The William M Wood Foundation makes a small number of very large, mostly unrestricted grants, concentrating support in health care institutions, arts organizations, and services for people with visual impairments. Although based in Dallas, the foundation’s largest beneficiaries are major Massachusetts medical centers and a handful of repeat recipients, indicating a donor interest in hospital/medical philanthropy, classical music, and disability education rather than broad local giving. Many gifts are unrestricted general operating support or programmatic backing for college-success for blind students.
William M Wood Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated large grants to a small set of institutions, especially hospitals, schools for blind students, and Louisville arts and history organizations. The foundation has made unrestricted general support a common form of funding, while also backing a college-success program and technology devices for students who are blind. In 2025, one of its largest grants went to Massachusetts General Hospital for unrestricted general support, alongside a $500,000 award to Perkins School for the Blind for its college success program and another $450,000 grant to the Louisville Orchestra for unrestricted general support. That pattern points to a funder that concentrates on a few long-running relationships rather than broad, one-off dispersal. Massachusetts medical institutions appear prominently in the recent grants list, with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute all receiving substantial unrestricted support. Beyond health care, the foundation also supports cultural and historical organizations and a recurring set of services for people who are blind, including college success programming and technology access. Its grants are national in scope, but the portfolio is shaped by a small number of sizable awards and repeat recipients.
Health care institutions are a major part of the foundation’s portfolio. Recent grants include $618,983 to Massachusetts General Hospital for unrestricted general support and $500,000 to Brigham and Women’s Hospital for unrestricted general support, alongside another $250,000 grant to Massachusetts General Hospital in 2025. Support for people who are blind is another clear theme. Perkins School for the Blind received $500,000 in 2025 and $488,023 in both 2024 and 2025 for its college success program, while Kentucky School for the Blind received $327,399 in 2025, $180,000 in 2024, and $143,326 in 2025 for technology devices. The foundation also funds arts, history, and cultural preservation. Louisville Orchestra received $450,000 and $400,000 in 2025 for unrestricted general support, and the US Naval Institute received $135,500 to support a history conference.
Typical grants are large, with a p25 of $124,125, a median of $183,432, and a p75 of $400,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025, including multiple grants to hospitals, Perkins School for the Blind, the Louisville Orchestra, Maine Maritime Academy, and Kentucky School for the Blind. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant list also shows a strong preference for unrestricted general support, with some program-specific support for college success, technology devices, and a history conference.
$3.7M
$51.1M
$2.7M
$4.4M
Most grants fall between $124K and $400K, with a median of $183K.
25th Percentile
$124K
Median
$183K
75th Percentile
$400K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Concentrated giving: few large grants (total of 9 grants) with repeat multi-grant relationships; tendency to provide unrestricted/general operating support to established institutions rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Perkins School for the Blind, Louisville Orchestra, SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT (large unspecified award)
The foundation gives nationally, with 100% of recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Kentucky is the top state by grant count, driven by repeated awards in Louisville, including grants to the Louisville Orchestra, Filson Historical Society, Kentucky School for the Blind, and Kentucky Humane Society. Massachusetts is another major destination, with grants in Boston, Watertown, Burlington, Newton, and New Bedford. Other recipient locations in the recent list include Castine, Maine, and Annapolis, Maryland.
Recent grants concentrate on hospitals and medical centers, schools and services for people who are blind, and arts or history organizations. Examples in the grant list include Massachusetts General Hospital, Perkins School for the Blind, Louisville Orchestra, and the US Naval Institute.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2024 and 2025, Perkins School for the Blind in 2024 and 2025, Louisville Orchestra in 2024 and 2025, and Kentucky School for the Blind in 2024 and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is relatively high: p25 is $124,125, the median is $183,432, and p75 is $400,000. Many recent awards are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with several grants at $500,000 or near that level.
Its recent grants are national in scope, with 100% of recipients in the United States. Kentucky receives the most grants, and Massachusetts is another major recipient state, especially in Boston and nearby cities.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | WATERTOWN, MA | $500,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM |
| LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA | LOUISVILLE, KY | $450,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY | CASTINE, ME | $350,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | LOUISVILLE, KY | $327,399 | 2026 | TECHNOLOGY DEVICES, |
| ANDOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ANDOVER, MA | $299,999 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| OLD DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTS EXHIBITS |
| FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $200,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $189,999 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| US NAVAL INSTITUTE | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $116,500 | 2026 | SUPPORTS HISTORY CONFERENCE |
| AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND | LOUISVILLE, KY | $114,560 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ANDOVER CENTER OF HISTORY | ANDOVER, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | URESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CARROLL CENTER FOR THE BLIND | NEWTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| IMMIGRANT CITY ARCHIVES INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $40,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PROJECT CAMP INC | SCOTTSVILLE, KY | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $618,983 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | WATERTOWN, MA | $488,023 | 2025 | COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM |
| LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA | LOUISVILLE, KY | $400,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY | CASTINE, ME | $249,999 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL INC | BURLINGTON, MA | $186,863 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOUNDATION | NEWTON, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | LOUISVILLE, KY | $143,326 | 2025 | TECHNOLOGY DEVICES, |
| US NAVAL INSTITUTE | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $135,500 | 2025 | SUPPORTS HISTORY CONFERENCE |
| IMMIGRANT CITY ARCHIVES INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $87,625 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ANDOVER CENTER OF HISTORY | ANDOVER, MA | $75,000 | 2025 | URESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | WATERTOWN, MA | $488,023 | 2024 | COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM |
| LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA | LOUISVILLE, KY | $400,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $368,983 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL INC | BURLINGTON, MA | $259,760 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | LOUISVILLE, KY | $180,000 | 2024 | TECHNOLOGY DEVICES, |
| NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $175,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS FOUNDATION INC | NEWTON, MA | $150,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| US NAVAL INSTITUTE | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $135,500 | 2024 | SUPPORTS HISTORY CONFERENCE |
| KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY | LOUISVILLE, KY | $90,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ANDOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ANDOVER, MA | $75,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| IMMIGRANT CITY ARCHIVES INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AZOREAN MARITIME HERITAGE SOCIETY | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND | SMITHTOWN, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
$500,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$500,000COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
$350,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$327,399TECHNOLOGY DEVICES,
ANDOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$299,999UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$250,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
OLD DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$200,000SUPPORTS EXHIBITS
KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY
$189,999UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
US NAVAL INSTITUTE
$116,500SUPPORTS HISTORY CONFERENCE
AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND
$114,560UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ANDOVER CENTER OF HISTORY
$75,000URESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
IMMIGRANT CITY ARCHIVES INC
$40,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$618,983UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
$500,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$488,023COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
$249,999UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL INC
$186,863UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$143,326TECHNOLOGY DEVICES,
IMMIGRANT CITY ARCHIVES INC
$87,625UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ANDOVER CENTER OF HISTORY
$75,000URESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
$500,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$488,023COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM
LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA
$400,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$368,983UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LAHEY CLINIC HOSPITAL INC
$259,760UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KENTUCKY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$180,000TECHNOLOGY DEVICES,
NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM
$175,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY
$90,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ANDOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
IMMIGRANT CITY ARCHIVES INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
AZOREAN MARITIME HERITAGE SOCIETY
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL