The H.W. Wilson Foundation appears focused on supporting higher education, directing its entire recent giving to a single university. Grants are targeted and institution-specific, likely reflecting a preference for local or mission-aligned colleges. Their funding suggests priorities around sustaining university programs or capital needs rather than broad, diversified philanthropy.
Highly concentrated giving: a single, relatively large gift to one institution rather than many small grants; likely episodic, targeted support to mission-aligned or local higher-education institutions.
The Hw Wilson Foundation Inc. gives around a single institution-rich pattern: St. John’s University has received the largest recent award, $150,000 in 2025 for general support, and it appears repeatedly across the recent grants list. That repeated support points to a foundation that favors steady, institution-specific giving rather than a wide spread of small awards. Recent grants also show material support for other New York organizations such as Millbrook School, Long Island Cares Inc, and the American Friends Nat Gallery of Ireland. The foundation’s giving is mostly unrestricted at the grantee level, with “general support” dominating the recent grants table, while the active grant programs show that it also maintains a separate, named awards stream for library public relations and communications. The overall picture is of a regular funder that backs educational, cultural, religious, and library-related organizations through direct grants and through award-based support tied to a specific national library recognition program.
Education is central to the foundation’s recent giving. St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY received $150,000 in 2025 for general support, and St. John’s University School of Law received $30,000 in 2025 for general support. The recent grants list also includes Millbrook School in Millbrook, NY at $50,000 in 2025 and Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT at $40,000 in 2023. The foundation also supports cultural and service organizations. The American Friends Nat Gallery of Ireland in New York, NY received $40,000 in 2025 for general support, while Towers of Freedom in Massapequa Park, NY received $35,000 in 2025 for general support. Community support appears in grants such as Long Island Cares Inc in Hauppauge, NY at $50,000 in 2025 and Society of St Vincent De Paul in Bethpage, NY at $25,000 in 2025. A separate funding stream supports library communications through the John Cotton Dana Awards, which provide $10,000 grants to winning libraries.
Typical grants are modest but steady: the p25, median, and p75 are $10,000, $10,000, and $20,000. The recent grants list shows repeated awards to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which indicates recurring support rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Unsolicited proposals are accepted in its general grantmaking and in the John Cotton Dana award-related programs, with board review at monthly meetings for general proposals.
$1.4M
$32.7M
$8.2M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Hw Wilson Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 296 | $4.6M | 98.7% |
| 2 | Canada | 4 |
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Notable grantees: St. John’s University
The foundation gives overwhelmingly in the United States, with 214 recent grants there versus 3 in Canada. New York is the top state by grant count, and 78% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities in New York include Jamaica, Millbrook, Staten Island, Hauppauge, New Rochelle, Massapequa Park, Islandia, the Bronx, Bethpage, and Poughkeepsie. Outside New York, recent recipients appear in Fairfield, CT and Stillwater, NJ, with Canadian grants also present in the country mix.
The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. Recent grants also include larger awards, such as $150,000 to St. John’s University in 2025.
Yes. Its general grantmaking accepts proposals from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, and the John Cotton Dana award-related programs also accept unsolicited participation through the awards process. General proposals are evaluated by the Board of Directors at monthly meetings.
The foundation funds charitable, benevolent, educational, cultural, and religious institutions. Its active grant programs also include support for libraries, library associations, historical societies, and cultural programs, alongside award-based support for library public relations.
Yes. New York is the top state by grant count, and 78% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient list includes many New York cities, including Jamaica, Millbrook, Hauppauge, the Bronx, and Bethpage.
