Statement of Purpose

For a printable PDF version of the below information, click here.

The Wakerly Family Foundation (WFF), a private foundation, provides financial assistance to qualified public charitable organizations, with a focus on the areas of social services, education, and economic development. We support organizations that receive the majority of their funding from private (non-governmental) sources. WFF does not consider unsolicited proposals from new organizations (ones who have not received grants from us before). Most grants are made in local areas where one or more WFF board members can monitor needs and outcomes.

WFF’s board of directors is responsible for identifying charitable giving opportunities that are consistent with the foundation’s purpose, and is especially interested in funding projects and programs which:

  • benefit private education, and assist faculty at private schools, including retired faculty who are members of religious orders. Programs which enhance education in English, math, and science are also encouraged.
  • support children in at-risk or economically disadvantaged households.
  • help to provide additional low-income and very-low-income housing, especially owner-occupied housing.
  • provide emergency social services including food and shelter.
  • foster job skills training, especially for people who are unemployed or under-employed, with a goal of assisting workers toward full economic self sufficiency. A particular focus is households that have experienced the loss of a parent and may be struggling financially.
  • create new areas of employment through entrepreneurship. Projects that create new jobs for people who have difficulty finding traditional types of employment are encouraged.
  • assist immigrants to the U.S. in the areas of education, employment, and housing.
  • assist an economically disadvantaged population, with particular interest in programs that provide or promote quality nutrition for working, low-income individuals and families.
  • bolster emotional and mental health resources for children, individuals, and families struggling with grief, medical setbacks, or other significant challenges.
  • support assisted living, the elderly, and their caregivers.
  • promote individual responsibility and economic freedom.

WFF is especially interested in supporting relatively small, low-overhead organizations and programs that can obtain high leverage using WFF’s grants.

Organizations and entities that are not eligible or are not normally considered for funding by WFF include:

  • any organization which is not a 501(c)3 public charity
  • government agencies, or entities receiving the majority of their support from government sources at the local, state, or federal level (including public schools)
  • political parties and lobbying organizations

Revised 6/5/2018