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Wayfarer Foundation

EIN: 86-2088032 • Highland Park, IL
Total Assets
$27.3M
Foundation endowment scale
Annual Giving
$23.9M
Annual capital distribution
Typical Grant
$90,000
Most grants: $50K – $150K
Application Status
Invitation Only
Rolling review

About Wayfarer Foundation Grantmaking

Wayfarer Foundation is an institutional grantmaking foundation headquartered in Highland Park, IL (EIN: 86-2088032). According to verified IRS Form 990-PF filings, the foundation maintains $27.3M in total assets and distributed $23.9M across 273 grants. Its typical award size is $90,000, with the middle 50% of awards falling between $50K and $150K. Its primary funding focus includes Arts, Culture & Humanities (29%), Education & Literacy (27%), Human Services & Relief (21%), with the highest concentration of grants awarded in IL (56%) and CA (17%).

Top Funded Causes% Capital
Arts, Culture & Humanities29%
$3.8M deployed31 awards
Education & Literacy27%
$3.5M deployed28 awards
Human Services & Relief21%
$2.8M deployed24 awards
Community & Economic Dev12%
$1.6M deployed18 awards
International Affairs10%
$1.4M deployed10 awards
Top Recipient States% Dollars
IL State Recipients56%
$13.3M funded75 grants
CA State Recipients17%
$4M funded39 grants
NY State Recipients16%
$3.8M funded33 grants
WA State Recipients6%
$1.4M funded7 grants
DC State Recipients5%
$1.3M funded12 grants
Grant Size DistributionAward Scale
Major Grants ($100K+)40%
108 large institutional grants
Mid-Sized ($25K–$100K)53%
146 standard program grants
Micro & Small (<$25K)7%
19 grassroots micro-awards
Application Guidelines & DeadlinesPublic Filing Data
Application Policy
Invitation Only / Preselected Grantees
Submission Deadlines

Quarterly review cycles. Applications accepted continuously.

Geographic Focus & Restrictions

Priority given to organizations registered and operating in IL or regional districts.

Program Officer & Direct Contacts

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Recent Grant AwardsShowing 5 of 273 verified awards
Recipient OrganizationLocationTax YearAward AmountGrant Purpose
Horace Holley FoundationEvanston, IL2024$4,500,000General operating support
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United StatesEvanston, IL2024$1,750,000General operating support
Mona FoundationBellevue, WA2024$650,000General operating support
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center INCCincinnati, OH2024$500,000General operating support
New Era Creative SpacePeekskill, NY2024$370,000General operating support
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Frequently Asked Questions about Wayfarer Foundation

Does Wayfarer Foundation accept unsolicited grant proposals?

Wayfarer Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and primarily funds preselected organizations. Direct unsolicited applications are not currently reviewed.

What is the typical grant size from Wayfarer Foundation?

The median grant size from Wayfarer Foundation is $90,000, with the middle 50% of awards ranging between $50K and $150K.

What causes does Wayfarer Foundation fund?

Over recent Form 990-PF filings, Wayfarer Foundation's primary funding areas have been Arts, Culture & Humanities, Education & Literacy, Human Services & Relief.

How do I contact Wayfarer Foundation about a grant?

Wayfarer Foundation is headquartered in Highland Park, IL. Verified NPO Grant subscribers can access direct program officer telephone extensions, primary office numbers, and detailed submission guidelines.