The John Cotton Dana Awards are a recurring program funded by the foundation. The program provides $10,000 grants to winning libraries, and the source data says eight libraries have historically received the award.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| $40K |
1.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOWERS OF FREEDOM | MASSAPEQUA PARK, NY | $115,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN'S UNIVERSITY | JAMAICA, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MILLBROOK SCHOOL | MILLBROOK, NY | $65,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LONG ISLAND CARES INC | HAUPPAUGE, NY | $55,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL | BRONX, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN'S UNIVERSITY-SCHOOL OF LAW | JAMAICA, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY | HEMPSTEAD, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RYAN MCELORY CHILDREN'S CANCER FOUNDATION | POUGHQUAG, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS NAT GALLERY OF IRELAND | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PAL-O-MINE EQUESTRIAN INC | ISLANDIA, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER | MATTITUCK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN'S BREAD AND LIFE | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN LEGION POST 1273 | WANTAGH, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DUTCHESS COUNTY SPCA | HYDE PARK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERATION INTERNATIONAL | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SATELLITE BEACH YOUTH FOOTBALL | SATELLITE BEACH, FL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LAW ENFORC OFFICERS MEMORIAL | BROCKPORT, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD FIRE COMPANY | STANFORDVILLE, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHARON PLAYHOUSE | SHARON, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON | MT VERNON, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DAV CHAPTER 144 | PINE PLAINS, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILLOW ROOTS | PINE PLAINS, NY | $17,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LITTLE ST NICK FOUNDATION | EAST ROCKAWAY, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHHAMPTON FRESH AIR HOME | SOUTHAMPTON, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRONX CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WARRIOR RANCH FOUNDATION | RIVERHEAD, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACADEMY OF MOUNT ST URSULA | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOTIVATIONAL RECOVERY ENVIRONMENTS INC | AMITYVILLE, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD FREE LIBRARY | STANDFORDVILLE, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACDS | PLAINVIEW, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN | BAYSIDE, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTH FOLK BREAST HEALTH COALITION | RIVERHEAD, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY | BRONX, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESTMOUNT PUBLIC LIBRARY | WESTMOUNT, QU | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FLAWLESS FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND | LOUISVILLE, KY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STOW-MONROE FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY | STOW, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GAIL BORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT | ELGIN, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BARDAVON | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY | HARTFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY | KETCHUM, ID | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION | MILLBROOK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPRING LAKE DISTRICT LIBRARY | SPRING LAKE, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRACE OUTREACH | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRONX WORKS | BRONX, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
TOWERS OF FREEDOM
$115,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHN'S UNIVERSITY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MILLBROOK SCHOOL
$65,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LONG ISLAND CARES INC
$55,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHN'S UNIVERSITY-SCHOOL OF LAW
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
GENERAL SUPPORT
RYAN MCELORY CHILDREN'S CANCER FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS NAT GALLERY OF IRELAND
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PAL-O-MINE EQUESTRIAN INC
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHN'S BREAD AND LIFE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN LEGION POST 1273
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DUTCHESS COUNTY SPCA
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OPERATION INTERNATIONAL
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SATELLITE BEACH YOUTH FOOTBALL
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL LAW ENFORC OFFICERS MEMORIAL
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD FIRE COMPANY
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SHARON PLAYHOUSE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DAV CHAPTER 144
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WILLOW ROOTS
$17,500GENERAL SUPPORT
LITTLE ST NICK FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHHAMPTON FRESH AIR HOME
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRONX CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WARRIOR RANCH FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACADEMY OF MOUNT ST URSULA
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MOTIVATIONAL RECOVERY ENVIRONMENTS INC
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD FREE LIBRARY
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACDS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY'S FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTH FOLK BREAST HEALTH COALITION
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESTMOUNT PUBLIC LIBRARY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FLAWLESS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STOW-MONROE FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GAIL BORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BARDAVON
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPRING LAKE DISTRICT LIBRARY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GRACE OUTREACH
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRONX WORKS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Current and upcoming funding from Hw Wilson Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status. Eligible applicants are charitable, benevolent, educational, cultural or religious non-profit organizations.
Deadline: Proposals are reviewed at monthly Board meetings. No specific calendar deadline listed on site.
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