate Coughlin
- Jeffrey L Sweet
- Elizabeth Walder
- Joseph Walder through March 2024
Questions people ask
Does Walder Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Walder Foundation give?
$24.4 million in tax year 2024, across 200 grants, with a typical grant of $77,500.
Who runs Walder Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Kate Coughlin (Treas), Jeffrey L Sweet (VP), Elizabeth Walder (Pres, Sec, Dir) and Joseph Walder through March 2024 (Dir).
What does Walder Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, faith communities and environment and conservation.