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THE WLS SPENCER FOUNDATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133799186 · Form 990PF · FY2025 · NTEE T22Z · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$2.0M
expenses
$238K
net assets
$8.9M
employees
—
profile · synthesized from sources

The WLS Spencer Foundation is a private foundation based in New York that supports arts, education, and environmental initiatives through grantmaking. It funds nonprofit organizations across the United States, with a focus on cultural programming, public art, educational access, and environmental advocacy. The foundation does not operate direct service programs but allocates resources to institutions and initiatives aligned with its philanthropic mission.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Artist Support & Residency Funding
Provides funding for artist residencies, printmaking apprenticeships, and cultural programming through partners like Charitable Partnership Fund and Lane Arts Council
Arts & Culture Grant Program
Supports exhibitions, public programming, and collections in contemporary art, including funding for institutions like the Guggenheim and MASS MoCA
Education Access Grants
Supports K-12 educational programs, including AVID elementary and summer institutes in Lane County School District 4J
Environmental Initiative Grants
Funds environmental advocacy efforts, including plastic pollution reduction through support to The Surfrider Foundation
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Art Museum Funding and Support 3 activities
    • Funding academic and cultural collections in higher education
      Funds the University of Oregon Foundation to support the Contemporary Chinese Photography Collection.
    • Funding digital strategy implementation at art institutions
      Funds the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to implement digital strategy and develop new public programs.
    • Funding exhibitions and associated programming at major art foundations
      Funds the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation and Museum Associates to support specific contemporary art exhibitions and related public programming.
  • Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
    • Funding K-12 educational programs in public schools
      Funds Lane County School District 4J to support AVID elementary school and summer institute programs.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding apprenticeship and artist-in-residence programs in print education
      Funds the Charitable Partnership Fund to support apprenticeship and artist-in-residence programs in educational print.
  • Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 1 activity
    • Funding environmental initiatives addressing plastic pollution
      Funds The Surfrider Foundation’s initiative to combat plastic pollution.
  • Public Media Funding 1 activity
    • Funding journalism and arts reporting through public media
      Funds KLCC Public Radio Foundation to support a journalism fellowship and arts reporting.
  • Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
    • Funding local arts education and cultural programming
      Funds Lane Arts Council to support arts education and cultural programming in Lane County.
  • Community Foundation & United Way Support 1 activity
    • Funding regional community impact programs through intermediary funds
      Funds Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. to support the North County HII program, with multiple grants reported.
financials · form 990PF · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.95M
Contributions & grants$656K34%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$218K11%
Other revenue$1.08M
expenses
Total expenses$238K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$1.63M
balance sheet
Total assets$8.94M
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$8.94M
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +48.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 2
  • CHRISTOPHER WADSWORTH — DIRECTOR
  • SHANNON WADSWORTH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • CHARITABLE PARTNERSHIP FUND Partner — Receives funding for educational print fund apprenticeship and artist-in-residence programs.
  • KLCC PUBLIC RADIO FOUNDATION Partner — Receives funding for a journalism fellowship and arts reporting.
  • LANE ARTS COUNCIL Partner — Receives funding for arts education and cultural programming in Lane County.
  • LANE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 4J Partner — Receives funding to support AVID elementary school and summer institute programs.
  • MASSACHUSETTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Partner — Receives funding for digital strategy implementation and development of a new Department of Public Programs.
  • MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC Partner — Receives funding for the North County HII program.
  • MUSEUM ASSOCIATES Partner — Receives funding to support the "Zheng Chongbin: Golden State" exhibition and associated programming.
  • SOLOMON R GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION Partner — Receives funding to support the "Do Ho Suh" exhibition and associated programming.
  • THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION Partner — Receives funding to support the plastic pollution initiative.
  • UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION Partner — Receives funding to support the Contemporary Chinese Photography Collection.