The Wollenberg Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education and cultural institutions, with a strong preference for restricted support. Most dollars flow to a single liberal arts college (Reed College) and to a regional science museum, suggesting an interest in sustaining academic programs and public-facing STEM/cultural education in the Pacific Northwest.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving with a small number of grants: repeat, restricted gifts to a primary grantee (three grants to Reed College) plus a single large museum grant — few grantees receive most of the budget.
The Wollenberg Foundation’s largest recent grant went to Reed College: $450,000 in 2025, following $400,000 awards in both 2023 and 2024. That repeated support points to a funder that builds around a small number of institutions rather than spreading dollars widely. The pattern is visible across its recent grants: major commitments to higher education, allied college networks, and a few cultural or science organizations that appear again and again. Reed College is the clearest anchor, with restricted grants at the top of the foundation’s giving in multiple years. Another recurring recipient is the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, which received $210,000 in 2025 and $110,000 in 2024 as unrestricted support. The foundation also backs institutions beyond Oregon, but its recent portfolio is still dominated by education-related organizations and a handful of museums, colleges, and cultural nonprofits. Grant labels show a mix of restricted and unrestricted support, with restricted awards appearing on some of the larger gifts.
Higher education is the foundation’s most visible area of support. Reed College received $450,000 in 2025 and $400,000 in each of the two prior years, all restricted. The foundation also supported Smith College with $125,000 in restricted funding in 2025 and Willamette University with $100,000 in restricted funding that same year. Science and informal STEM education are another recurring theme. The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry received $210,000 in 2025 and $110,000 in 2024, both unrestricted. In a related education line, Osu School of Forestry received $100,000 in 2023. The foundation also funds cultural and regional institutions. Filoli Historic House & Garden received $151,000 in 2025 and $150,000 in 2023, both unrestricted, while Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts received $125,000 in 2025.
Typical grants sit at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent record also includes larger six-figure awards. The foundation is a Regular Funder and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. Recent grants show repeat support to the same recipients across multiple years, especially in higher education and science organizations. Grant labels are mixed, but restricted awards appear on several of the larger commitments, alongside unrestricted support for other recipients.
$2.5M
$31.9M
$2.3M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Notable grantees: Reed College, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
The foundation gives most often in Hawaii, even though its headquarters are in Menlo Park, California. Recent grants also cluster in Portland and Seattle, with multiple awards to recipients in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. California recipients include Woodside, Palo Alto, and Stanford. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 237 grants going to U.S. organizations.
Recent grants show a concentration in higher education, science and informal STEM education, and cultural institutions. Examples include colleges, a science museum, historic house and garden programming, and a performing arts venue. Several of the larger awards are labeled restricted, especially in higher education.
Yes. Reed College appears with $450,000 in 2025 and $400,000 in both 2023 and 2024. The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry also received $210,000 in 2025 and $110,000 in 2024. That pattern suggests sustained support for selected organizations across multiple years.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Its recent list also includes much larger grants, but those are outliers relative to the central tendency.
Hawaii is the top state by grant count. The recent record also includes many recipients in Oregon, Washington, and California, with the largest cluster in Portland and Seattle.
Yes. Its recent grants include organizations in Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Iowa, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REED COLLEGE | PORTLAND, OR | $450,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED |
| OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY | PORTLAND, OR | $210,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FILOLI HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDEN | WOODSIDE, CA | $151,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLUMBIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | LONGVIEW, WA | $125,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SMITH COLLEGE | NORTHAMPTON, MA | $125,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED |
| OREGON ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES | TUALATIN, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY | SALEM, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED |
| LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE HEAD START | LONGVIEW, WA | $88,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY GSB | STANFORD, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT | IOWA CITY, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PEACEHEALTH ST JOHN MEDICAL CENTER | LONGVIEW, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JAMES MADISON UNIV FNDN INC | HARRISONBURG, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE CHILDRENS HEALTH COUNCIL | PALO ALTO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| STANFORD LIVE - LITTLEFIELD CENTER | STANFORD, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY OF COWLITZ COUNTY | LONGVIEW, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BERKELEY LAW - UC BERKELEY GIFT SERVICES | BERKELEY, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | HONOLULU, HI | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| REBUILDING TOGETHER PENINSULA | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $29,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LOWER COLUMBIA SCHOOL GARDEN | LONGVIEW, WA | $25,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YOUTH & FAMILY LINK | LONGVIEW, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WHITMAN COLLEGE | WALLA WALLA, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LITERACY COUNCIL OF N VA INC | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UCSF FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON | LONGVIEW, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CREATIVE CAULDRON INC | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LONGVIEW LIBRARY FOUNDATION | LONGVIEW, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DONORSCHOOSEORG | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED |
| SAINT LOUIS BALLET COMPANY | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HONOLULU MUSEUM OF ARTS | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION | PALO ALTO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE | PORTLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| VISTA CENTER | PALO ALTO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LIFEWORKS | LONGVIEW, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITYSTANFORD STROKE CTR | STANFORD, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED |
| BATES COLLEGE | LEWISTON, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE FOUNDATION | LONGVIEW, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | STANFORD, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OSU DEAN'S FUND FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION | CORVALLIS, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE EXPLORATORIUM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CASA OF SAN MATEO COUNTY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DIABESITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CLARKSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT BACKPACK PROGRAM | CLARKSVILLE, AR | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WOLF PACK SUPPORT SERVICES | ERIE, CO | $5,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ALLIANCE FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ST LOUIS ARTWORKS | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY
$210,000UNRESTRICTED
FILOLI HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDEN
$151,000UNRESTRICTED
COLUMBIA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$125,000UNRESTRICTED
SMITH COLLEGE
$125,000RESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY
$100,000RESTRICTED
LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE HEAD START
$88,500UNRESTRICTED
STANFORD UNIVERSITY GSB
$75,000UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
PEACEHEALTH ST JOHN MEDICAL CENTER
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
STANFORD LIVE - LITTLEFIELD CENTER
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
UNITED WAY OF COWLITZ COUNTY
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
BERKELEY LAW - UC BERKELEY GIFT SERVICES
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
LOWER COLUMBIA SCHOOL GARDEN
$25,600UNRESTRICTED
FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
WHITMAN COLLEGE
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
LITERACY COUNCIL OF N VA INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
UCSF FOUNDATION
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
CREATIVE CAULDRON INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
LONGVIEW LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
DONORSCHOOSEORG
$20,000RESTRICTED
SAINT LOUIS BALLET COMPANY
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
PALO ALTO MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
VISTA CENTER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
LIFEWORKS
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
STANFORD UNIVERSITYSTANFORD STROKE CTR
$10,000RESTRICTED
BATES COLLEGE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
OSU DEAN'S FUND FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
THE EXPLORATORIUM
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
CASA OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
DIABESITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
CLARKSVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT BACKPACK PROGRAM
$8,000UNRESTRICTED
WOLF PACK SUPPORT SERVICES
$5,500UNRESTRICTED
ST LOUIS ARTWORKS
$5,000UNRESTRICTED